Warning: this blog post contains pretty bland logistical stuff. If you are my parents, you will find it interesting, if you are a friend or stranger, I would recommend skipping it entirely.
We made it to Havana last night around midnight. I was exhausted from not having slept ate or blinked while guarding my overweight, overstuffed carry on and checked baggage. I figure it is worth the extra item cost I paid in Cancun just to avoid feeling like I’m missing things. So far, so good. I’m currently in the hanger market, but I don’t regret not bringing them from North America. One disappointment was during customs. Some of you may know that getting my passport stamped is one of my favorite things- as Cho would say, it is on my happy list. Well, evidently, in Cuba they don’t stamp American passports- logically, it can create a lot of problems having the stamp questioned, and evidently one must carry all the licensing and visa information with them, well beyond the life of one’s time in the actual country. In any case, my passport looks no different than anyone else’s except that I will have a rather long visit to Cancun, Mexico. I waited for the flight with the other (only 2!!) girls in the program. The smallness of our group makes me very nervous. We are all taking some different classes though, which is good. Anyway, bada-bing, bada-boom- we arrived at our hotel via tourist bus (complete with tour guide- I absorbed nothing she said) and choose rooms. I’m living in a super fancy hotel. There is even toilet paper! It is an unrealistic portrayal of Cuban life, but perhaps it is accurate for a foreigner’s experience in Cuba- we’ll see. My roommate is the program coordinator, Katie. She is in her late 20s and seems cool. We share a bathroom and together share a common room and kitchen and porch with the other two girls on the trip. In summary- last night I was feeling exhausted and overwhelmed
Hey Hill. This is your pop posting. Isaac is sharing my gmail for now. Everything sounds exciting and fascinating. The blog is a fine way for us to correspond, if its easier or cheaper for you than emails. It is really cold here, like 5 degrees at night. Last night we (Susie and I) went to a fundraiser for Steve Rowe, candidate for governor, at Wendy and Michael Taylor's house. Lots of people there we know. Rowe seems really genuine, they called him "authentic" in the intro's.
ReplyDeleteGlad you have your zip drive. Do you have a mailing address, so we can try to send you letters the old-fashioned way? Too bad about the coffee filters, I had intended to send you along with a big batch, but forgot. Hope the peanut butter comes in handy, did it survive the trip? Probably that is what put your pack over the weight limit. You could have redistributed a bit to get both bags under 50 lbs. Oh well, you made it. That's what counts. Sounds good that you are rooming w/ Katie. She seems nice and very capable.
I hope we can get it together to visit you over spring break. Lets keep working on that. It would be fantastic.
Happy Cuban adventuer.
Love.
AQJ.
Food Poisoning in your first week? A shot at the clinic? I figured you'd learn during orientation where to go and what to do in emergencies-not demonstrate. How is Havana distinct or similar to other places you've visited such as San Juan, San Jose, or other cities? Is it a big, flat city or are there hills?
ReplyDeleteIs it hard to get out and about to get the "real Cuba"?
Miss you. SM
THATS HOW I FELT! i wanted to learn about the cuban health care system, and i most certainly did. Havana is very different than any place i've ever been too. I like it a lot better than san jose, it feels a bit european and a bit latin american. it is mostly flat, but all of it is just a short walk from the great wide sea. getting into the city is pretty easy- more about that later. i pretty much am living in a nice suburb in the embassy district. you should see the russian one, it is quite ominous looking
ReplyDeleteand dad! Please visit over your spring break! that would be so wonderful. i cracked open the peanut butter today for the first time. both made it here safely, not sure how long they will last now that we're settled!
ReplyDelete