How I am preparing and/or procrastinating...

I just found out today that my overall weight limit going into Cuba is 44 lbs.... Including carry on items, cameras, laptops, everything! They have a $1 charge for every pound over, which isn't too horrible, but they warned us that leads to suspicion and they might check through our bags to make sure we aren't bringing anything into the country to sell. How they settled on 44 lbs confuses me, but I'll play by the rules -_- , although it might end up being a challenge. I do plan on bringing my old laptop. It has since turned into a piece of crap since I received the beauty sophomore year of high school. The screen flops back if not positioned carefully and I completely restored it to factory settings, so I hope I can revive it from the depths of my trashed room. My room always gets exponentially messy. I swear, one day I will clean then one thing will be put on the ground, then 5, then 10 and next thing I know I'm swimming in a sea of clothes I may or may not even own. But it's all organized up in the noggin, no worries.

I am planning on bringing a bag with WHEELS. Oh my lanta, I am never again bringing a duffel bag without wheels unless it functions as a backpack. I swear carrying ~50 lbs of crap in duffel bag without wheels destroys not only your arm usage, but your soul is actually sucked out of you. I wish I was more buff... I could handle that bag like a boss. But, come on, if you know me, carrying ~50 lbs for an extended distance is... a joke. SO, for future travelers reading this: get a bag with wheels. I don't mean the biggest bag ever with wheels, that's just too much, but anything really with wheels saves you the stress of travel. I am also bringing a 'backpacking' backpack. You've seen 'em, you know 'em. In Nicaragua 'mochileros' (backpackers) had such a terribly reputation. From those awkward conversations with the host family, I'm nervous to show up with a backpack, mandals, khaki shorts, and an awkward skin semi-burn, semi-tan, semi-PALE and just look like a total gringified idiot, but I am definitely going to leave behind the blue-blockers, Hawaiian shirts, and chubby family of 5 in matching swimsuits, so I am HOPEFUL I can find a balance between a shady, hippie Latin American wandering soul and a Generation X, McDonaldfied blubbering fool (no offense... but really ;) ).

My computer will mostly just be used to transfer photos to a portable harddrive, but I might, if I just want to chill with some downtime, watch a movie or something. But I am definitely bringing all my music in case I need to shed on anyone the glorious collection I have been acquiring for 5 years. Everything from Bhangra Beatz (what I'm jamming to now) to the Beatles Discography to Eurotrash Techno, I got it ALL. I probably won't ever encounter a wireless signal or even be able to use my laptop to connect to the internet, but I will hopefully be able to use local cybercafes or the University's system. My friend recommended me a place that charges about $6 an hour, but it was the cheapest/fastest option. I might bring a dinkier camera that doesn't take 5 mb sized photos, so MAYBE, just MAYBE I can upload some photos. I would really like to, just to keep this blog more interesting, but it is definitely not a guarantee.

Because the country is communist, there are a lot of weird things I have heard.... For example I just heard today that the government is stopping handing out soap rations because it has been deemed unnecessary, but anyone can also go to a store and pick some up.... It'll definitely be interesting to see how capitalism/socialism/communism/Cubanism all work together and how they affect me. Since I have money and I am not a citizen, I will have to rely on the free market to get what I want/need, but it'll most likely just be akin to walking to a nearest Walgreens and buying whatever I need. I will bring shaving cream, razors, and contact solution however.... Everything else will be available and most likely a lot cheaper than anything I can find here. I know, I will have to forfeit my Garnier Fructis hair restrengthening, moisturizing, color-guarding dual shampoo/conditioner combo, but the sacrifices of life! :P

I read an article about Cuba and the recent influx of capitalistic tendencies, but they mostly pertain to food and general products. I am very ignorant still, I know, but the article mentioned that while the food markets and such are illegal, they are actually crucial to the economy and the survival of many people. If you receive your rations and they are insufficient, you take your money to a market and buy a little something extra. This appeals to me. If everyone receives the basics and a certain amount being all equal under the law and whatever power, they can either choose to survive on that subsistence, or with the money they earned from working they can purchase more and have that freedom to do so. I think this makes sense for a Cuban level scale. For the US, anything close to this would involve extreme planning and extreme debate. Pick your poison everyone!

