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dduck · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 422 Location: In the middle

Has anyone ever taught in Cuba? I know it's illegal for Americans, but we don't always have to do what we're told Wink

Iain

C76 · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2003 5:29 pm Post subject: teaching in cuba

Holy heck. I'm really naive. I didn't know you guys couldn't TEACH there...

Is there a link to info regarding what Americans can and can't do in Cuba?

I seem to remember hearing something about the Cuban Missile(sp?) Crisis. But that was in the JFK era, and I'm not American.

Embarassed

[/b]

dduck · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 422 Location: In the middle

Well, one of my American buddies tried smuggling a bottle of cuban rum back into the US, which he bought in Guatemala in a supermarket. He was quite miffed when he read the label - it showed that the rum producer had won a prize at some rum competition in Miami, a couple of years previously.

Another American friend was considering visiting Cuba, apparently the custom officals offer passport supplements to USers which can be conveniently removed when they leave the country. However, my buddy was worried about the number of airline hijackings there were, starting from Cuba and ending up in the US. It might be wonderful for the Cubans to escape from Cuba, but if an American is found on one of these hijacked planes they receive about 7 years free accommodation. So I hear.

By the way I'm from Escocia.
Iain

schminken · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2003 6:18 am Post subject:

This is from the US State Department:

http://travel.state.gov/cuba.html

Until I started traveling myself when I was 18, I didn't realize that people actually went to Cuba for vacation! Imagine my shock when my Canadian friend said, "Yeah, we're going down to Cuba for summer vacation." Ok, I was naive. I was a child. I listened to my government. But now I know better:)

grahamb · Joined: 30 Apr 2003 Posts: 1945

Yes, it�s technically illegal for American citizens to visit Cuba, unless you're going there for humanitarian or educational reasons (see the US State Department information sheet for all the exemptions). I believe you can be fined $50,000 for breaking that law. It�s difficult to enforce, of course. Has anyone heard of any prosecutions?
Importing Cuban products is a different matter. I read in the Lonely Planet guide to Cuba that many of the CDs you can buy in Cuba are actually made in Canada, so you shouldn�t have a problem taking them back home. Be sure to remove the price stickers first!
Education is strictly controlled by the Cuban government. Getting an official teaching post there is basically impossible. A major problem with teaching illegally would be finding anyone able to pay you, given that salaries can be as low as $10 a month. Yes, that�s $10 a month. A one-litre bottle of cooking oil costs around $2.40, which doesn't leave much for English classes.
Two friends of mine got unpaid work doing radio broadcasts, which got them a visa that allowed them to stay more than a year there. If you have the money, you can get a visa by enrolling on an academic course.
However you get there, it's definitely worth the effort.

grahamb · Joined: 30 Apr 2003 Posts: 1945

There�s a similar thread on the Caribbean forum. One of the contributors posted a couple of links that you may find useful.

dduck · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 422 Location: In the middle

Tiger Beer · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Posts: 778 Location: Hong Kong

I know of a few Americans one of which is a good friend, who studied Spanish in Cuba. It is illegal to be there, but they stamp a piece of paper rather than your passport specifically for Americans. You can go there via another country - Canada, Mexico, Bahamas, etc..

As to your question can Americans teach English in Cuba. You probably could, but I don't know how they would pay you. As a communist country, the government takes care of everyone about the same, meaning their basic needs are met, but not much more than that. So there isn't really 'disposable income' for extras like studying English. So in general, there isn't the kind of free-market enterprise going on with all the wealth that it involves, and all the rest.

I'd love to go there myself though..

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

One of my Spanish teachers once told me that she can't wait for Fidel to die, because she's been to every other country in the Caribe, and Cuba is supposed to be the jewel. Very beautiful with kind people./

Tiger Beer · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Posts: 778 Location: Hong Kong

grahamb · Joined: 30 Apr 2003 Posts: 1945

Naturegirl, tell your friend not to be so naive. I've been to Cuba five times (living with people in the countryside, not in some flash beach resort), and the only time I've seen Fidel in the flesh was at a public rally. He doesn't turn up at the airport to frisk or otherwise bother foreign tourists. I'm sure he appreciates the hard currency they spend there.
Cuba is a safe place to visit. Sure, you can get your bag snatched in La Havana, but that - or worse - can happen anywhere.
The water quality isn't what it could be, so it's a good idea to be vaccinated against Hepatitis A.

aubstew · Joined: 08 Jul 2003 Posts: 10

grahamb · Joined: 30 Apr 2003 Posts: 1945

Why should the Cuban tourist industry employ native English speakers? There are many Cubans who speak English well. On top of that, the government isn't going to employ a foreigner when there are so many Cuban citizens unemployed/underemployed.
A girl from my friends' village gives guided tours of the Havana Club museum, but it's for tips only (in US dollars, of course). It's a good job for a Cuban, but I doubt that many natives would fancy it.

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

VanKen · Joined: 29 Oct 2003 Posts: 139 Location: Calgary, AB Canada