“My three children have a prize. It’s me. I fight for them and can’t let things go down. I didn’t think that I would be standing here today. I was paralyzed while giving birth to my son and thought I was going to die. But I am strong and not defeated so easily. This situation affected my son’s sight; that is why he is wearing glasses.

I am proud of my children and our life together. My husband works in construction, and I work at a souvenir shop. We work a lot and don’t see much money. I get ten percent of everything I sell in this shop. It is hard during the times when American tourists aren’t allowed to come to Cuba. There was no work during COVID, and I tried to sell anything I could find to help feed my family.

Many Cubans want to go to America for a better life. A lot of my friends and family have gone and are doing well. If I didn’t have children, I would have gone. Instead, I make the best of life here.

Maybe this year will be better. I wish all of us good health for the new year.”

Yordanka

(These stories are from my trip to Havana at the beginning of January)