Sorry about the delayed response. I only have USA citizenship, which makes going back to Spain very difficult. I've been trying to find a way back for years, without much luck. Some of my Spanish friends went to Cuba and it looked amazing from the photos.
With China, I believe University education is free. There are only so many openings for professionals, so it's not uncommon to have a barber with a PhD. Cuba has one of the most educated populations, if not the highest.
The closest I've gotten was when I got to chat with one of Fidel Castro's go-to interpreters. That was fascinating, though.