Cubans are clean in both their personal appearance as well as what you'll see in their homes. They may not have a lot of personal possessions but what they do have is immaculately cared for. A woman may possess one dress, but you can count on its being freshly laundered and pressed.Cubans are a very proud people, and appearances do count, as in most other countries in the world.

Cubans are carefree and casual in their demeanor, except for the police. lol!!

They love to socialize and make jokes amongst themselves, even at work.

How much does a Cuban earn? By western standards, Cubans make 'lunch money' a month; only about $12 (USD). Unemployment and under employment is high, and most families struggle mightily just to survive.

This economic reality is why you'll see people begging on the streets and approaching you looking for a handout, as well as street performers hoping that tourists will chuck a few pesos or, better yet, US dollars, into their hats. 99% of the Cubans are to proud to beg!

There isn't enough food in the country to feed all of the Cuban population.. The reason for this is mostly due to the US economic embargo imposed against Cuba starting in 1960. As a consequence of chronic food shortages, Cubans are issued with ration cards that determine how much of everything that a person or a family are entitled to on a daily/monthly basis.

Cubans get their groceries at a local 'peso store', the book "says" what one can buy. E.g. A family is entitled to rations of milk only if that family have a child, or children, under the age of six. This ration-book is also saying, how much beans, rise and coffee your family can buy, in pesos. In addition, simply having a ration book does not ensure that the person or family will get food, and foodstuffs because the peso stores also suffer food and household supply shortages. As an example, in January 2002, bar soap was rationed to half a bar per person per month!

A humble chicken will cost a Cuban $8! Last year I purchased a canned ham and it cost $6. In my country, Holland, the same product would be 1.75 euros ($2.20 USD). In June of 2002, the prices in peso stores rose by 20%, so at the moment, Cubans are suffering severe hardships financially.

The embargo has truly hurt the country and specifically been felt most acutely by the ordinary Cuban in the street.

Most Cubans share a small house with their extended families. So it's not unusual for grandmothers, grandfathers, their kids, and their kids' kids all to be co-existing under the same roof. It's therefore a crowded family environment that they grow up in but hey, that's just the way it is.

Most Cubans under the age of forty-five have been to either college or university because education is free to its citizens.

At hotels, restaurants and bars it's not unusual to find that the people serving you will have a university degree because in the tourism business they stand a chance of making tips which far exceed the 'normal' monthly workers salary of 300 pesos a month.

That taxi driver who just dropped you off might well be a dentist or doctor by profession, so don't judge the people by their appearances or their jobs.

When I've been to Cuba on some trips I've lost as much as 5 kgs. (11 pounds!), yet I've eaten very well. It could be because while I am in Cuba I tend to drink a lot of water. Despite the lack of food, Cubans are really very good cooks.

"...Cubans have inventively combined Spanish, African and Caribbean traditions and ingredients into a unique and characteristic cuisine. Chicken, pork, lobster, fish and, to a lesser degree, beef and lamb are the meat staples; black beans, rice, yucca (cassava), malanga (sweet potato), boniato (yam) and plátanos (plantains) are the leading legumes and starches..."

Note: Want to know all of the Cuban Cuisine...surf to: http://www.georgesemler.com/cubancuisine.html

This writer, George Semler wrote a fantastic article about Cuban Cuisine

Walking through the streets, you might hear, directed at you:"...pssst, pssst, hi my fren where are you fron...". It's most probably a jinetero hustling you to try to either guide you to where you are going or to try to sell you something. They are not above trying to sell you fake Cuban cigars, so beware of these characters. If you accept them as a guide, they'll make a commission at the other end, whether its to a casa, restaurant or bar, this commission will come above the price. You'll never see the 'bill' for services rendered, as the proprietors will pay them, under the table.

Jineteras, this is the female version of the jineteros, they mostly sell their bodies. Though what they do is technically illegal, according to Cuban law, you will see them everywhere. Both the jineteras and jineteros will do you no harm physically.

They are just trying to make a living like the rest of us. They've just chosen a 'different career path'. Perhaps I should do the same when my world gets a bit frayed around the edges.