Last week I had the distinct privilege to spend my vacation in Havana, Cuba. My wife and I celebrated our 1st year of marriage with my sister and some of her friends in the formerly-forbidden country not 100 miles from US shores.
There WAS a such thing as a second world country
Have you ever wondered where the classification of 1st and 3rd world countries came from? What about the rarely-mentioned second world countries? While in the country, a guide told us that Cuba was a third world country because they do not have the economic development and access to amenities that we’re used to in the United States. However, there used to be a different meaning for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd world countries that spawns from the Cold War era. As it turns out, Cuba would have actually been considered a second world country based upon that historical backdrop.
Brands are just as powerful in 2nd world countries
When purchasing Cuban cigars, I, like most Americans according to the cashier, showed favorability to the Cohiba branded items. I felt the flush in my cheeks from embarrassment when she revealed that there was really no difference between the Cuban brands.
She said that there was definitely a difference between Cuban and American tobacco (due to the soil and climate), but Cohiba and Monte Cristo, for example, were pretty much the same.
Our countries are strikingly similar
For starters, we both operate in a trade deficit, wealth is unevenly distributed between the wealth and poor classes, the voting system is hierarchical, government can get in the way of small businesses success, the media is controlled by a select few, and the link between education and employment is imperfect. Yes, from my view, it is better to live here in the U.S., but it is not an open and shut case that Cubans have it all wrong and Americans have it all right.
You don’t need to bring your own seasonings for food
Havana is a beautiful country filled with rich history, charming people, and the best of the world’s vices. Contrary to semi-popular belief, we ate delicious, well-seasoned meals everyday we were in Havana. It’s important to note that we traveled with a group that was catered to the entire trip, so it is possible that the restaurants pulled all of the stops to make sure we were appeased.