Havana, may I never leave you

Yesterday two significant things occurred:

1. I discovered the Cuban Emo crowd! [not real emos…but they like American rock songs like the Cranberries “Zombie” and Maroon Five’s “Makes me wonder.” SWEET VICTORY]
2. Before discovering the Cuban Emo crowd, I GOT CARDED! Not for my carnet…oh no…for my AGE.

That’s right. I had a big bouncer man ask me what edad I tengo-ed and coming from a place with beer vending machines everywhere and no laws prohibiting alcohol whatsoever, I found this quite the chuckle.

…and still do.

The piano bar Tun-Tun (where I was carded and where all the Cuban emos hang) was probably the most fun bar I’ve been because I knew the words to most the songs and tourists weren’t even allowed in! yayyyy

But now our carnets are being taken away...nayyyyyyyyyyyy.

Because of this rash action by the Cuban government (that I knew was coming since we got here...so not so rash really at all...), we did a habana vieja crazy tour this weekend. Excursions included the chocolate museum, the international art museum (google Luis Aute, crazy man but cool nonetheless), scenic views aaaand the ballet.

The ballet was better this week (than last week) because there was an orchestra that was real and the stage didn't look like it was going to collapse so much.

I defined a few words and wrote a few haikus for this week's entry. Enjoy! I will be writing papers this week (BLAH). Cuba's school of life > lame-o papers.

la reina de los emos,

sara la fresa

Vocab:

Gau-gau [pronounced GWAH-GWAH]- the bus. More specifically, the P11 gau-gau. It takes you (kind of) straight to the Capitolio. Chickens, snakes, guinea pigs and puppies tend to ride along. Yesterday I even saw a man carrying a saw and a big piece of wood.

*sidenote: the gua-gaus are imported buses from Russia, so…they are designed to keep the cold out and the heat in. No, gracias! It’s hot enough in Cuba thanks.

The U.S.-Cuba conflict/Imperalism-I realize there is a real meaning for this, but I felt like I should put my History of Cuba professor’s take on it instead:

“I dump trash in your backyard. You cut down the trees and poison my dog.” -Profe. Rosa

Carnet [pronounced car-nay]- Our Havana residence i.d. cards. Similar to the word for ‘meat’ carne. This has been my proof that yes sir coppelia man! I am Cuban and I am allowed to pay in your cheaper currency.

But we have to give them back tomorrow. So for the last three weeks I only have my wit (and Cuba skillz) to convince people I live here.

Emo- Short for “Emotional.”People who tend to listen to scream-o and cry all the time.

Haikus:

Havana, the bus
of my dreams. May I
never leave again.

Reacting here is
Over-rated. I’d rather
run errands for fruit.

Sweating in these old
Chevy’s is what I will miss,
but sell them gently.

I fight your livestock
on the gau-gau. Who knew snakes
could be travel size?

Imperialist
rage! Card me man--- I have a
carnet for a while.