The Republic of Cuba, located at the entrance of the Gulf of Mexico. Cuba is the largest island of the Caribbean Sea -a long and narrow archipelago-, sometimes compared with a large lizard. It is located 90 miles south of the southern tip of Florida (US), separated by the Florida straight. Cuba´s territory includes the Island of Youth and several cays and coastal islets that totalizes an area of 110 860 km2.
Capital: Havana, 2 200 000 inhabitants
Climate
Humid subtropical climate with two clearly defined seasons: the dry one (winter) from November to April; and the rainy one (summer) from May to October. The weather is always very good since this warm and multicolored land exhibits the so-called ideal tropical sunny climate, with annual average temperature of 25°C. Mean temperature in summer time is 27°C and in winter time 21°C. The coolest months are December, January and February whereas the warmest are July and August.
Annual mean temperature is 25°C, the mean in winter time is 20°C and in summer time is 26-27°C.
Official language: Spanish
Population: 11 200 000 inhabitants (population density of 101 pop. per km2).
Ethnic makeup: 60% of Spanish ancestry; 22% mulattos and mixed-race people; 11% of African ancestry and 1% of Chinese ancestry.
Religion: 47% Catholics, 4% Protestants, 2% Santeria and African cult followers (many Catholic people also participate in it).
Main industries: Sugar, minerals, cigar production, agriculture, medicines and tourism.
Main trade partners: Western Europe, Latin America, Russia and China.
Currency: Cuban peso (CUP) and Cuban convertible peso (CUC)
Political and administrative division: Cuban is divided into 14 provinces and a special municipality: Isle of Youth (formerly Isle of Pines).
Endemic diseases
Many of the tropical diseases have been eliminated. Cuba has no poliomyelitis, malaria, diphteria, or filariasis. Other diseases such as leprosy and tuberculosis are controlled. The major health risks are chronic diseases.
Eye-contact practices
Direct eye contact is considered polite. Tenderness, affinity, and confidence are shown by direct eye contact between parents and children, friends. Looking away may be interpreted as a sign of disrespect, dishonesty, or loss of interest.
Touch practices
Cubans consider themselves to be especially friendly, and close contact and touching are acceptable. Men and women, and women and women, touch each other more frequently than men and men; however, younger generations are more open to expressing physical affection such as close hugging and kisses on the cheek.
Perception of time
In general, punctuality is an important value and is considered wood manners. For some meetings, people are asked to arrive earlier than the actual starting time to ensure punctuality.