All right, this is it!

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Today we celebrated a Cuban Thanksgiving. Yes, in of all places we could have celebrated Thanksgiving, we decided to celebrate it in Cuba. Rather than look at this holiday in a historical context, I just decided to think of it as a day of Thanks—and it was. For the whole day, the staff of Hotel de ANAP helped us prepare all the food. I made mashed potatoes and a tomato and onion plate. It looks like I may be somewhat domestic after all. And for our dinner, our professors, SLC students and staff were present. I have to admit, though, I’m glad my mom had the idea of doing a mock Thanksgiving dinner after I get home.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Today I met with a film professor. What I thought was going to be a short conversation alongside the Malecón, turned into a 2 ½ conversation about Cuban and American politics (what’s new?). He fears the effects American consumerism will have on Cuban identity after Obama takes down the travel restrictions and remittances. I’m curious as to how it will affect Cuban identity as well. I guess we’ll all have to wait to see, now, won’t we?

Sunday, November 30, 2008: Andrea’s Birthday!

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Earlier today, I was talking about the embargo with one of the heads of management at La Universidad. Anyway, we were both discussing what will not only become of Cuba after Obama is inaugurated but, also, what will become of the United States. He, like many Cubans I’ve spoken with, mentioned how much of a consumerist nation we are. It looks like Harvard lost 22% of its endowment recently. The weight loss is showing, no? He also mentioned this thing we, Americans, love to call “Black Friday”. For those who don’t know what this doomsday is, it is the day after Thanksgiving when all shoppers love to go out to their local malls and outlets to buy their families and friends discounted Christmas gifts. He said he heard of people tackling one another over buying algunas cosas (some things). I don’t know whether or not any of you have ever seen images of this fighting so, if you haven’t, I highly recommend watching the documentary, “What Would Jesus Buy?” I know, it sounds silly, right? Look up the trailer online and you will realize why you have to get your hands on this doc as soon as possible (I know I always say that but I speak the truth!). It truly does go to show how much of a consumerist nation we are, which is something I’m truly ashamed of—especially after living in such a humble nation for almost four months now. What I’m not ashamed of, though, is the following:

Washington Post: “WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Barack Obama should start soon to loosen five decades of trade curbs on Cuba and begin a comprehensive review of U.S. policy toward the communist-run island, U.S. business groups said on Thursday.”

"We support the complete removal of all trade and travel restrictions on Cuba. We recognize that change may not come all at once, but it must start somewhere, and it must begin soon," the groups said in a letter to Obama.

They recommended the United States start by holding talks with Cuba to discuss how to repair nearly 50 years of distrust and by allowing Americans to visit the island.

Washington should also consider exempting agricultural machinery, heavy equipment and certain other goods from its embargo to help in the rebuilding of Cuba in the wake of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, the groups said.

The groups included American Farm Bureau Federation, Business Roundtable, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Retail Federation and Grocery Manufacturers Association, whose collective membership comprises a broad cross-section of American industry and agriculture.

"We are pleased that you support suspending restrictions on family remittances, visits and humanitarian care packages from Cuban Americans. These are excellent first steps, but we urge you to also commit to a more comprehensive examination of U.S. policy," the groups said.

The United States expanded an arms embargo on Cuba in 1962 to include other goods after the Cuban government under the leadership of Fidel Castro seized the properties of American companies doing business on the island.

The Cold War-era restrictions were codified into law by Congress 1992 under the Cuban Democracy Act.

Efforts to loosen the embargo remain politically difficult because of the influence of Cuban-American exiles living in Florida, a key presidential swing state.

But with Obama's election, the outlook for change has improved, said Jake Colvin, vice president for global trade issues at the National Foreign Trade Council, whose members include Boeing, Caterpillar and Microsoft.

"There is a growing optimism that taking the kinds of small steps that President-elect Obama has promised, like diplomatic overtures and relaxing travel restrictions, could lead to more substantial changes later on. Companies want to be ready for that moment," Colvin said.

