cold front

What's not going on in Havana: Bonfires, torch raids (that was SO Jose Marti's birthday), chaos, shouts, screams, anarachy

What IS going on in Havana: a cold front, international book fair, my friend Lizzie's birthday, writing songs, pretty days at the beach (before the cold front, claro), school and contemporary dance.

There was an American who came on Feb. 24 to take pictures of Cubans when Raul was announced the new presidente and came to our residence a frantic mess because, go figure, everyone was still at work!

The regime is still associated with Fidel, and until that man AND his bro (the new presidente) kick the bucket, Cubans will continue to live as they have.

A difference I suppose is what my international relations profe said:
Raul=practical, economical man while Fidel = charismatic, old, ideas man.

Fidel still writes in "el granma" but Raul, bless his soul, is not as eloquent.

Yes, I think I just called Fidel eloquent.

We talked about the switch in my International Relations class and the BIG BIG issue is the dual currency. Raul hopes to make it so there is only one. As does every other Cuban.

My bigger issue right now in Cuba is this cold front.

On Tuesday, the sun was so nice so we went to the beach again where I did probably my two favorite things in the world: swam & sieste(d).

Yesterday it decided to be 77 degrees instead of 85 and today is the same. No more swims or siestes for now...but I can concentrate on other things.

The pictures I'm posting are from my friend Lizzie's birthday. We went and ate a nice meal (more than rice and beans) while our director Danielle and Ernesto debated about race (I will save that for a different entry). After dinner we looked at the stars, as we often do, at the Hotel Nacional.

I can't end this without mentioning a def. highlight to my life: Our Art and Culture Class yesterday went and saw the Cuban Contemporary Dance group practice and I had no idea people could have muscles where they had muscles.

If I thought boxing would work my upper body strength, you should see these people.

My fingers are a bit frio so I will sign off from here but hopefully update soon.

todo mi amor,
Sara
la reina de "no more cold fronts" por favor

lame Tuesday

Of all days to resign, Fidel chose Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2008.

I would like to argue this day is the lamest day in Cuban history.

It is clear why he did not chose Monday...no one cares for Mondays. Wednesday was a viable option; it was 88 degrees and Catherine and I went to our third boxing lesson with Nardo. He worked us for three solid hours, and I'm not talking about three hours of Yoga. It was three hours of throwing punches (why yes, we have made it punches...still no boxing ring or equipment) and abs.

Ideally, I would've been in peak physical condition to read about his resignation in "el granma" a.k.a. Havana's newspaper a.k.a. Fidel's middle school diary.

Instead, Fidel Castro chose overcast/rainy Tuesday to announce to his people (who "voted" for him or Raul Jan. 20) that he would be stepping aside, granted, he hopes to have influence and still be active on Parliament's decisions.

Although I don't know much about politics, I do know something about manners.

I know it is rude to tell a nation that have the right to vote for their leader, even if the candidates share a last name, and then step down and make it so they have no voice at all.

But that is just me.

Will write more later.

fun pictures

bagpipers, hip hop concert, jamming on guitar, sunset, my valentine, brewery

fighting irish

When asked if I could think of anything more fun than Irish Step Dancing to Cuban Bagpipe music, I had a hard time thinking of something else.

I cannot possibly think of anything more fun than Irish Step Dancing to Cuban Bagpipe music.

This week since San Cristobal has been jammed pack with greatness:
1. Great Boxing Lessons (with Nardo Mestre who is featured in EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE: CUBA on page 19)
2. Great Valetine's Day (Cuban style...complete with salsa lessons) aaand
3. Great new friends (that just happen to play the bagpipes).

I feel musical friends (and especially bagpipe musical friends) are the best friends to make. They are easy to locate, one of them is named Sorah and they help with important Spanish vocabulary like "bagpipe" or "put more wind in that instrument."

Luckily, the night before we met them in Centro Habana, mi amiga Caitlin taught me a few Irish Step dance moves.

