It’s 7.30am and I’ve just stuck my head out of our 13th floor balcony. The air is morning fresh but still thick. Later on, the air will become so thick that it may as if a full intake of air is not possible and my skin will feel sticky to touch.
‘Our’ means my Cuban mother (Kristina) and father (Frank) and me, their British daughter. I’m not sure how comfortable I am with this pseudo family set up but it’s how my charette colleagues refer to their home life whilst here.
Conversation with Sylvina who I have been sharing the Casa Particular with this last week. I expressed the feeling that we have not had the chance to talk enough about where we come from and that I would have liked to have heard more about Argentina, her country of residence.
After discussion about the political system and history of Argentina, Sylvina spoke of the ‘disappeared’ writers, artists and musicians. I find it hard to imagine how anyone can think that exterminating people can be the right thing to do. It’s so very hard to comprehend. She suggested I look up ‘Madres de plaza de mayo - Mothers of the May Square’ as this is a campaign that refers to many mothers who have lost there children who would now be about Sylvinas age (37). These people were taken as children, babies even but I do not yet know why. This May Square is the most important square in Argentina.
Re. the charette. I have had more chance to reflect and more opportunity to speak with people around the charette and it’s aims.
Orestes is a great supporter of Julio and that, to me, says something. Orestes is the kindly old gentleman who gave us a tour of Plaza Veija and the rest of the Old Havana. He has a wealth of experience and yesterday, John told me of how Orestes has played an important role in working with the Historical Office in Havana (the exact terminology escapes my memory).
John and I also spoke about the structure of the planning system in Cuba and what he called ‘vertical enterprise’. This is actually a term for profit but the p-word is not politically correct. The system of owning a business is difficult to understand. Even owning a house is complicated by the fact that you are not allowed to sell it. You may only exchange it but of course, property changes hands for money – it’s just not talked about. This seems to be the way with a few things.
The way the government make the money to keep everything very cheap for the Cubans is to tax highly. So the casa particulars are paying a high tax, businesses pay a high tax, employers pay a good amount per hour for their employees but the government shave enough off so the individual is on a very low wage.
Just watching the presentations and I find it hard to understand the point of this charette. No facts or statistics were given to the participants and the person presenting from our group is simply regurgitating what has been said to her by the leader of the charette. Perhaps I have it misunderstood but it seems that there is such little challenging from the Cuban students towards their elders – just simply about asking for more information. I suppose the Cuban students are well aware of the difficulties but there must be recognition that others are not. There has been no opportunity for exploration of the social issues that are faced here and it seems absurd to ignore them. The elephant syndrome.
We are, I fear, creating the vision of those who are leading the charette and I see very little point in that. Infact, we are being used to fulfill their vision and I don’t see any point in that. For a person who has grown up with a regime that they do not like and continue to oppose to then act in a similar way but subversively I feel disappointed but with sympathy rather than complete frustration and anger now.
What I find typical but saddening is that some of these people who lead these events are able to orate well – clearly, using terminology that is pleasing (sustainability – economically, socially, environmentally; ‘make spaces for the people’; ‘social and cultural integration’), and confidently. This is sad because I feel their passion, their zeal and love for the subject has limits that are confined by their own desires and personal aims with lack of consideration for others. There are so many people out there who have ideas and thoughts and opinions but are not able to present them in a way that means people will listen. These orators have honed their presentation skills so their ideas are heard and taken seriously. They are the ultimate car salesmen: honest, endearing, talking sense and saying that together we can achieve goals that are for the greater good. But you need to value individuals and I am amongst several here who have stated the opinion that we do not feel valued. Which is an enormous shame. If a person considers their way to be the right way and does not remain open to ideas and alternative ways of considering a problem or thinking with an open heart, then what hope is there for progression as a society? Surely the views and ideas of people need to be considered and the perspective that another mind can bring should be treated with respect? I think I have a different mentality to other people here.
To me, to encourage and enable people to think, supporting the with this and then to value their contribution is the way forward.
Amazing presentation by the group dealing with Cojima – refreshing, aware and got to grips with their area as best they could in the time they had. I recognize now that I didn’t have the confidence in this activity to suggest very much (such as going out and interacting with the community like this group did) and the language barrier cannot be ignored. It is a failing on my part that I do not speak the language and this has impaired my ability to express my ideas to those I was working with.
Petra - Powerpoint!!!!!! This presentation was very good - I must get a copy
Bakery in Centro – thank god!!! This is what I recognized in the first 3 days – miracle, how this can be ignored I cannot think!!!
- The bringing together of different minds with different cultures, experiences and specialisms
- Trying to have a new vision
- The lack of interest in the individual’s experience (no CV was asked for, no profile either)
- The administrative side (see previous list)
- Lack of transparency about where money was being spent
- No clear structure to the days – unclear what was happening and when
- Lack of clarity about the aims or whether we were actually achieving the aims
How we need to move forwards with our charette
- Be clear about the aims – be realistic
- Invite participant and acknowledge their skills and experience
- Have translators if necessary (gauge language levels before the event)
- Visit where we are focusing on
'Everyone is free to make any proposal.
Everyone is free to make comment.
This is just about dreaming.
Who says it is not possible tomorrow.
Any ideas to help make a place better.'
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