I have recently watched 2 movies about Cuba, well 3.

• The first I watched was not really a movie, but it was a documentary about the wildlife of Cuba. It was fascinating! Being a pseudo-scientist I am definitely very interested in evolution and the diaspora of species across the globe and even across a stretch of ocean. Because Cuba is an island, the species have been isolated from most external influence and competition, therefore the wildlife is extremely unique to the island. I will embed the video, if you want to watch a little of the beginning or watch the whole thing!

• The second movie I watched was a film called 'Viva Cuba!' It is a wonderful tale of two Cuban children, a boy and a girl. The film starts with their friendship and just shows general Cuban life for these 2 children. The film takes on a Romeo and Juliet-esque style in that the families of the children do not care much for each other. The girl's mother decides to move out of Cuba to the US, and her daughter is completely against it. The film shows the children's adventure across the island to visit the girl's father to convince him to let her stay on the island. I won't give any more spoilers! The film is available also on hulu and I'll embed it here, also. But it is also available on Netflix instant streaming.

• The third movie I watched is probably the most famous regarding Cuban music. It is a documentary called 'Buena Vista Social Club'. This is a documentary done by Ry Cooder in his attempt to revive these almost forgotten musicians that are well into their 70s, 80s, even 90s! He wanted to record their music before their talents and before they are completely forgotten. He also organized tours and performances for these musicians across the world. It's an AMAZING documentary. I'm always a sucker for documentaries, but this one hit a particular chord. You can just feel the music and see the passion these musicians have. Especially after hearing all their stories and hearing/seeing what they can do with their voices and instruments, it's just an incredible experience that just makes you FEEL it. I love music and whatever, but this in particular just... wow, I just felt the music. This movie is ALSO available on hulu! I think hulu has some sort of affinity for Cuba. The movie is also available on Netflix instant streaming.

Apart from watching movies, I have printed off several 'academic' articles from the Library online system when I was back at Pitt just to use up my 1600 pages of paper. I have read only one reall :P but it was so interesting! It was about sex play-labor in Cuba, focusing mostly on male participants. Basically there are those who live this lifestyle strictly for swindling people and getting money, work permits to live abroad, basically mooching off any foreigner interested in a good time. But, there are those who choose this lifestyle who legitimately enjoy what they do. They enjoy the glamorous lifestyle and truly put their emotions into everyone they service. They do appreciate the money and the opportunity to spend a fancy weekend on the beach somewhere, but they are not out to fully rip off tourists, they pick and choose who they want and look for those who appear to be genuinely good people. They are more like ambassadors to the island in a more 'carefree' manner. These 'laborers' may take their foreign interests around town, bring them to clubs, show them a good time, although they do expect some sort of payment. The article argued that this profession should not be deemed pitiful, disgusting, or that these people are being taken advantage of, just simply they enjoy living this lifestyle and enjoy having a sort of power over foreigners in their own manner.

I just recently bought a book on Amazon for $.01 (with a $3.99 shipping fee of course), but I am desperately hoping it makes it to Omaha in time. It was recommended to me by my same friend who gave me a world of advice. But the book is called 'Without Fidel' by Ann Louise Bardach.

My friend told me it is not only an easy read (which... I like :P ), but it gave her more insight into Cuban politics than anything else she has read. So I am definitely excited for an easy, crash course into the Cuban political system.

This last semester....

