“Iranians and Cubans Are Very Much Outgoing,” Believes Rebeca Nunez

The Revolutionary Cuba is merely a few miles away from the US, but its culture and lifestyle are oceans apart from their American counterparts. The people of Cuba are still very much proud of their hero, Ernesto “Che” Guevara and astound the people from all around the world with their amazing music. Cuba is a land of skyscraping palm trees and beaches bringing the blue canvas of ocean thereto. To have a look at the social and cultural features of Cuba, we held an interview with Rebeca Fernandez Nunez, the wife of Cuba’s Honorable Ambassador to Tehran. She is now in charge of the consular affairs of Cuba’s embassy in Tehran.

AVA Diplomatic’s Exclusive Interview with Rebeca Fernandez Nunez,

the Wife of Cuba’s Honorable Ambassador in Iran

Interview by Mohammadreza Nazari

 Where were you born, Mrs. Fernandez? What did you study?

I was born in Cuba’s Capital, Havana and studied Computer Engineering at the University of Havana.

 Given how currently Cuba is, how much is the field of computer engineering in line with today’s science?

Considering the importance the Cuban government places on such areas, specific series of budget are allocated to their teaching and studying. The amount of budget is tantamount to what they pass for the public health, which means that’s a lot.

 Cuba has made great progress in medical fields; what plans are underway to enhance the related services?

Health and medical sciences are almost the first to get to in Cuba’s budget after the victory of Revolution. To educate in this field, lots of services, circumstances and easing have been thought of which help fulfill Cuba’s needs to enable it to aid some countries, like Liberia and Sierra Leone. These countries presently use Cuba’s contributions for fighting Ebola.

 Some media have released that Cuba sends experts to Venezuela in return for receiving its oil; is that right?

That is, indeed. Cuba usually transfers technology and science in fields of engineering and medicine to other countries. In Angola, for instance, we have some individuals who are working in constructions and agricultural developments. In Brazil, too, in places where governmental and private sectors are not able to operate or they are not enough, Cuban specialists are active.

 The services you referred to require huge academic capacities in Cuba. It really interests us to know what mechanisms and strategies Cuban universities have taken up to stay up-to-date with today’s science.

Potentially, when students are in high school, they can choose which university to go to according to their grades and pursue their education. Of all available studies, medical sciences, education and engineering are the careers in which there is greater availability.

 How modified has Cuba’s educational system become after the Revolution?

The level of education in Cuba has vastly changed after the Revolution. Before the Revolution, only a limited number of people could have higher education, but after that, it became available for almost everyone. Currently, the minimum level of education in Cuba is the 9^th grade, which means everyone has certainly studied up to that point. One of the first steps taken after the Revolution was to establish camps to fight illiteracy which aims at uprooting it thoroughly.

 What percentage of Cuba’s 11.2mn population is consisted of the young?

I have no this statistics to hand now, but life expectancy in Cuba has being raising in these years to reach about 78 years on average. Population aging is a problem that Cuba faces today.

 There are various factors which affect the feeling of satisfaction people get from life. One of them is the facilities they have for an ideal life and the other is the calibration of their levels of expectations. Given the sanctions against Cuba and the people’s level of hopefulness, one can conclude that the level of Cubans’ expectations for a normal life is relatively low.

As I said earlier, after years of our Revolution, the level of education has risen among the people. A person who is raised and has educated in that environment would normally have his level of expectations set high once he gathers more than scanty information on his country’s and region’s status.

Taking into account that Cuba doesn’t have highly rich financial resources, we have tried to make up for their absence through other ways. For example, young children are striving to have theatre experiences or do sports, and also start playing music. Such things can enhance people’s spirits and that is what has caused the thinking that despite the fact that Cubans are not rich, they are a happy people.

 You referred to an important point now. Dance and music are the most highlighted in Cuba’s culture. How have the Cubans managed to escape the isolation created by the US via these cultural tools?

