Mission: Escape Cuba

A Bit of History

My country is currently experiencing what is undoubtedly the worst crisis in its history.

Money is worthless, and inflation rises up to 100 times a year.

Food prices make it unattainable to maintain a proper diet. According to popular estimates, basic monthly food can cost up to 250% of a salary (which means it doesn't add up)

Power outages can extend up to 72 hours when the system is overloaded (practically one month on and one month off)

The healthcare system has only a few medications available.

Sometimes, they won't be the ones you need for your illness, but there are no alternatives. You will be forced to buy them on the black market at outrageous prices.

Internet access has been limited to a certain amount of gigabytes per month, after which you are obliged to pay in dollars (_{but that's for another post})

And I could continue this list with public transportation, fuel, tourism, and hundreds of things that don't work and won’t work.

What can be done in the midst of this?

Caught in this situation is my family (like thousands of others).

My family is not very large.

My parents and grandparents have worked their whole lives for the state (it was impossible to do otherwise before).

In previous years, they were even able to buy their respective houses to have what everyone would consider a decent life.

Throughout their lives, my family has worked to give us the best possible life. They have succeeded to the point that we have the privilege of knowing every corner of our country.

When I have my own family, I certainly hope to achieve at least half of what mine has done for us.

As part of life, they have been aging and their physical abilities have diminished. Earning a minimally competent salary becomes more difficult each day. So, it’s up to my sister and me to step up.

For now, we are both studying at the School of Medicine, which makes it even harder.

Medicine is the longest university career (six years), and it’s very difficult to balance it with part-time jobs.

So far, we have sacrificed part of our studies and rest to do extra work and help the family. But the end is approaching for both of us.

In ten weeks, I will have graduated, but unfortunately, I don’t think I will be able to practice (unless there’s a surprise).

The salary of a specialist doctor is among the worst in the world, only equivalent to 20 USD.

This leaves only one valid option for young people like us...

Emigrate

If you’ve seen any of my posts, you’ve seen the beauty of Cuba. I’m one of those who doesn’t want to emigrate (especially not out of obligation). But it’s the only possible decision for the family.

If we don’t, in a few years, neither will we have a future, nor will my parents have a decent old age.

Right now, my family has no other relatives abroad to ask for medications or food, as the government claims.

It’s sad, but staying in the country is not an option. Those in power have taken hope away from millions of people.

Emigrating is not an easy decision. It’s not a bed of roses either.

The only intelligent decision is the only option for a better future than our present.

It’s not just a financial decision; it’s a matter of health. The stress we live under today not only consumes us but also prevents us from moving forward and having a peaceful life.

Today in Cuba, we don’t live; we survive.

But enough of the negativity; a new week is starting... Please give me some advice to achieve my goal.

I look forward to reading your comments.

Read you soon!

[dahpilot]

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_{All images in the post are my own}