I took 2 classes relevant to Latin America and the Caribbean. One was called Introduction to Latin America and the Caribbean and the other was Hispanic Civilizations. The first was basically a crash course introduction to prominent themes in Latin America/Caribbean--I will probably now abbreviate it as LAC, fyi--such as: (neo)colonialism, imperialism, US influence, revolution, migration/immigration, and the list goes on. The professor was Matt Rhodes, the same professor who spent time with us in Nicaragua. He is an amazing human being/professor and my best friend... just kidding... but really. Anyway, in that class we had a final project we had to choose ourselves based on a country in LAC. I chose Cuba, of course, and I focused on racial relations and kind of the history behind what has happened in Cuba regarding these relations. Here are the links to my powerpoint and my actual paper if anyone is interested in reading through them (do not click the big download button in the middle, scroll down to where it says 'Save file to your PC' and click that, do not do anything with the big DOWNLOAD in the middle, it's just a dumb ad :(, also do not steal my paper/powerpoint for your own usage or I will hunt you down). In summary, here's some prominent bullet points I found most interesting in my research project for that class...

• During the conquering and colonization of the 'New World', many philosophers and scientists debated the justifications for the actions of the conquistadors. They came to the conclusion that these people were sub-human, they were living in the forest, their religion was false and based in satanism and animistic rituals. From this, they deduced that the conquistadors/Europeans were helping these people find God and civilization.
• After the Haitian revolution, Europeans/Spaniards were terrified of Black/African revolt. Many slave owners from Haiti moved to Cuba and brought with them tales of horror of Black angst and aggression. Spain tried to stop revolt in other colonies, such as Cuba in a few ways: they reminded Cuban slaveowners of the Race war (the Haitian Revolution), spreading rumors/stereotypes about African religion and culture being full of devil and idol worshiping and other rumors about African sexuality being animalistic in that, because they were subhuman, they acted most like animals in a crude and impure sexual manner. These stereotypes still continue today. Many people when they think of the Caribbean think of Voodoo and African/Indigenous creole shamanism. The most prevalent, I feel, however, is that of stereotyped Black sexuality and its prominence in the sex labor business in Cuba. Many people still perceive Afro-Cubans to be exalted sexual objects and are deemed desirable for many sex tourists searching for the most exotic and culturally distant sexual experience.
• Cuba was one of the last places in the 'New World' to eradicate slavery, so a lot of the racism and discrimination based in slavery hasn't had the time to heal and diminish as much as possibly here in the US. However, a surge of Cuban nationalism sought to eradicate this racism and Spanish rule. The nationalists argued for men to all be equal under a new Cuba, and there was success in that every color of man was seen working together after Spanish eradication, until US imposed a new wave of neoimperialism from 1898 -- 1902. From this, several US business owners purchased land, claimed ownership of natural resources, and basically shattered the nationalists' dream of a new Cuba by reinstating those same inequalities as before: the rich got richer, and the poor got poorer, meaning Black/African former slaves were put right back down to the lower levels of society.
• Then the Revolution happened. We all have heard something about the Cuban revolution, the glorified figures of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara. During the revolution, Fidel wanted to reclaim the nationalist ideology and push forward with the equality that all deserved as a Cuban nation. Part of his plan to eradicate Cuban racism was to lower housing costs to allow former slaves to move into better neighborhoods and he also instated anti-discrimination laws to protect the former slaves. These are both debatable, but have allowed for former slaves to move out of more dangerous, poorer areas, and the anti-discrimination laws have been somewhat effective, but most people believe these acts were flimsy at best and have not aided the situation as much as Fidel believes. He believes that these acts (as well as others I have not mentioned, surely) have ended the war on racism in Cuba. This is most completely false, but the issue no one is really allowed to discuss the issue without being possibly reprimanded by the government.
• Today in Cuba, there are efforts by Afro-Cubans/Blacks to push the discussion into the open and bring the Mestizo (mixed European and Indigenous heritage) population into discussing the same issues that affect them being essentially of darker skin than others that appear more European, essentially more 'white'. They have even pushed their efforts outside of the country. Just this year in Pittsburgh (of all places) there were a few events focused on Cuba, particularly on race. One event was a Cuban rapper named Soandry who came to perform in Pittsburgh and around the US, but I unfortunately did not get to see him perform (my parents were visiting). Here is a youtube sample of his music:

