two worlds part 1

8/3/2019 Two Worlds Part 1

1/28

Two WorldsUnder One Moon

A journey in words and pictures by Gregg Stone


2/28

Whatfollowsisacollec.onofthoughts,observa.ons,andimagesasIexperiencedthemduringthe16daysI

spentinwhatIcametorealizeistherealCubaNotHavana,wheremanyspeakEnglishandsupposedly

welcomeAmericanswithopenarmsWherethosethatmaketheaveragewageof$22permontharewellhiddenbehindthefaadeofthena.onslargest,andmostfamiliarcityEachnewdaybeginswithwhatappears

tobemyactualjournal,followedbycon.nuedprosefromthisrecordandpicturesItookthattellmystory


3/28

Thingsyouneedtoknowaboutme

IgrewuponthenorthernedgeofYorkCounty,just

acrosstheriverfromPennsylvaniascapitalcityand

justupriverfromThreeMileIsland.Itwasan

interesngchildhood.MymotherwasinaCountry&

Westernbandthatplayedeverycarnivalandfair

around.Igrewupwithmusicanddevelopedastrong

needtoentertainandbeentertained.Constantly.

Iwasachildactorbrieflybeforehighschooland

radiopersonalitybrieflyaGercollege.Neithershort

livedcareerwasnotable.Nothingmuchwasnotable,infact,unlImetmyeventualwifeof30+yearsand

laterraisedtwosons.Ialsohelpedraisethousands

morechildren,asateacherandadministrator.

Itisthisulmatelylongtermcareerthataffordedme

opportuniestotravel.Ihavebeentomanygreat

ciesintheUnitedStates,aswellafewother

countries.IfyouhadaskedmefiveyearsbeforethiswringiftwoofthoseplaceswouldbeIsraeland

Cuba,though,Iwouldhavethoughtyouwerecrazy.If

youhadaskedmeayearago,Imighthavealso

thoughtitdoubRulthatIwouldsufferastrongsense

ofisolaonfrommyfamilyoreventherestofthe

world,asIknewit.Twoandahalfweekschanged

that,aswellasseveralotherperspecvesIheld.This

isthestoryofthatjourney


4/28

Preface

November,2010toJune,2011

IwasinmythirdyearasMiddleSchoolDirectorand22ndatTheEllisSchool,anallgirls,preK12dayschoolintheeastendof

PisburghAtaconferencethatincludedvariousotherindependents,ourAcademicDeanhadmettheInterna.onalServiceLearningCoordinatorattheGeorgeSchool,alargeFriendsboardingschoolnorthofPhiladelphiaItwassuggestedthatstudents

applyforanopportunitytojoinagroupofstudentsfromGeorgeandotherschoolsonaservicetriptoHolguinHolguin,Iwastolearn,wasCubasthirdlargestcityandhadarela.velylargepercentageofthe700orsoQuakerswholivedinthatCommunist

na.on

A]ertwologicalcandidates(Spanishteachers)forchaperoningturneddowntheoffer,Ihalfjokinglysaid,Idlovetogo,

confidentthatmyfouryearsofhighschoolandcollegeSpanishcouldberevivedsufficientlyformetofeelcomfortable

communica.ng,andthatmy54yearoldbodywasfittoperformconstruc.onrelatedlaborintheCaribbeanheatofsummer

Well,thebodywaswilling

Anyway,fourstudentsappliedAllwereaccepted,andachaperonewasindeedneededIdiscussedthepossibilitywithmywife,

Ka.eItwasashortconversa.onWhywouldntyougo?wastheresponseAndsoIwasoff

ButtherewasmuchtodobeforeheadingofftoCubaTheobviouspaperworkwasjustapartoftheequa.onTherewasalsothe

maerofpullingtogetherallofthepaperworkforthefourUpperSchoolstudentswhohadbeenacceptedTherewastheplanning

ofaminicourseclassonCubaforthepar.cipantsandotherinterestedstudentsTherewastheclass,itself,cotaughtbyoneof

theaforemen.onedSpanishteachersHesharedhisknowledge,includingmusicbyagroupknownasFreeHoleNegro,whichI

reallyliked

Therewastobeathreedayorienta.onprogramatTheGeorgeSchool,thenwewouldleavefromtheretothePhiladelphia

Interna.onalAirport,stayovernightinMiami,andtakeasecond,shorterflighttoHolguinFunny,itnowseems,howironicthe

lengthofthelastlegwas


5/28


6/28

June 22, 2011 8:10 PMHalf-way Gone

We are scheduled toland at 9:20 PM andneed to get up and outby 4 AM for our flightto Cuba. It seemsfitting to be leaving so

early. Trips to Cuba,as it has been hintedat in no uncertainterms, are somethingto be done in a waythat makes one as un-noticed as possible.

Neither government ishappy when Americansvisit Cuba. Cubabelieves we are goingfor subversiveactivities. An article

just published

yesterday'sGranma(CubasCommunist Daily) mentionedchurch groups in particular,and our own governmentdoesn't want us to break anybit of the embargo that mostof the rest of the worlddisapproves of.

Our group leaders or theclosest I've ever met to beingadventurists in the truestsense. Fran, especially, lives alife of antiauthoritarianismthat is both dangerous andborderline insane. One has toadmire his sincerecommitment to the cause andhow well he is able tobalance actions and principals,though.

