Culture Shock! Cuba: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette

by Cramer, Mark

• ISBN13: 9780761454052
• ISBN10: 0761454055
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-09-15
• Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Intl

Summary

With over three million copies in print, CultureShock!is a bestselling series of culture and etiquette guides covering countless destinations around the world. For anyone at risk of culture shock, whether a tourist or a long-term resident, CultureShock!provides a sympathetic and fun-filled crash course on the do's and don'ts in foreign cultures. Fully updated and sporting a fresh new look, the revised editions of these books enlighten and inform through such topics as language, food and entertaining, social customs, festivals, relationships, and business tips. CultureShock! books are packed with useful details on transportation, taxes, finances, accommodation, health, food and drink, clothes, shopping, festivals, and much, much more.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. vi
Acknowledgements	p. x
Dedication	p. xi
Map of Cuba	p. xii
First Impressions	p. 1
Cuba is a Country...	p. 2
The Special Period	p. 8
Getting to Know Cubans	p. 9
History, Geography and Politics	p. 11
Economics: A History of Independence	p. 12
The special Period	p. 13
Slavery	p. 18
The First War of Independence	p. 18
Spanish-American War	p. 20
Independence	p. 21
Revolution	p. 24
Turning Towards the Soviets	p. 26
Social Reform	p. 29
Latin American Support	p. 30
U.S.-Cuba Conflict	p. 32
Internal Measures	p. 33
Freedom of Movement	p. 39
The Special Period in a Time of Peace	p. 41
Dramatic Times	p. 43
Foreign Adventures	p. 45
Human Rights	p. 46
Cuba in the Future	p. 50
Culture and Climate	p. 52
Geography	p. 54
Regions West to East	p. 58
Cubans	p. 73
The Old Neighbourhood	p. 74
African Heritage	p. 83
Frankness	p. 84
Machismo	p. 85
Personal Hygiene	p. 86
Public Good versus Individual Rights	p. 86
Sense of Humour	p. 89
Women	p. 90
Religion	p. 92
Stereotypes	p. 95
Values	p. 96
Socialising	p. 97
Strangers in Paradise	p. 98
Conversations	p. 99
Soledad	p. 101
Jesus and Michel	p. 106
William, Eduardo and Santeria	p. 110
Giselle	p. 113
Revisiting Amelia	p. 119
The Crackdown	p. 119
Fidel bashing	p. 120
Renato Tracking down Elpido Valdez	p. 121
Jon and Tony	p. 124
Community	p. 126
Social Status	p. 127
Setting In	p. 134
Housing	p. 135
Work	p. 137
Personal Safety	p. 137
Important Documents	p. 141
Photography	p. 141
Tipping	p. 142
Emotional Contradictions	p. 142
Customs (What Can I Bring?)	p. 143
Documents	p. 144
Medical Care	p. 145
Medical Tourism	p. 145
Study Opportunities	p. 148
Currency	p. 151
Clothing	p. 153
Shopping	p. 154
Media	p. 155
Food and Enteraining	p. 157
Food	p. 158
Daily Meals	p. 161
Snacks	p. 162
Restaurants	p. 164
Self-catering and Vegetarians	p. 164
Mojito and Other Drinks	p. 165
Culture and Travel	p. 166
Literary Border Crossing	p. 167
Arts	p. 179
Baseball and Other Sports	p. 182
Chinatown	p. 184
Festivals	p. 185
Don't Worry, Be Happy: Music in Cuba	p. 189
Transportation	p. 198
Tours	p. 204
Tours for People Who Don't Like Tours	p. 205
Attractions	p. 207
U.S. Travel Restrictions	p. 210
Communicating in Cuba	p. 213
Language	p. 215
Formal and Informal Discourse	p. 220
Diplomatic Discourse	p. 221
Popular Expressions	p. 222
Image	p. 223
Doing Business	p. 225
Corruption?	p. 226
Doing Business	p. 227
A Collage of Opinions	p. 234
The Embargo	p. 235
A Compendium of Views	p. 237
Sphere of Influence	p. 243
Transitions	p. 246
Organic Agriculture	p. 248
The Informal Economy	p. 254
Work Norms and Business Etiquette	p. 255
Fast Facts	p. 258
Icons	p. 262
Famous People	p. 763
Acronyms	p. 265
Culture Quiz	p. 266
Do's and Don'ts	p. 272
Glossary	p. 275
Resource Guide	p. 277
Further Reading	p. 288
About the Authors	p. 296
Index	p. 298
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.