• Another event was one that I was actually able to attend. It is an exhibit (that is still ongoing as of this post) at the Mattress Factory in Pittsburgh. I went with my friend Hannah and it was pretty sweet. The exhibit is called Queloides which in English is keloids. Keloids are (according to dictionary.com) an abnormal proliferation of scar tissue, as on the site of a surgical incision. I believe this refers to the scars left from years of oppression and discrimination on the Afro-Cuban population. Here are some pictures from the Mattress Factory website of some examples of the artwork (if you click through, it will take you to the page and give you more information about the artist/what you are looking at):
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  As I mentioned earlier, this exhibit was directed specifically towards racial relations in Cuba as you can probably tell by prevalence of Black/Afro-Cuban peoples painted. I hope you noticed a familiar face (President Obama) as he plays an interesting role in Cuban/the world's race relations. If a man of color can obtain power in a 'Western' country, it simply gives the Afro-Cuban population hope for a better, more equal future.

The other class I took was Hispanic Civilizations or more colloquial, Hispanic Civ. In this class we covered a thousand topics from pre-Colombus times to revolution. In this class we focused more on a critical view of LAC. We learned about the tactics used in regards to the power of text, the advantages of both sides (Europe and the Indigenous populations) during the colonization, the role of women, the role of the mestizo/creole/slave, so so so many topics they are jumbling around in my head right now. I won't go into them, because most of what I learned about Cuba I applied in Matt's class and discussed said points in my paper and in the above bullet points.

So that was how I prepared this semester academically/culturally for this upcoming adventure. I started this post a few days ago and didn't get a chance to finish it then and I got a little sidetracked from what I was going to say, so I am just going to leave it here at this heap of information. I am cleaning, packing, and jamming to Cuban music. I am trying to read those 'academic' articles, but bleh. I am still on 'winter break' and it feels good.

more of a detailed explanation:

So here is the: Pitt in Cuba facebook page. It's a little out-dated and I'm the only one that 'liked' it besides the Pitt study abroad page. That has some information, but maybe you'd like to 'like' it also to see if there's any updates that we can't necessarily get out, but the study abroad office in Pittsburgh can? Who knows! But we should show every program at Pitt some support! Here is the Pitt in Cuba official page. The website has changed recently I guess, and this one is already updated for 2012! But I'm assuming it's the same information.

I facebook creeped someone that popped up on my newsfeed and saw that she went to Cuba and I was like: must creeeeeeeeeeeeeep. She had wonderful photos and I decided to message her in hopes of acquiring as much information as possible. Just this week we had an hour long skype session about it. She was/is too helpful. But here's our dialogue over facebook. She will be anonymous just because that might a bit too creepy...

I just wanted to include this conversation because it covers a lot of questions already and they are answered by someone who has already done the program, just to give you an idea what to expect for me!

I will go over some of the basics..... a lot of this information is just what I've been told/speculated... so, I'm not sure how much is exactly true (but that's the fun part, right?)

Living Situation:

I will be staying in a hotel/hostel in Havana, Cuba (if you have not figured that out yet). The University rents out rooms for students (most likely foreign exchange students, but I'm not sure), but the hotel still functions as a regular hotel. The hotel is called: 'El Hotelito Viejito', I believe, and I couldn't find any website or anything. Each room will hold 2 students, so I will have a roommate. His name is Eric and he is a senior at UPitt Johnstown. I'm not sure of any of the other accommodations, but there will be a safe for each resident... I think. The rooms will be cleaned and the sheets will changed just like a regular hotel (kind of freaks me out, but, hey, I won't complain), but my goal there is to meet these employees that clean the rooms, especially my room. Under the communist-esque reign, everyone is guaranteed a job, so many of these employees were just assigned to the hotel and sometimes too many people are working at once so all they have to do is just stand around. Perfect for a good conversation! Maybe I will make this a baby-project. I definitely want to do my project that I wanted to do in Nicaragua: take pictures of FACES. So, maybe I will do that. start with these employees and then attach their stories to the pictures! Awesome.

