Higher Institute of Medical Sciences
Hospital Dr. Salvador Allende
Monday, December 28, 2009 4:19 PM

A Christmas in Havana, Cuba

What I miss the most during Christmas is the warmth feeling of my family.  I miss hugging my grandmother, my mother, and my father; I miss their humble smile; I miss drinking coffee with them every morning.  The coffee that I make here in Cuba is not as tasteful as my mother’s coffee.  Being away from my loved ones is probably the most difficult part of studying medicine abroad.
    
Have you visited Cuba?  Probably not if you are a US citizen.  So, perhaps you don’t know that Cubans are hospitable and kindhearted people.  I will give you a small glimpse of my Cuban family with whom I spent Christmas day. 
When I first arrived in Cuba, I felt lonely since I had no friends and family.  All I had was my laptop, a few medical books and whatever I was able to pack in my two fifty-pound bags that I brought with me.   I must admit that I was a bit scared but excited at the same time since it was a life-changing adventure.  I knew not what awaited me in this hot and humid Caribbean island.  I wanted to study medicine and I could not deny the offer of a free medical education in Cuba.  I did know that my friends and my family didn’t quite accept my decision of coming to Cuba.
   
When I found myself so far away from home, I was forced to look for new friends.  After a few months of living in Cuba I became a good friend of Dener Hiroshi, a student from Bolivia.  We were in the same class so we spent a lot of time together.  On the weekends we used visit Baracoa, a small town neighboring the Latin American School of Medicine (LASM).  In this town he introduced me to María Caridad and her husband Angel, who kindly accepted me into their humble home.  Ever since I met this family, María Caridad has taken the role of my mother and Angel the role of my father.  Their three daughters see me as their brother.
  
This family is honest, hospitable, kindhearted, hard-working and very humble.  Despite the fact that they don’t have much to offer due to their financial limitations, they unconditionally offer whatever little they have with all their heart.  They remind me of the times I used to visit my grandmother; I had to eat before attempting to leave the house.  It touches my heart to see the sacrifice that they make in an effort to offer a plate of rice and beans.  Not accepting to eat their food is considered disrespectful so you really don’t have a choice.  When you sit with them to have lunch or dinner they love to share stories with you and make you laugh.  They always ask me about the wellbeing of my family in Seattle.  My Cuban mother and father always remind me to tell my family in Seattle not to worry about me, because I now have a Cuban family that protects and loves me very much.

On December 25th, I joined my Cuban family and the rest of the students that are also part of this family.  We got together since the early hours of the day to cook and to have a good time as a family.  As you can see from the photo, my family is colorful and very diverse.  Our childhood experiences are different and so is our history.  We have united here in Cuba and we have learned to respect each other and to live in peace with one another.  We support each other in good and bad times and we don’t leave anyone behind.  In times like Christmas we come together to celebrate and to thank God for being so kind to us and for guiding us throughout our medical education in Cuba.

Part of my success in Cuba is due in part to my Cuban family.  Their presence makes a tremendous difference especially in times like Christmas.  I always know that I can count on them for advice or for anything that I may need.  Their mere existence gives me a peace of mind and fills me with positive energy. 

Sincerely,

Alejandro Bernal

Website:  www.pnhpwesternwashington.org
Email: alex238209@yahoo.com

 

Website: www.pnhpwesternwashington.org