(For context, I'm Canadian) It's funny, when the news got out that the US is normalizing relations, the first thing all my friends and family remarked is that

(For context, I'm Canadian) It's funny, when the news got out that the US is normalizing relations, the first thing all my friends and family remarked is that now Cuba will be 'spoiled', and we'd better get in our vacations while we still can, before Cuba's overrun with Americans. On a serious note, everyone I know that's been has loved their time in Cuba. Most seem to think it's better than Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and so on (except for the food). Certainly safer. I haven't been to Cuba myself, but I've been to my wife's country which is less developed, much more violent and unequal. It was still nice (apart from AK-47 wielding bandits, corrupt police and the fact that everyone wants to rob you because they think white people are made of money). Minus the safety concerns, I'd be OK with the level of development and living there. The fact is, there's nothing wrong with 'poor' countries. Having a car and technology isn't all that. Having a decent house is important in Canada, but near the equator I'm OK with a shack. As long as basic needs are met, life isn't that bad. Which is why so many Canadians (I certainly know quite a few) 'exit' the system and live in 'poor' countries.