The hotel is supposed to offer 2 meals a day to us as part of the program fee... such as part of our room & board/meal plan. I've heard the breakfast is fantastic, but it's always a gamble for lunch and dinner. My friend mentioned a boiled eggplant soup o_o.... kind of outside my comfort zone. I am normally not too picky... in Nicaragua I would eat anything and everything. There was one time... this bean paste soup with hardboiled eggs in it... that was a bit too much. BUT, other than that, the rice, beans, avocados, platanos, everything... so good. I will hopefully find cheap eateries around Havana also to take advantage of... most likely for lunch. I know in Nicaragua going out to eat for dinner was pricey because that's when the wealthier/tourists would go out to eat and, of course, spend more money. But since Havana is a bigger city with more nightlife, I'm hoping to find some cheap nighttime excursions. I would prefer to dine out at night.

The hotel is about a 10 minute walk to the University and is real close to everything Havana. I really don't know much and I don't think I really want to know much right now. I want to kind of get there and just be like this: O_O and explore (I've been really into making faces lately...o_O). I don't know how long it will take me to get accustomed to the Havana layout or even how big it is. I could be way off. Leon was very small, and I stayed close to the center--which was easy. Havana is a capital city and according to Mr. Deardoff's human geography class, the Latin American city layout is completely different from the U.S. Maybe I just pulled that out of my butt, or maybe it has merit. I think this is what it's like... I'll just have to explore myself!

I got it, I got moneyyyyyy

I decided to include this here because it just came to me and I think it's one of the most interesting aspects of this experience/trip/study abroad situation. Because of every political situation ever, I am not allowed to withdraw money while in Cuba. This means I have to bring all my money, in cash, to the lovely island. I am debating how much to actually bring, but it's definitely nerve-wracking to think about the possibility of running out of money! I am definitely going to have to be money conscious, but that's usually not a problem for me. I am just ALWAYS a sucker for souvenirs. For example, I bought a leather bottle case (it is painted and adorned beautifully) and it has a long strap... to like... carry on my shoulder. Why did I buy that? Who cares, I don't. It's awesome. But, awesome was affordable when I had an ATM a block away. Awesome in Cuba can mean no meals for a day :O. The sacrifices I might make. But really, I will be fine. Just dealing with so much cash freaks me out.

The U.S. currency is taxed in Cuba, heavily. For every ONE dollar you convert, the government takes off 20% of it. So you're left with $.80. It might not be that much of a loss for minor exchanges, but if I want to exchange $300, I lose 20% of that! This is why I am going tohopefully bring Canadian dollars, which I believe do not carry an excessive tax.... Things will for the most part be cheaper in Cuba, I believe. I think I can find $1 meals, but there will also be $10, $20, etc. I'll just have to figure out what I want to do/what I can do when I'm there. I definitely went into Nicaragua with a lot of expectations and so many were shattered... from that I've taken on a new mentality of never assuming. It's good to be educated about a destination, but that can only take you so far.

My Edumacation

I will be an official student at La Universidad de La Habana. Because I am an official student, I am considered, basically, a resident of Cuba. Because of this, I can use the Cuban peso currency (or as they say la moneda nacional) instead of the CUC which is basically the tourist currency. More about the currency later. At the university I will be taking 4 classes.

Here is what the Pitt site says about what I will actually be studying while in Cuba:

Students will enroll for 12 credits on the Pitt in Cuba program. All courses will be conducted entirely in Spanish and are organized as follows:

1. Core Course
Pitt in Cuba will be organized around a core course in Cuban studies, which all students must take.

2. Language Instruction
The University of Havana requires that students enrolled in this program have completed at least 4 semesters of Spanish language instruction or the equivalent before they apply.

