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  • Essay / A Comparative Study on the Differences and Similarities of Latin and Cuban Cultures

    Being born in a Latin American culture, where both my parents were born and raised in Cuba, while I was raised in America, has always been quite a challenge. balance the two and not lose sight of one or the other. My family has done a good job of blending the two cultures, but I am very proud of my Cuban and Latin ancestry. Cubans have a very negative connotation when brought up in conversation, such as being seen as communists or immigrants. However, when we consider the Cuban population at the time, we see that the interactions between each other were lively and inviting. What is more important than how they are perceived in the world is their culture, their communication and what makes them the way they are and continues to be such an uplifting environment. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The Cuban population as a whole is very friendly and welcoming, as are many other Spanish-speaking countries. Cubans are known for being loud and sometimes overbearing in their kindness. As Julia Balzer Riley states in Communication in Nursing (page 56), “Our language (Spanish) is everything to us. We pride ourselves on speaking it loudly – ​​we love socializing anywhere with our family and friends. » In the healthcare system, it is important for any practicing doctor, nurse or administrator not to take this kindness to the point of shouting at them, it is simply in the culture that this loud way of speaking coincides with the ease with which Cubans share their feelings or ideas. Being of Cuban origin myself and surrounded by my family all the time, I know that thoughts are exchanged easily, no matter what they are. arguing loudly is also a common form of expressing tension rather than fighting. I have learned not to take certain things to heart because I know that speaking out reluctantly or sharing ideas bluntly is the way. Cubans communicate, in comparison to the way Cubans have a very open and welcoming sense of communicating. ideas and emotions, their way of touching is just as friendly. Whether greeting a friend, family member, or stranger, it's not acceptable to not greet every person in a room with a handshake for men or a kiss on the cheek for women. According to Every Culture, “touching as a display of affection is not taboo and has no sexual connotation.” Applying this to the healthcare system, asking a man to greet a nurse by kissing her on the cheek would not be considered a sexual act, but simply a form of greeting the nurse. Contact and affection are very important in Cuban culture and should not be considered an inappropriate way to act. When I communicate with strangers, my family for example, is always very welcoming and open to others. However, it is difficult for some members of my family who do not speak English. This is an area where Cuban culture, like many other cultures, I'm sure, clashes with American culture, especially when one does not seek to compensate for the other. I notice my grandparents become shy when talking to someone who only speaks English. In the health system, it is important to take into account each culture to be able to understand what the problem is. When talking to a person of Cuban origin, eye contact plays an important role. There is nodifference between the person you are talking to, whether it is a stranger or a person belonging to a different age group, eye contact when communicating is very important in any conversation. For Cubans, constant eye contact makes them uncomfortable. However, avoiding eye contact can be a way to signal dishonesty, as highlighted in a blog written on nonverbal communication in Cuba (2013). A healthcare professional must be aware of these types of small distinctions between different cultures, which takes time and knowledge of each to be able to understand. This differs from Americans, as Americans prefer eye contact to be maintained throughout the conversation, otherwise it is considered rude. In this scenario, a healthcare professional might use eye contact when speaking to the patient, while using diagrams or visuals to maintain a conversation. It could also help overcome the language barrier that many parts of the healthcare system face. This would not only help the doctor or nurse, but also the patient. Cubans are very emotional people. When there is anger, it comes out clearly and the same is true when there is sadness or happiness. You can easily read the expression on a Cuban's face and understand what the person might be thinking or feeling. When it comes to how Cubans perceive body language, "the focus is not on what is said, they focus more on their gestures and facial expressions," as one language describes. non-verbal. In particular, no specific gesture is made, apart from a look from a grandparent which could frighten a grandchild if he behaves badly. But emotions are worn on the sleeves of Cubans, because they are very friendly people, they could easily be bullied by a foreigner. A medical professional could easily calm a patient if this were the case. Using a calm voice and making sure a Cuban patient feels comfortable would allow any healthcare professional to easily communicate with a Cuban to provide the best possible treatment. As previously mentioned, both of my parents were born in Cuba and grew up when Fidel Castro came to power. In the eyes of the world, Cuba is seen as a country that lives in the past because of its cars from the 1950s that are still in use, its crumbling buildings that are not repaired and basically living in a time when little have progressed due to the absence of relationships. with the United States. Although all of this is true and no changes were made by the government until Barack Obama resumed some relations with Cuba, their health system remained exceptional. As writer Salim Lamrani (2014) states in the Huffington Post: “Despite extremely limited resources and the dramatic impact of economic sanctions imposed by the United States for more than half a century, Cuba has managed to guarantee access to care for all. segments of the population and obtain results similar to those of the most developed countries. Buildings may be falling apart in Cuba, but health care has thrived thanks to preventive medicine. Of all the third world countries on the continent, Cuba is the leader when it comes to medicine. Cuba has also conducted leading research in Africa to discover different medical remedies and is also home to the Latin American School of Medicine, which trains future doctors from around the world. The medical system in Cuba may be wonderful, but from experience, when it comes to Cubans receiving medical treatment in America, it is a.