Immer hatte ich sagen hören, dass man einen Kubaner überall erkennt, und mir schien die Feststellung übertrieben. Allerdings, nachdem ich es in verschiedenen Situationen erlebt habe, denke ich, dass es nicht so verkehrt ist, tatsächlich erkennen wir uns Kubaner leicht, vor allem an der Art, wie wir uns bewegen.
I had always heard that you could spot a Cuban anywhere, and I thought it was an exaggeration. However, after having experienced it for myself in a number of different circumstances, I think it is quite true; we Cubans actually do recognize ourselves easily, especially because of the way we move.
Who doesn’t remember the first day of school? Even though we were very young, it is impossible to forget the nervousness, anxiety and uneasiness that we felt on that first day. Meeting new people: teachers, classmates; the interaction, now inevitable, with people other than our family members. An encounter with the formerly unknown always produces hope, surprise and fear.
Ever since they were discovered by human beings, islands are seen from the ocean and look out toward the ocean. Perhaps living on islands is what makes us curious people, with an insatiable need for exploring the unknown, going beyond borders and taking risks. But going through that experience together in life within a small space also anchors us and unites us.
For any Cuban, July and August are synonymous with hot weather, beach, going out, beer, children jubilantly playing outside, games of dominoes…. For parents, those months also mean racking their brains to find ways to keep kids entertained enough so that they will finish the day exhausted and ready for sleep as early as possible.
Like all Cubans, I have often heard this proverb, which refers to the ethic groups – the Kongo, or Congolese, and Carabali — of many of the black Africans who were brought to Cuba as slaves. According to official statistics, the Cuban population is 65 percent white, about 25 percent mulatto, or mixed-race and 10 percent black. However, scientists have demonstrated what popular tradition has held for some time: we Cubans are one big genetic mix, with more than Congolese and Carabali.
I really don’t know the history behind the tradition of getting wet in the first May rainstorm, or if it’s exclusively Cuban, but it is something that I have anticipated eagerly since I was a child.
Some may not know that Havana was one of the first cities in Latin America to enjoy the novelty of cinema. The miracle came via Gabriel Veyre in January 1897. That same year Veyre himself, a representative of the Lumiere brothers, produced in Havana the first motion picture filmed in a Cuban environment, the silent film “Mock-up of a Fire”.
Cuba is a mystery. What is its allure that makes it impossible to come in contact with her and remain indifferent? Our publication aims precisely to answer that question. These have been times of excitement, creativity, teamwork and hope. We have in mind a magazine that addresses Cuba from its most intimate perspective. The richness of Cuban culture, the events that commemorate the nation’s history, the natural environment, the economy, daily life; these will be the topics that we will speak to, focusing on the Cubans, those who made and make the difference.
