12 March 2010

Katie and I decided to travel independently of the program to Viñales for the weekend after our two visits on the 12th. The visits were pretty cool. First we went to the center for genetic biological study. This is where a lot of genetic research is being done. A variety of projects are chosen to study, some address illnesses that can be cured in the following few years, then some require more time for research, and other long term projects are also taken on, such as a cure for cancer and AIDS. It is pretty incredible. The most lasting thing I took from the center was the motivation behind developing this research. 1) the primary goal is to eliminate the problem in Cuba. For example, they have essentially eliminated Hep B because they vaccinate all new borns. The next phase is collaboration and to take the drugs/research to the market. 2) The personal motivation for being a doctor is very different in Cuba. It is true that there are some in the tourist industry that may make even more money than a family doctor. Not only this, but patents are granted to the institutions for whom the researchers work, never to the researchers themselves. The guy we talked to worked on three of the now globally marketed projects, but when he leaves, he will have no proof of his contribution besides a personal satisfaction, which brings me to 3). Our genetic researcher who showed us around explained that he feels an immense sense of guilt that when he isn’t researching, he could be curing fellow Cubans. If the team of researchers at the center do no perform well, do not discover enough genetic mutations or cures even, they all but loose their jobs, demoted to less primary researching positions. It is very interesting to me, especially as I think about perusing biological research. We also visited a similar center of immunology medicine. Then, we got dropped off at the bus station for a three hour ride to Viñales.

11 Marzo 2010

Several times a week we have program visits. These visits are so informative but sometimes, such as after a week of classes, and Spanish, and readings, they are a bit hard to handle. On Thursday we went to a conference at CIEM- basically a center for the study of world economics. Hate to say it, but we’re not looking too good, people. We learned a bit about the free trade agreements and some counter movements which are promoted for more equality in the markets. (ALCA vs ALBA). Then we headed to the center of Asian investigations. I take my classes through at the center that is the Asian centers equivalent except for N. America. The presenters were a bit nervous because a lot of what they had to say had to do with the wrongs committed by the United States in dealing with Asia. They talked about some interesting stuff, but this visit was the most unrelated to what I’m interested in and experiencing here. Thursday was a day of visits (I am writing this on the 17th. I’ve gotten quite behind again).