Life in Cuba may be quite different than what you might expect. Cuba is most assuredly poor, but not a third world country. Life under communism is very different than what we are used to, but that said, not necessarily backward or out of the world of science, nor without concern for the future of the world... especially in the area of environmental protection.
The government exerts a heavy hand over business and entrepreneurship. If you run a business, you can hire, only with the consent of the government. Paying an employee, is not done by direct hand over of salary, but through the hands of the government. Crony politics, and low level corruption is extant, having become a matter of course. Getting anything done is, by tradition, a matter of what we would call bribery.
Most of the country, including many of the major cities, is suffering from a lack of maintenance of buildings and infrastructure.
As far as being isolated, and an island unto itself?.... Only for Americans, and at that, for some Americans. Americans traveling to Cuba by way of Canada is extraordinarily common. Customs is very lax, and it is quite common for tourists... even in groups, to visit Cuba... all by way of Canada or other non US countries. US money is very welcome in the country, although not officially.
The people of Cuba are mostly poor, but honest-poor... and live simple lives of farming 20%, industry 20% and services 60%. It might be said that the culture exists in the simplicity of what the United States was in the 1940's. Crime, especially away from the major cities, is very rare, and some might say that the corruption in government is not much worse than that what we have in our own country... just a little more overt.
Education is held in high regard. Cuba is second in the world of all countries in the percent of GDP spent on education, and the population is almost 100% literate. Unemployment is typically under 4%. Public Debt is 35% vs 100+% in the US.
Most Americans have little knowledge of the history, geography, culture and politics of this nearby island.
Medicine and medical care is quite good, and the profession is far above that of most SA countries. Agricultural science is a model for the world, with great ventures in the advancement of knowledge that is recognized world wide.
Restrictions on citizens are broad. Limited telephone service, one million landlines in a population of 11 million. Also about 1.3 million cell phones. The country is currently expanding fiber optic services. Citizens are restricted in buying and owning computers, and internet access is limited All broadcasting, radio and television is operated by the government.
Too much more to write here. Needless to say, a fascinating part of the world that in some ways, time forgot.