All students will be assessed upon arrival in Havana and placed in the appropriate level of Spanish. The levels of Spanish will be matched with the appropriate Pitt course number for the level of Spanish. All courses will be approved by the chair of Hispanic Languages and Literature at the University of Pittsburgh.

3. Film Course
All students will also take a class on Cuban film studies.

4. Additional Course
Students will take one additional course from selection of offerings in the School of Arts and Humanities. Details of this course are still being finalized and will be published as soon as they are confirmed.

I will choose the last course from a list that they show me when I get to Cuba. Right now, I have no idea! I could choose Cuban Island Botany, Marxism, any class that I want. The real question is whether this class will count towards anything at Pitt. I know I'll receive credit, but will it work for my major, minor, certificate, gen-ed--only time will tell! It's definitely a mystery.

I am unsure of the advantages available to me as a student in the city. My friend told me that university students are highly respected, especially foreign students who come to learn and not to simply snap a few pictures and leave. I am interested in possibly joining some clubs, tutoring English language students, anything really.... I just really want to meet other Cubans around my age! In Nicaragua, it didn't happen as well as I wanted it to :( , but I am going to try in Cuba! I hope my Spanish/cultural barrier doesn't affect my attempts too much.

Outside of ^that^

I don't really know what else to expect without regards to school and the living situation. Who knows what kind of friends I'll make. Who knows what habits/hobbies I'll start. My friend gave me some contacts down there, so I'm definitely on a good start for meeting new people and starting a new social life, albeit a short one. I expect to smoke the forbidden Cuban cigar and sip (chug??) the sweet Cuban rum, dance my rummed bum off, but really I'm not going into this with any fixed ideas. I would love to volunteer and join clubs at the university, but those might not be legal for me or those opportunities might not even exist. One thing I know for sure is I want to complete some photo projects I have in mind and still take a million and one pictures. I regret my selection from Nicaragua. It was always scary bringing out such a device. I didn't want to intimidate/anger anyone and I didn't want to look even more like an outsider snapping shots here and there without taking time to appreciate the actual PHYSICAL object. You will see a plethora of photos the week of May 15 and beyond when I have photoshop and a strong internet connection ;)

If you have any questions, email them or leave them in the comment box and I'll try to address them in another post before I leave or maybe while I'm there!

con mucho amor,

John

A week and some change...

Hello everyone and welcome to my (hopeful) blog about my semester spent in Havana, Cuba.

This past summer I had an amazing opportunity to spend 6 weeks with an amazing host family in Leon, Nicaragua as part of the Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) Field Trip Seminar they sponsor every summer to a different area of Latin America. Part of this program was living with a host family and experiencing Nicaraguan culture, more essentially: a study abroad experience. The twist, however, was that it was officially a research based field trip designed for students to conduct research and write a paper based on our findings. I had another blog devoted to this time, but I unfortunately did not keep up with it that much, and I was a little distracted most of the time (in a good way). My research was done a little... naively, I would say. But I did manage to write a pretty hefty paper focused on the toils and tribulations that Native Nicaraguan English teachers go through, with both their and their students' experiences mentioned in the paper. If you ever want to read it/skim through it, shoot me an email before I leave for Cuba, or after I return.

I loved my abroad experience this summer.... I met amazing friends both from Pitt and the lovely city of Leon. I couldn't have asked for a better family. Well technically it felt like two! I slept basically at the grandparents' house and hung out mostly in a pharmacy (so interesting). My host mom was the most hilarious and hardworking woman EVER, my host dad was the proudest and most hardworking man EVER, my host brothers and sisters (when I saw them, they lived at the other house and traveled often to Managua) were inviting and shared the same sarcastic, witty, funny spirit of their mom (my host dad was their step-father, but they definitely treated him as their biological father). My host cousin was most like my host sister, always working at the pharmacy everyday except for Saturday when she would go to classes to study Pharmacy.