Obama could take some steps on his own, but completely removing the embargo would require congressional action.
Can you believe it? I can. And I’m thrilled. I’m only going to be in the US for the first week Obama will be in office. That’s the only unfortunate thing about this. But, I must admit, I’m excited to see what will have changed by the time I get back. Vamos a ver…

As for what I’ll be doing while out of the country, I’ll be filming in Cochabamba, Bolivia for four months and then will head onto Lima and Cusco, Perú. I can’t believe by that time it will have been four years since I’ve been back!

P.S. Just got back from seeing one of Argentina’s largometrajes (feature-films) of this year and am amazed. Please see “Leonera”, a truly brilliant film, as soon as possible.
Thursday, January 1, 2009

A friend sent this to me the yesterday to not only wish me a Happy New Year but also to remind me of the 50th Anniversary of the Cuban Revolution:

Revolución Cubana: 50 años
Nosotros, los yumas

Joseba Macías
Zazpika-Rebelión

Entonces, completando el corolario local, aparecimos nosotros-as. Es cierto que ya desde 1959 había pasado por el Archipiélago un crisol de razas y compromisos, pero nosotros-as, cuestiones de los nuevos tiempos, éramos distintos-as. Hasta en la denominación. Muy pronto el imaginario insular pasó a definir como yuma, por extensión, a todo extranjero supuesto poseedor de “moneda dura”, argonauta llegado de Occidente y convertido, por mor de las circunstancias, en un gran billete fula-verde con brazos y piernas que deambulaba entre calles, cayos y hoteles llenando los parques de colorido (supuesto) y contradicciones (reales).
Nosotros-as, los yumas, aprendimos pronto que la conga y los mojitos se suben a la cabeza (y no siempre por este orden), que los atardeceres en el trópico son otra cosa, que la prisa es un término sin conjugación posible en determinadas latitudes o que todavía existen lugares en el mundo donde una mirada o una palabra tienen más valor real que los dividendos y fluctuaciones de toda la banca internacional. Pero también aprendimos, prueba empírica y contrastada, que la necesidad genera heridas en el alma, que no son lo mismo los turs que los ladas, que los fulas abren puertas y cierran conciencias o que la burocracia puede llegar a ser un mal tan perverso y extendido como el virus de la gripe en frente frío.
Nosotros-as, los yumas, hemos descubierto aquí familiares perdidos en el álbum de la historia, lugares comunes, surrealismos propios y genuinos, el sabor de la picaresca hecha cotidianidad, el valor asere de la amistad, el difícil equilibrio entre lo épico y el relajo, la tranquilidad de los paseos nocturnos sin sobresaltos o el sentido exacto del tiempo mientras esperamos, es un ejemplo, que aparezca un panataxi solicitado por teléfono. Aquí hemos compartido hasta el amanecer hablando de la pelota que no entendemos, de la nueva América Latina que emerge pese a quien pese, de la vieja Europa que perece digan lo que digan, del último presentador que se quedó o de los cambios que se intuyen en una Isla siempre en tránsito y sorpresiva. Cosas del querer, en definitiva, que ocurren en este pequeño punto del mapa terrestre que sigue siendo centro neurálgico de encuentros y sensualidades a flor de piel mientras busca, sigue buscando, su particular e intransferible modo de ser y de pensar.
Es por eso, precisamente por eso, que entre terminales, aduanas, bitácoras y sorpresas nunca previsibles, miles y miles de yumas en tránsito hemos conocido esta Isla, sus luces, sombras, brillos y apagones en las últimas décadas. Y ahora que evocamos este homenaje 50 contra viento y marea reflexionando sobre la curiosa condición de extranjeros en una tierra hermana, nos entra así como un vértigo vasco-criollo, una sensación extraña de compartir vivencias mirándonos a los ojos y quién sabe, una miscelánea de ternuras y complicidades que contribuya mutuamente a la socialización de futuros por desgranar. Aprendiendo y compartiendo. En fin (el mar), en eso estamos. Relajados-as. Y cooperando. Revolución Cubana: 50 años Nosotros, los yumas.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

For the last week I was in Havana, I attended the New Latin American Film Festival for the first time. I saw at least 12 films in a matter of a week (which was a lot considering the fact the majority of them were long feature films—and also because I joined the party a bit late because of exam week). I have to say, as much as it was absolutely draining, I loved it. It made me realize that this is what I want to be a part of even though, at times, it can be pretty superficial. As I told my roommate, though, I’m glad that film festivals last only about a week…otherwise I think I’d go bonkers. That reminds me: I met someone that did. I met a man who watched 33 films 2 days before the festival ended. Yeesh!

