Diaries

The First Part of the Trial

I had never been in a courtroom before; it was quite small with long wooden benches, like in the movies. The judges and lawyers were dressed in long black gowns, which I imagine must be hot as hell in the summer.

Read More

Close to Vedado (II)

In terms of getting permission to stay in Havana, we’re OK for now, in that we’re currently here legally as students. Afterwards -once we’ve finished our studies- that remains something we’ll have to take care of.

Read More

Distortion of History

All these debates resulted in the inevitable; university professors told how they had studied using Russian text books, which falsified or distorted the ideas of the greatest Marxist thinkers, and how those books are still being used at the university.

Read More

Resort Life

As a visitor to this country I can say that I am perfectly fine with Cuban families building sand castles on the beach. Having police cars honk at me and officers make advances in the street is what actually bothers me.

Read More

Traveling in Havana

The day I decided to write this blog, somebody stole my documents and my appointment book while I was on the city bus. I want to chronicle my life experiences in this city that perhaps someday you will decide to visit.

Read More

National and Local Heroes

The true hero of the kids in my neighborhood is Misha, a very well-known Reggaeton singer and composer who has been unmatched in giving a sense of identity and belonging to those youth. He walks on foot through our community, and no one ignores his simple and charismatic greetings.

Read More

The Famous Plan D

After seeing how questionable this new system of study can be, it simply makes no sense that no one took us students into account in the elaboration of the plan.

Read More

A Leap Into a Dream, Am I Awake Now?

The bus arrived on time, and I couldn’t believe that it took me to the hotel for free. I had some dollars but I didn’t change them in the airport because the signs didn’t clearly indicate where the places were, and everything was a bit narrow and strange to me.

Read More

Abuse of Power

When most Cuban workers near retirement age, they endure poor conditions and low wages to receive a pension for their senior years. The most unpleasant aspect of this whole situation is the mistreatment and abuse that almost all bosses subject their subordinates to.

Read More

Seeking a Better Grade

It turns out that one of the people who read my article (about the mysterious and recent expulsion from Mt. Olympus of important political figures in Cuba), someone identifying himself as a philosophy professor, turned attention away from the burning issue I had raised to aim his guns at me instead.

Read More