In spite of the US’ efforts for keeping Cuba in a vacuum, we managed to keep in touch with the world and now you can see that the number of those in contact with Cuba is very high and that brings us to the conclusion that Cuba is not isolated. We can point out, for example, that since our Revolution, Cuba has participated in all of the Olympic Games with great results and has always been present at global festivals such as ballet, cinema and other cultural fields and has also raised its voice in all forums.

 What extracurricular field were you active in then?

I did sports, gymnastics in particular, since I was very young.

 So your today’s great shape comes from your yesterday’s workouts.

That is right. (Chuckles.)

 You went through your youth only by doing sports?

I was very interested in education and I was very much studious. I spent my whole youth on that in addition to doing sports. I took part in many sport competitions of that time, now I have some medals as tokens of recognition, and I also used to be a permanent member of the dance group.

 Do you have any national medals?

Yes, I earned some in national competitions, too.

 Were you detached on international contests, too?

No.

 Maybe you would’ve never been a diplomat’s wife if you had been sent on those contests!

That could be right, yes.

 And how did an energetic, active, studious young lady like yourself get to meet a diplomat?

Vladimir was the cousin of one of my best college friends, and because we used to enjoy lots of parties then, there were many chances we could meet each other.

 What happened that you accepted his proposal?

It was the second party when I said yes to Vladimir’s proposal once he made it.

 Every country has its own specific marriage rituals and stuff. What can be of interest for our readers are the wedding rituals in Cuba.

The wedding ceremonies in Cuba are very much similar to those in North America. Brides wear long white dresses and grooms put on elegant suits.

In Cuba, people throw rice at couples once they get engaged, which symbolizes their happiness and prosperity. Also, when the engagement ceremony is over and the bride wants to leave, she throws up back her flowers without looking backwards. Local tales have it that every girl who receives them are the next to walk down the aisle.

 So the wedding ceremonies in Cuba are very simple, we can say.

In Cuba, ceremonies usually take nearly 40 minutes and once the bride and the groom are betrothed to each other, the main ceremony is done and later, another party is thrown which may take a few hours.

 Does the couple need to earn their parents’ permissions for their marriage?

If they have become of legal age, then they don’t need that. But if they are underage, 14-16, for example, they do need the permissions.

 In most of Latin countries, people throw a ceremony for girls who have become of 15 years of age. Is that so in Cuba, too?

There are 3 important ceremonies in the lives of Cuban women, in general. The first is a thorough party which marks their first birthday. The second is that which is thrown when they reach 15. In this occasion the family often make also a trip or another special thing, different. Later, an album consisted of the photos shot at the ceremony and the trip is collected as a token of remembrance. In Cuba, whoever woman past 15 has this album.

 How many children do you have?

I have 2 daughters.

 How old are they?

20 and 15.

 What do your daughters study and where do they live?

My elder daughter studies pure mathematics in Havana and the younger one lives with us here in Tehran and is in second grade of high school at the Italian School.

 Given the difficulty of pure mathematics, didn’t you want your daughter to study a more practical major?

My daughter is smart and studious. We two, gave her the chance to study what she really likes. When she finished her high school, considering the grades she earned, she had a number of options ahead of her, one of which was in the diplomatic ballpark. She sat for its exam and was appropriately ranked, but changed her mind at the final moments and chose to study pure mathematics.

 How different has the cultural environment of Cuba become now compared to when you were your daughter’s age?

As you know, the young age for everyone teems with ecstasy and special emotions. A young individual makes his decisions and then rethinks them. Today’s conditions differ from those of my time.

The young are always the motor of a society, helping it move forward. Ideologically speaking, I must say that today’s young are as committed to the principles and doctrine of the Revolution as we, as the then young, were.

 Aren’t Mr. Fidel Castro and Mr. Raul Castro worried over the negative impacts the improvements in US-Cuba ties can leave on the culture of Cuba?

That is most definitely possible. With an eye to the fact that Cuba is located only 90 miles far from the American soil.