Saturday, January 17, 2009

I’m sure that the last thing a Cuban (revolutionary or not) wants to read or hear is the words of José Martí but I have a reason for posting this. I was reading The Norton Anthology of American Literature (7th Edition) the other night while my friend, Sam, was out at work and while flipping through, I found this:

José Martí

“Cuban poet, essayist, journalist and political leader, José Martí (1853-1895) became a symbol of Cuba’s fight for independence from Spain. Martí envisioned a panhemispheric “America” at odds with the Gilded Age mentality of an imperialistic United States empowered by big business, government corruption, and worker unrest. Martí’s pan-national and antiracist manifesto, “No man has any special right because he belongs to any specific race,” helped define the nature of the Cuban revolution against Spain, known in the United States as the Spanish-American War, and is sharply at odds with then-prevailing Anglo-Saxon norms of American cultural identity. Martí focuses on New World nations’ indigenous cultures and calls on all American republics—those in the North America as well as Latin America—to embrace one “America” based on native uniqueness that would reject racism in favor of native pride. “Those born in America” should not be “ashamed of the mother who reared them, because she wears an Indian apron.” Instead of setting European civilization over New World “barbarism,” Martí characterizes devotion to the European tradition as a slavish, false erudition lacking direct knowledge. He demands the Americas’ recognition of identities as mixed cultures, united by common humanity. Martí hoped that through understanding, without hatred or racism, “new Americans could rise together (pp. 1868-1870).”

Here is the excerpt I recommend reading: http://www.historyofcuba.com/history/marti/America.htm

Monday, January 26, 2009

This is the part I’ve been avoiding, guys. I’ve been avoiding finishing up this blog for a reason (not only because my internet was down for the majority of the time I was actually in my house).

This has become, in a way, my final way of saying goodbye to Cuba for a while. To be perfectly honest, I haven’t had much time to get over the cultural shock of Cuba never mind say goodbye as I admitted to my friend, Ella, earlier this afternoon. I’ve been too busy getting ready for my trip to Bolivia, really. But, over the past week or so, I’ve been talking with more and more friends and family about my time there, realizing I had to had some sort of closure with Cuba before I left for yet another “reality check”.

I figured going to inauguration would help a little bit so, as it turns out, I went and got half way up the mall. Surprisingly, it did help. It was nice to see that everyone is so hopeful and energized right now. And to see that here makes me, once again, hopeful for Cuba. This past week, in case some of you didn’t hear, Obama signed to close the prisons on Guantanamo within a year. I’ll take it for what it’s worth, I guess. It may not be much but, hey, it’s a start.

Now, let’s get to the important stuff…and most likely the reason why some of you will not be pleased with me: I was able to use the internet before that big snowstorm came to MA about two days after I got back from Havana and was able to upload about 400 photos to Facebook…obviously not here on this website…sorry! I will do it when I get home, I promise!

Anyway, if you create a Facebook of your own, I’d be happy to “friend” you. As for the professors and teachers that are on this list: don’t be ashamed, I won’t tell anyone. ;)

I add this small Public Service Announcement since I got a few requests to discuss studying abroad while at SLC this past weekend:

IF YOU ARE GOING ABROAD FOR THE FIRST TIME NEXT SEMESTER:

IMPROVOSATION IS EVERYTHING: This is what my wonderful director, Shanti Pillai, told our group since the beginning of the SLC in Cuba Program: “Things are subject to change, with or without notice.” One could apply this philosophy to life, but I now see that this phrase has a special attachment to life in Cuba. Traveling around from place to place requires patience, but, also a good sense of humor. That’s probably the best advice I can give you to. Best of luck with applications to those who are applying for the SLC programs next week!