DATELINE: CUBA : THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND, THEN AND NOW

Santiago, 1898:

Spain surrendered to the United States at Santiago de Cuba on July 17 after a five-month war that included Teddy Roosevelt’s famous charge up San Juan Hill with his Rough Riders and Cuban independence fighters.

Havana, 1991:

Translators are provided at every venue and they are excellent. Their patience with sometimes harried journalists is remarkable, and most have been unfailingly polite. And apolitical.

On Saturday’s opening day, the woman assigned to English-speaking journalists covering the marathon was fast and helpful. In particular, she was careful during the race not to show allegiance to any runner or country as she translated the televised race.

However, her professionalism broke when Cuba’s marathoners unexpectedly dominated the event. The Cuban men won the gold and bronze medals and she couldn’t help but excuse herself from her translating duties to dance a few steps with fans who had spilled onto the track.

When Cuba’s women won the silver and bronze, the translator was beside herself. Standing near the mouth of the tunnel through which the two Cuban runners emerged, the translator bounced on her toes and cheered the women on.

“Where is the USA, where is the USA,” she shouted, laughing. “You say we have no food, that we are poor, but look at our women, they run like horses!”

Realizing that she had lectured dozens of American journalists, the translator smiled, and--in excellent idiomatic English--said, “Sorry about that.”