revise paper

Running Head: INTERVIEW 1

INTERVIEW 2

Interview: Life in the U.S. and Cuba

Chengmin Zhu

3/30/2018

ENG105

Interview: Life in the U.S. and Cuba

Personal Information

For this profile paper, my main goal was to interact with a person from Cuba. So I chose to interview Mr. Ernest Rodriguez. During the interview, Ernest was very cooperative and responded to the question promptly. His main reason for coming to America was education. He also explains how much he is an adventure fanatic thus came to explore as well.

“I was born in Cuba's most known city; the bay of Matanzas. It is located on the northern shore of the country.” Mr. Ernesto said to me. He tells me that back in Cuba they call it the city of bridges because it has 17 bridges while other people refer to his birthplace as the Venice of Cuba or the Athens of Cuba. “My favorite activities in Cuba comprised of hiking and skating, because Cuba has a very nice climate for such activities. I love Cuba in deep my mind!”

Life in Cuba and Miami

Ernesto explains that the main difference between life in Cuba and Miami is the culture. “When I back to Matanzas, I feel there is little violence, and people in my hometown are nicer than in America.” In general, Cubans express happiness with whatever little they have, unlike the Americans who depend largely on material advantages.

I asked: “Why you think Cubans have more happiness then American?”

Ernesto said: “Life is a bit cheap in Cuba compared to the US. For example, the health care is free for people, not like the United States insurance system of healthcare.”

His entire comparison is based on financial systems such as wages which are lower in Cuba and the low price of items complementing the low wages. Apparently, the American population does not value meat as much as the Cuban population does.

His last comparison is in the way of life.

He said: “In my mind, the typical Cuban home is crowded, just like my home, I have three sisters and one brother, we all live together; unlike the American society where most people live on their own or with small families. Since I knew many friends in US and they are only child in their home.”

Ernesto is a very observant person. I realized that he acknowledged and pointed out facts such as the US having more land than Cuba. He also offers vivid descriptions of Cuba which is an island. In earnest, I learned that there are many landscape differences between Cuba and the US; some of these include the temperatures and general climate. I also learned that Cuba was a savannah with extended tropical plains plantations of citrus trees and a lot of sugarcane plantations. The Cuban beaches are white sand, and there is an abundance of marine life especially coral reefs. I was also taken through the highlands in Cuba such as Cayo and Coco. Unlike Cuba, Miami does not have islands nor plains. In fact, the land does not rise to 40 feet. Miami has modern cities and beaches surrounding the city of Miami. The organization here is very different. The only islands around are the artificial ones down at Biscayne Bay. Comment by De Greff, Dana Reva: Quote! What did he say???

I was made to understand that Cuba is composed of fishing communities. Ernesto's favorite hobbies are fishing and surfing. He is also interested in football and particularly beach football. Apparently, he still plays beach football in Miami. I also realized that Ernesto loves to travel and experience the world firsthand. He wishes to visit the Grand Canyon someday down. From the look of things, Ernesto seems to like it in the US. His life after graduation will be determined by mostly employment and passion. I realized that he loves the united states due to the employment opportunities and diversity. He is in the US to stay. Having lived in the US for some time, Ernesto does not plan to settle in Cuba in the future entirely. He enjoys the US culture. In the interview, he constantly appreciates the US people and the government. Comment by De Greff, Dana Reva: Explain more here

I did not realize that Cuba and US have differences in terms of policies as much as Ernesto explained. I am made to understand that in Cuba the minim wage policy does not apply as much as it applies in the US. In Cuba this policy is not as strict and as such the wages are much lower. Secondly, his view of the health sector is biased towards the policies back in Cuba. In Cuba healthcare is free unlike in the US where healthcare has to be paid through insurance or savings. Apparently, Cuba has a more subsidized housing system than the US. His view on this policy is that the Cuban housing system is more of communal responsibility. Lastly, the migration policies are different in that the current government has imposed more restrictions on the migration and emigration from Cuba. Ernesto is a family man. He misses his extended family back in Cuba. He misses the company and the love that his Cuban friends and relatives bring into the family. He also misses the weather in Cuba. The seasons in the US can be confusing for the first time, but he seems to be getting accustomed. “I came to the US when I was 16, and I came here for better education that is better high school than Cuba. At that time, my father was 42, and my mother was 40 years old.” He said.

Ernesto is also educated and has his culture and politics engraved in his philosophy. He thinks that Fidel Castro and Che Guevara were among the greatest leaders that Cuba has ever had. I am made to understand that Cubans do not view these leaders as dictators but as leaders who had people’s interests at heart. Ernesto follows in the philosophy of Castro of changing the world into a socialist system from the capitalist system. His love and passion are derived from the philosophies of Che Guevara. Comment by De Greff, Dana Reva: Explain

However, the stay has not been that smooth for him in Miami. I realized that the weather was a very significant factor for the Cuban. His comparison shows that Cuba is warmer than Miami. Ernesto has also endured challenges in integrating into the US way of life; the schooling system in the US is quite different from the Cuban system. He explains that the Cuban universities and general education are free. His family has had to endure a financial hardship to see him and his siblings through school. Comment by De Greff, Dana Reva: What did they do to solve the problem?

Childhood and Languages

Ernesto looks tough and well behaved. His childhood was not very favorable. I realized that when he was born his dad was still a university student while his mother was at a local college. This forced his mom to differ her studies until Ernesto was one year old before going back to complete her college studies. Due to financial constraints, he and his parents lived with his grandparents. However, it was not all bad with the beach around. After his dad completed University education, he landed his first job and life began to turn around for the family; they moved to a bigger house in Cuba. He thinks that he had fun while growing up surrounded by the beach and fishermen. As a hiking and traveling fanatic, Ernesto has visited all the 17 bridges of Matanzas. Apparently, he also has relatives in the Islands of Coyo and Coco.

He is proficient in English. I realized that his elementary and junior school back in Cuba gave him some time to practice his English skills. Apart from schooling, he is also a movie and video person. his favorite site is youtube because it helps him perfect and practices his English skills. He also reads books and literature as well as deriving skills from friends during school interactions. Having come to the US with his family in search of greener pastures and good education Ernesto explains that his father’s Job transfer is the main reason they came to Cuba as a family. Back at home both in Miami and Cuba the family speaks in Spanish. However, in the American home they are adopting English. I am made to understand that back in Cuba Spanish is the easiest way to communicate with his family. Apparently, Ernesto is also proficient in Haitian Creole to some extent. Comment by De Greff, Dana Reva: I don’t understand what you mean by “job transfer”

The future

Ernesto came to America primarily to study as well as experience the American life first hand. He seems adventurous. He came to see and confirm what he hears about America through Cubans who have been here. As a strong believer of the family culture, Ernesto goes back at least once a year during the Christmas season. His family spends Christmas together back in Cuba.

With the dual citizenship policy implemented, Ernesto is both a citizen of Cuba as well as the US. I am made to understand that he acquired citizenship through the naturalization process. Apparently, he attained the age of 19 before the expiry of his green card. He, therefore, became a voluntary American citizen instead of a constant renewal of the green card. His family including two siblings came to the US with him after his father was transferred from his post at work in Cuba. Overall, Ernesto thinks the US is a good place to be. He finds the systems in the US easy to adapt and well suited for his educational needs. His needs are well taken care of as well as he is availed with multiple to opportunities including scholarships. Comment by De Greff, Dana Reva: What systems?

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