ties.

斷交

In the succeeding decades, the US government slapped on economic sanctions and travel restrictions,

在之後的數十年，美國政府發動了經濟制裁

which, coupled with the policies of its repressive government, kept Cuba isolated and its people

以及旅遊的限制來對古巴政府施壓，古巴因此被孤立，

trapped in poverty.

人民也飽受貧困之苦

In 2015, diplomatic relations were restored, prompting major changes in the Cuban economy

在 2015 年，兩國重新建交，連帶改變了古巴的經濟

and the lives of ordinary citizens.

以及一般人民的生活

So, how has life changed for Cubans in the last few years?

所以，在那幾年古巴人的生活有什麼樣的改變呢？

Well, one of the biggest changes for Cubans has been the sudden influx of American tourists.

最大的變化就是突然有大量的美國旅客進入古巴

The US government has gone back and forth on travel restrictions since the Cold War,

自冷戰以來，美國政府對旅遊限制一直舉旗不定

but for the most part, Americans have been legally barred from entering Cuba, unless

但基本上，還是美國人被禁止進入古巴，

going as a journalist or as part of an organized tour group.

除非是以記者的身分或是參加旅遊團。

However since 2014, the US has significantly eased travel restrictions, and even allows

然而自從2014年，美國明顯放寬了旅遊限制，

Americans to spend money there.

甚至允許國人在古巴消費。

As a result, the number of American tourists in Cuba has increased every year, in 2015

如此以來，前往古巴的美國遊客便逐年增加，

by more than 75 percent.

在 2015 年更增加了百分之 75 以上

Cubans, however, still need official permission to leave the country or even travel between

然而，古巴人仍需要官方授權才能出境

provinces.

或是在各省間移動

This is all happening as Cuba undergoes major economic reforms.

這些會發生的原因在於古巴正在進行經濟變革

As a socialist country, most industries are owned by the state, and workers are paid a

身為社會主義的國家，多數為國營企業，工人也都是

fixed monthly salary.

固定月薪。

However since 2010, the government has slowly begun to allow self employment and private

但從2010年開始，政府開始逐漸放寬允許自主就業

sector jobs.

以及私營部門的工作。

Today, private employment extends to more than 200 occupations, many of which cater

如今，私部門有超過 200 種職業，很多都是

to tourists.

為了符合旅遊業需求。

As a result, many Cubans who were employed by the state, for instance as doctors, engineers

也因此，被政府所雇用的古巴人，例如醫生、工程師

and farmers, working in their free time as taxi drivers or servers.

以及農人，副業就會是計程車司機或是服務業者。

That’s because, counterintuitive as it may seem, these positions often pay more.

這是因為，這些職業的薪水都異於常理的高

Nearly 500 thousand Cubans are currently registered as self-employed, however economists say that

目前將近有50萬古巴人都是自主就業，然而，經濟學家表示

number is closer to 2 million, or about 40 percent of the workforce.

人數已經來到200萬，是所有勞工的百分之40。

Alongside these economic and diplomatic reforms, internet access has becoming increasingly

隨著經濟及外交的變革，連線上網也變得

prevalent.

更加普遍。

Traditionally, internet in Cuba was shoddy, expensive, and limited to internet cafes.

以往在古巴，網際網路價格高昂、品質差而且僅限於網咖使用。

I remember when I traveled to Cuba as a journalist in 2002, the Internet was only available to

我記得在 2002 年，我以記者的身分去古巴的時候，網路只能在

foreigners in certain hotels.

特定幾間旅館給外國人使用。

We brought our local Cuban guide to our hotel and introduced him to the internet for the

我們帶著古巴的當地嚮導到我們的旅館，並首次

first time.

向他介紹如何使用網路

And he was absolutely blown away.

他驚嘆不已。

I will never forget the look on his face when he realized that news about the rest of the

我絕不會忘記他那表情，就是當他發現關於世界的

world was just a click away.

大小事只需要按個鍵就會出現

But things have changed in the last few years.

但過去幾年事情又有了一些轉變

The government has created dozens of public wi-fi zones, opened more, and cheaper, internet

政府設立了數個公共 wifi 區域，也開設了更多且更便宜的

cafes and increased connectivity speed.

網咖，也改善了連線速度

American telecom companies can now sell computers and mobile phones in Cuba, and internet providers

現在美國的電信公司能在古巴銷售電腦以及手機，

have partnered with the state.

互聯網也與當地進行合作

But even though more Cubans are getting online, still only about 5% have web access at home,

縱使越來越多的古巴人能連上網，仍然只有 5% 的人家中有網路，

and their activity is closely monitored by state officials.

而且都被當地政府嚴密監控

So, change is happening.

所以，開始有了一些轉變

But many vestiges of communism remain.

但許多資本主義的痕跡還在

Political opposition is repressed, commercial property cannot be bought or sold and the

政治的反對方被壓抑，商業資產不得進行買賣，

government controls all imports and exports.

而且政府控制了所有的進出口

Cuba still has few wholesale markets, meaning that many restaurant and shop owners must

古巴仍有少數批發市場，但意思就是，許多的餐廳及店家老闆

buy their inventory at retail prices or on the black market.

必須要從零售或是黑市購買存貨

But besides their centrally planned economy, the biggest hurdle in the way of change is

除了中央政府控制經濟，改變最大的阻礙還是

the US trade embargo, which prohibits most American companies from doing business in

美國的貿易禁運令，大部分的美國公司被禁止

Cuba.

在古巴從事商業行為

President Obama has pushed for a full lift of the ban, however the Republican-led congress

歐巴馬總統更將這項禁令推到最高點，但共和黨主導的議會

has repeatedly voted against it.

一直在反對這項禁令

There’s no doubt Cuba’s economy is improving, but until trade with the US resumes, ordinary

毫無疑問的古巴的經濟進步了，但直到與美國的貿易恢復之前，

Cubans will continue to live in relative isolation.

古巴人民的生活環境仍是被孤立的

As the amount of privately-owned businesses grow in Cuba, more entrepreneurs are looking

當越來越多的民營企業在古巴，更多的企業也

for creative ways to work around the trade restrictions.

在搜尋有效的方法來突破貿易限制

To learn more about what it takes to run a business under the embargo, check out this

想知道更多在禁運令下要如何營運公司，

video from Seeker Stories.

請觀看 Seeker Stories 所提供的這部影片

Thanks for watching Seeker Daily, please make sure to like and subscribe for new videos

感謝觀看 Seeker Daily ，如果喜歡的話請訂閱每日推出的

everyday.

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