The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #168528   Message #4071730
Posted By: Vic Smith
13-Sep-20 - 09:49 AM
Thread Name: US visa fees for musicians
Subject: RE: US visa fees for musicians
Dick wrote:-
"imo communism has not been practised in the soviet union or in china.... Cuba is maybe the nearest."

On my 25 visits to The Gambia since 1997, there have been a number of occasions when I have needed minor medical treatment. This meant a visit to well-appointed MRC (Medical Research Council) in Bakau. Every time I have been there I been treated by a young Cuban doctor or nurse (male or female in both categories). One time I one asked why this was the case and I was surprised by the reply.
I was told that if anyone with medical qualifications went for a job in Cuba, that they would be asked the same pre-prepared questions. One of them was always, "Where have you worked since you qualified?" If the answer did not include at least three years in a post in a third-world country with detailed examples then there would be no job offered.
The sad thing is that The Gambia does turn out well qualified nurses and doctors but they are preyed on by recruiting teams from the USA, Canada and various rich European countries. The slaries seem to be stupendous in strictly currency conversion terms - but the recruiters do not mention the hugely more expensive cost of living in the West.