I was a bit naive jumping into that program, I was a freshman looking for opportunity and I wanted to continue to distinguish myself from the rest. It wasn't enough to move across the country, it wasn't enough to live in the honors dorm (which I will always appreciate, no matter what), it wasn't enough to have one of the craziest jobs on campus, and it wasn't enough to take 18 credit hours second semester--I needed something more. I found this program and was enthralled by how mature it sounded. I would be in control of a project that I would choose.

So I spent a semester in the class leading up to the journey, discussing project ideas, learning about Nicaragua, reading books, reading articles, hearing speakers, all the while ignoring the fact that I really had NO idea what I was doing. It was an opportunity. Opportunities happen anywhere and everywhere and for me they usually just fit right in and I can handle them fairly well. This journey, however, was a bit too much for me, and in hindsight the cost was substantial and the outcome was less than desired. I did, however, take with me the most important and crucial aspect: love for Latin America and studying abroad.

I came home over the summer and well... kind of fell into a stupor. I don't want to go into too many details, but it involves a lot of the past, freshman year, the future, and an over-thinking, anxious brain (mine). The stupor still tugs at me today as I am writing this, but I am getting over it. I have made several positive decisions to push me forward and have tried my best to keep pressures and worries to a smaller scale, to make this crazy transition in my life possible. I couldn't imagine that going to college would be this intense, and I definitely went into the journey naive and full of expectations, ignorant beliefs, and an overly confident attitude. Being honest, I wasn't prepared for college life as best as I could have. The years of self-medicating and self-philosophizing (this makes sense to me (: ) were definitely warped and manipulated in ways that I didn't imagine. I wasn't emotionally/mentally/physically prepared for the transition, but I'm glad I did it. I have met amazing people and have conquered a year and a half (ish) away from my comfort zone, and although the toll has been hefty, I am still trucking on and refuse to stop.

I decided halfway through 1st semester this year, I needed a change. I was of course going to finish the semester, but I didn't know whether this change meant transferring schools, quitting altogether or if it was something minor like switching majors, or quitting my job. I decided I needed a completely new atmosphere that wasn't shrouded by people I truly care for, and I figured I'd study abroad. I figured a new place with a new me was exactly what I would need/the only viable option if I were to stay at Pitt (for financial reasons), yet still be away. I didn't think I was actually going to study abroad, but I needed something different and I saw it right there on my facebook newsfeed: Pitt in Cuba. Was it a sign? Maybe. Did I decide to pursue it? Why not? It is a Pitt sponsored program which meant to me:

