Cuba at the Crossroads of Change: A First-hand Account of Cubans’ Expectations in a Period of Transition.

The recently announced easing of sanctions on Cuba by the United States government, as well as the re-establishing of official diplomatic ties between the two nations, promise to mark the beginning of a new era for Cubans. Even though the Cuban government has lessened the grip of the State on the economic environment over the last few years, the re-opening of the American embassy in Havana and the consequent relaxing of the rules regarding travel to the island by American citizens has further raised the expectations of a more swift transition towards a market-driven economy. A visit to Cuba during this period of change is indispensable to take the pulse of the aspirations, anxieties, and expectations of the common folk within its society. After doing so, I propose to do just that – offer a fist-hand account of the mindset of ordinary Cubans in face of the most recent political developments, whether perceived or openly stated