I never knew I would come to Cuba and feel so Irish.

Speaking of feeling Irish...

I am taking boxing lessons from the sweetest man. He reminds me of a Cuban version of mi abuelo (poppie) only a bit shorter and a bit spanish(er). I look forward to training more.

Another class I took this past week was salsa (on Valentine's) which I enjoyed... but I can't afford to take too many of those lessons with my new leila ali dreams.

My legs officially hate me for being Irish/taking boxing/salsa dancing the week away. But it's alright. I'm in Cuba!

happy three week anniversary cuba!

To celebrate the big 3-week adventure, mis amigas Caitlin, Lizzie, Kristin, Quanic, Teresa went with Kelly to see her family in House 18, San Cristobal (outside of Havana in Pinar del Rio).

dead pig count: 1 (not counting the one we ate)
piglet count: 6
dominos games: x infinity
naps on floor: 1

It was the most fun I've had yet. I learned a couple of things:
1. There is good food in Cuba.
2. Spanish sign language is different than English sign language, but Kelly Clarkson's "Since you been gone" is a good barter
3. Colombian accents are way easier to understand
4. Peanut Butter exists
5. If you are related to one person in a small town, you are related to everyone.

Oh man, we had at least x infinity places to stay because between Kelly and her cousin Ernesto, the town of San Cristobal belonged to them.

As soon as we arrived, their family brought out a monsoon of bread (and mayonnaise...but I opted for a simpler pan) and quickly suggested we go get a pig...So we did. And they proceeded to make pork rinds....Only in Cuba

It was great to hop out of Havana for a while. Although I am enjoying my living situation at la residencia, I realize I am living in a bubble: A giant bubble of running water, occasionally hot showers and no limitations as to where I can go.

I stayed with Kelly's mom's aunt in House 18 close to downtown (meaning a church and semi-convenient store...WITH PEANUT BUTTER). Before Mass Sunday morning, she got up at 7:00 a.m. to make us the most delicious breakfast in the entire world with REAL milk. My palate is ruined.

Mass was a good mecca to my Catholic roots because the Priests were Colombian and very nice. They actually speak slow and annunciate. (go figure)We ended our 3-week celebration riding off into the sunset on the back of a cattle car. We even sang disney songs...because, well, that's what you do in cattle cars. Just as a sidenote: I took boxing lessons! It was so great!

I hope this posts...this connection is weird!

girls in prior pic: kathy (my roomie), lizzie, ernesto, danielle

here is a pic from the feminist party! will write more later!

mega strawberry

Overall count: 8 (this time they were red with white polka dots)

Chaco tan: 1 foot

Salsa dances on the malecon: 1 (for Brandy)

Dominating domino games: 4

Aside from domino tournaments, classes and Cuban food have dominated this week for me.

My stomach is still getting used to a beans, rice and ice cream diet, but I did attempt pizza last night (sidenote... not pizza night worthy).

Classes should be interesting even though they are three hours long. At least we don't have class on Fridays. That is good news.

What else is good news is having a professor who believes that "chaos creates good ideas." (parallel to the revolution anyone?) Her name is Rosa...a.k.a. the one who answers with "Oh really?!" to questions starting with "I'm not sure about..."

At least having classes with 400 other people has taught me not to raise my hand unless I am completely oblivious to what is going on.

I found Morgan's boxing coach from last semester and I think I will start those lessons next week. My other mission is to find a guitar, although I think the front desk is content with my serenades of HAIRSPRAY and Shakira...but mostly HAIRSPRAY...because it has dance moves.

I'm wearing my hair big and my adventure is getting bigger.

I had an "Oh man I'm not in Chapel Hill" moment in class the other day when the windows were wide open and I could feel the breeze from outside... You just can't feel that in a lecture hall.

I've attempted to upload a video from the night of la torcha so I hope it works!

I am wearing a red dress and just heard a man mumble "grande fresa" a while back so I will take that as a signal to bounce.

todo mi amor,

la reina de fresa

sb