1. I didn't have to deal as hard with any bureaucratic bullshit regarding grades and credits transferring, financial aid covering costs, getting anything and everything approved--it can be a nightmare from what I've heard.
2. I didn't have to deal with any 3rd-party bullshit including weird application fees and requirements that I just did not want to worry about. I also wouldn't have to rely on them accepting me, me waiting to hear from them, and THEN starting step 1.
3. The program goes to CUBA! The mythical land stereotyped and ignored so heavily by US culture and public education, I figured I had to experience it for myself. Only a handful of schools even have this program in the US, so I should take advantage of something unique to Pitt to distinguish myself I suppose (sorry, graduating from a school with the 2nd tallest educational building in the world just doesn't cut it for me... but the nationality rooms... yeah, those make the cut).
4. Although the stereotypical study abroad stigma is easy classes and having fun, I was skeptical about the grades transferring as a letter grade back to main campus. That freaked me out. But, I've since learned the classes are less troublesome than normal, so BRING IT GPA STEROIDS.
5. I WANT TO LEARN SPANISH. I am definitely pretty proficient in Spanish... but Cuban Spanish is a different story. I learned a lot of Central American Spanish being in Nicaragua and so I'm hoping I can adjust pretty well, then transform into a beautiful Spanish rambling gringo.
6. I am tired of the US right now. No, just wait, hear (read?) me out.... I'm not some anti-establishment, uber-liberal, crazy student who spent a week in Mexico who thinks I have a right to betray the homeland. Everything has just felt SO politically-charged here recently that it's just blowing my mind. I am exhausted of environmental disasters, horrible economies, lying politicians, assaults on civil liberties, the Wikileaks/Julian Assange issue becoming a new pseudo-McCarthyism-witch-hunt-crusade-wild-goose-chase-of-Indiana-Jones-with-some-super-secret-relic-or-secret-that-will-completely-change-the-world-look-how-long-this-is-it-probably-isn't-anywhere-near-grammatical; (a semi-colon felt appropriate there) so I am just tired of everyday something new and tension causing is creating a huge dichotomy in this country that is just disgusting to watch. Where is the unity? Where is the discussion? People are so rooted in their ways nowadays (compared to my vast experiences in the past as a 19 year old :|), that it's even hard to ask each other to sacrifice five minutes for a favor or ask a friend to do something that is not their top choice. Not saying I'm not stubborn, but when I relinquish my stubbornness and see so much still emitting from everyone like it was their natural body odor, it irritates me. I want that stereotypical laid-back Caribbean lifestyle. I know I won't necessarily have it, but I want a place where it's normal to take 20 minutes to stroll somewhere without worrying your late, I want to not exist in an atmosphere where the "American Dream" pushes people to all-nighters and sketchy, back-stabbing competition. The "American Dream" as I see it, isn't valid for me, nor is it even correct in it's very derivation. "America" expands 2 contents and 35 countries, a fraction of which experience what we stole as the "American Dream". I've put myself under a lot of pressure to keep up with the Jones': AP credit, Honors classes, joining clubs, taking exams, going to college, getting a job, joining new clubs, getting an assistantship, taking way too many credit hours than I should be and I just want to say: for now I am done.
7. I know it's ironic: I'm leaving one politically charged country and entering CUBA, one of the most famous countries known for its super-charged-politics; but alas that's not what I'm after.

Sorry if this is turning into a huge rant that makes me sound like an uber hippie punk that took a 6 week vacation and came back as a "changed man", seeing the world anew and fighting for world peace. That is very true, I might have come back a changed man, I do see the world anew, and world peace will always be a distant dream that I will probably never see, but I do have opinions regarding inequality and world history/politics based in my education, that would probably group me with these crazy hippie liberals (but I'll keep off your lawn).

Cuba for me isn't about anything political (as I mentioned), nor is it anything about me wanting to change lives or share with the world the horrors of an "underdeveloped" country; it's about me right now, and that's all I want it to be. I will take pictures of children, some probably wearing dirty shoes with holes, people, going about their lives selling fruit, art, or clothes, the ambiance, the run down buildings, almost mummified 50s Chevrolets, but remember this is their reality, and you have yours. Don't compare development from the United States to a place like Cuba. Every country has its own organic, personal development model that works for that country. Sometimes things get hazy, children are hungry, people die, wars start--but it's their country, their situation, and most importantly their business. We can and should help, of course, if needed and wanted, but we shouldn't look down with pity at the poor children playing with sticks and rocks or the $2 paycheck an employee will receive for the day, try to just accept their situation without comparison and try to understand how this happened in the first place. Education! Either it'll freak you out, enlighten you, bore you, or simply let you pass on by.

I wrote this straight through and it might not make sense, maybe I'll edit, maybe I won't, but I hope you have some insight into what I am doing, who I am, and what I'm thinking. A lot of people ask "why Cuba?" and the answer isn't straightforward, at all: a little escape, a little adventure, a little self-renewal/acquisition, whatever. Superficially: I'm going to be living in La Habana, a walk away from the ocean, enjoying mild, summer-like weather, hearing Spanish everywhere I go, seeing a place almost trapped in colonial times, and hopefully making relationships with people, places, and overall the experience itself.