Diaries Archives - Page 627 of 635

That Ancient Music

Fortunately the woman was mistaken. A large group of mostly young people packed the place which resounded with the strings of the Concerto Grosso by Handel, the musician to whom this year’s festival was dedicated.

The Strangest Valentine’s Day

Six weeks ago I went to the beach with four American friends and there met three Cuban men who play for one of Cuba’s national sports teams. Since then we have gone out with them several times, and on several occasions we have been stopped by the police while with them.

New Ideas Trashed

The government sells each Cuban citizen one bread roll a day for 5 cents of a Cuban peso, but the cost of production is really 7 or 8 cents. As an alternative to cut losses while pleasing the population, the accountant proposed to sell bread for 10 cents, and allow people to acquire two rolls.

Building D-22

The Cuban Friendship Institute (ICAP) used to maintain an apartment in the majority of the buildings in the Havana suburb of Alamar for lodging foreigners, almost all Latin Americans. However, Building D-22 was completely occupied by neighbors from outside of our normal environment.

My Second Leap

I believe there were some small jumps after my first leap, but I’m only going to talk about the big leaps that brought significant changes to my life. I’d say that the second big leap came after the decision not to go to junior high school (7-9th grades) at the school near my apartment in Reparto Eléctrico, a neighborhood on the outskirts of Havana.

Nice Place in Disrepair

My father tells me that the roof situation could lead to a collapse and I believe him. However, for now there really isn’t much I can do. To repair it would cost approximately 200 CUC (US $250), equal to a complete year’s salary.

See Ya Later Argentina

In 2001, having finished my high school and before receiving a scholarship to study at the Latin American Medical School (ELAM) in Cuba, I managed to enroll at a music conservatory. That year admission was based on ranking. I remember guys coming out crying about not achieving better scores and wondering how they could have been rejected after taking the entrance exam.

Understanding My Friend’s Cuba

During my first year at Northeastern University I had a Cuban-American roommate, my first experience with any sort of Cuban culture. Her parents had left Cuba when they were two years old, and she and her sisters had grown up in Miami. Her father owned a very successful chain of Cuban restaurants in Florida.

Unsolicited Questions, Part Two

When the union meeting was finished (see my next-to-last diary entry), the Communist Party members from my workplace asked the workers to please not leave because they were going to give a political talk and wanted to invite everyone to participate.

Missing Mr. Ghandi

I don’t know how it all came out, if they ended up in a fistfight or if the conflict stayed confined to aggressive words. Luckily, the moment came when I reached my bus stop and I walked home with the desire to read a story I had written years ago.