Fidel in the past and after him Raul pointed out that we always seek normalized ties with the US. These ties, however, should be in accordance with the sovereignty of a country and based on mutual respect.

 Have you ever been to the US?

Yes, once in 2013.

 As a Cuban, how different did you find the US you see from the US you had in mind?

We don’t live in a vacuum in Cuba and are familiar with a lot of things. When I went to the US, what I saw was really close to what I thought. Also, when I came to Iran, the realities were very much compatible with my presuppositions.

 How much do other Cubans hold the same view about Iran as you do?

On the Cuban press, you can mostly find the truth about Iran. That’s why my findings in Iran were the same as my suppositions. However, given the sanctions imposed on Iran by the US and its allies, many may be on the belief that soon as they step on Iran’s soil, they are about to face public poverty, like poor people lying on the sideways or children begging for money. But when I came here, I never saw anything of the sort and understood that Iran is a great country and enjoys a great wealth of financial sources.

 Considering the extensive cities of Iran, the climate here can be very much diverse. Have you managed to take any trips?

I went to Kashan, Karaj, Esfahan. I also have some places in mind to visit but haven’t been able to do so thus far.

 Given the climate difference between Iran and Cuba, how similar are the cuisine in Iran compared to Cuba?

Given the long distance between the two countries, the cuisines are certainly very different. But what they have in common is their high rate of rice consumption. The way of cooking it in Cuba is different, though. A favorite food of the Cuban people is named “Congrí”, which is made of rice and black beans and very delicious.

 Which Iranian food has caught your eye the most?

I haven’t memorized the name of this food but can explain it. Our chef at home makes a food with rice which has almond and fruits like pistachio and small chunks of orange. I love that pretty much.

 That is called “Morasa’ Polo” which figuratively means a combination of rice and jewels. That’s an old, traditional Iranian food.

Yes, and it’s very delicious.

 Isn’t it difficult for you to keep hijab in Iran? Or that’s fine?

That’s fine with me. True that it sometimes falls off my head, but I make it up fast and have no problems with it.

 Considering the fact that you have been here for one year, which commonalities have you spotted between the cultures of the two countries?

The interesting point for me is that Iranian people are very much hospitable and outgoing just like Cubans. For example, wherever I go, although I don’t know Farsi or they don’t know my language, people try to help me out. In cases where they don’t know English, they call someone who does and ask him to help me out. This way, I have made lots of friends in Iran.

 Didn’t the hospitality of the Cubans before the Revolution kind of turn the country into a playroom for the Americans?

That’s the feature of the Cubans before the Revolution. Currently, Cuba is totally different and is not a playroom for the Americans at all. Before the Revolution, there were lots of casinos in Cuba and the rate of corruption and prostitution was very high. Alcoholics were also too many. But now, Cuba has no casino in it and you can only find sport centers there or places for dancing.

Corruption, prostitution and alcoholism are not visible now. Many tourists come to Cuba nowadays and the reason for it is the beautiful beaches, awesome sceneries and the people’s hospitality, not what used to exist before the Revolution.

 Which parts of Cuba do you suggest to foreigners and tourists?

Havana is a core tourism center. Considering the fact that Cuba was once a colony to Spain, there are lots of monuments there from that colonial time. Varadero is also another destination where you can find coral reefs and do scuba diving.

 To live with a diplomat, with all the long missions, is a hard and meanwhile attractive experience. Do you have any bitter or sweet memory from this time?

A diplomatic life has its difficulties, such as being one day here and the other somewhere else. One day you get to know a group of people somewhere and the next you see a new community. But the positive side of the story for me has been the fact that my daughters could closely come to know the rituals and cultures of different countries and learn plenty from them. They even begin to know the language of those countries. That is why my children can speak various languages and have richly learned a lot about the culture and art of those countries. I believe that is the brightest side of my life.

 So you like it to be married to a diplomat.

Of course, very much so.