The closer we get to Holguinthe more excited I get. Theapprehensions that dominated

my thoughts have beenclouded by the notion thatthis is this has all thepotential of being a biggeradventure than my visit toIsrael just two summersago...


7/28

Sidebar:IsraelaParadoxSeveralimagesareingrainedinmymindfromthetwoweeksIspentinoneofthemostinteresngplacesonearth.oinginI

knewonlywhathistorybooks,theBible,andthemediawouldhavemeknow.Boomline:itisandhasforalongmebeen

avolalestate.

WhatIcameawaywithwasabalanceofimagesthatcouldcreatesuchvolality.Thesefirsthandimagesdidgivemehope.ItcameinthejogsImadealoneinJerusalem,nothavingaplannedrouteorbeingsureIknewwhereIwasheaded,noteven

posiveIknewhowtogetback.Sll,IfeltsaferthanallthemesIdidthesameinmyhomecityofPisburgh.

Therewerethechildrenwholivedinthe

JewishQuarterofOldJerusalem.These

werefourandfiveyearolds,playinginthe

narrowalleywaysandincourtyardswithout

anadultinsightandyardsfromthe

neighboringseconoftheoldcity,whichcontainedindividualswho,supposedly,

wouldthinklileofpluckingthemfromthis

earthiftheythoughttheycould.

InthatMuslimQuarterIwalkedthepath

Jesuslasttraveledandsaweachofthe

StaonsoftheCross.Theironywasnotlost

onme,aseachstaonwasseparatedbya

vendorsellingallmanneroftchotchkes.JustbeyondthewalllayaMuslimcemetery,

builttokeepChristfrombeingabletoreturn

tothetempleattheapture;andifthe

cemeterywasn'tenough,thegatewas

sealedshutwithmortar."Sure,"Iremember

musing,"thatshouldkeepouttheSonof

od!"


8/28

InEastJerusalem,reportedtobeoneofthemostdangerouspartsoftheworld,IsawyoungPalesniansbehavingverymuchlikeAmericanoranyotherchildrenwitholdersiblingsguidingtheyoungonesaffeconately,joinedarm

inarmorhandinhandlaughing,playingandjustbeingchildren.

FinallyIrememberthebustripthroughnortheastIsraelontheSyrianborder.Onoccasionthebuswouldpassfields,

alternangbetweenpasturesfulloflivestockandempty,acresizedblocks.Ineachofthelaerwasasimplesign,

whichwarnedoflandmines.Thisimagemayhavebeenthestrangestonetomeandtoldhowmuchofaparadox

Israelis.IoGenwonderiftheareawillulmatelybefilledwiththechildren'slaughterandthecowstranquilityor

historicalhatredandbarrenness.


9/28

Backtotheflight

Onefinalthought:I'mcurioustoseehowmysystemadaptsfromtheglimpseofMiamitowhatIamexpec.ng

toseeaheadImustremindmyselftofocusonthespiritofthepeopleinthesetwoenvironments

Oneofmystudents,Maddie,willhaveanevengreatercultureshockwhenshereturns,straighttoafamily

vaca.onatDisneyWorldWe'llhavetotalksome.mea]erthisisallover


10/28

June 23 8:25 AMMiami to Holguin

"The scene at the Miami airport,which began at 4:30 AM, wassurreal--a word I'm sure I'll beusing with some frequency.Picture a huge queue full ofplastic nomads, their packsencased in green shrink-wrappedcocoons. There were duffelbags, flat screen TVs, and evenbicycles heaped upon rollingpiles to accompany many of thevisitors returning to see familywho have not relocated to theU.S.

My favorite image was of one

tall man who looked even moreso with about a dozen assortedhats on his head. Part circus,park huddled masses, it was aninteresting way to spend nearlyfour hours.


11/28

Weareina737,butithaslileincommonwiththe

AmericanAirlinesversionweflewinyesterdayIt

seemssmallerandnotaswellmaintained,as

evidencedbytheslightlyaskewemergencyexitdoortomyle]Myyoungseatmatewonderedaloudhow

oldtheplanewasIansweredgliblythatIwassureit

wasbuiltwithinmylife.meItookherreliefasa

complimentbutfeltobligedtoaddthatthismeant

theplanecouldbeover50yearsold

IwassurprisedthattheSkyKingcrewspokefluent

Englishandthattheinstruc.onsgivenwereaswellI

guessI'llhavetowaitun.lwelandintheHolguin

airporttofeellost


12/28

9:10AMFinalApproach

IamstruckbyhowmuchthecountrysidelookslikethatofWesternPennsylvaniaPerhapsthiswillbethestartofthethemeIshould

beexploring,focusingonsimilari.esinsteadofdifferencesMyupcomingimmigra.onandcustomsexperiencemayaltermyview

Iwasadmiedlydisappointedwhengoingthroughtheprocessofenteringthe

countryIhadcarefullypreparedmyselfforques.onsIwouldsurelygetfromthe

officialswhoinspectedmypassportIamheretodoworkfortheFriendschurchinHolguin,IwouldconfidentlyofferinSpanishIwasevenpreparediftheyaskedwhat

kindofwork,towhichIwouldreply,apintar,porejemplo. IwaitedNothingBarely

evenalookMaypassportwashandedbacktome,andIheardtheelectroniclockon

thedoortoCubaopenIwasin,justlikethat


13/28

A]erbeingwandedbutnothavingtoremovemyshoes,Imademywayoutsidebeyondallthefamiliesand

friendsstrainingforthefirstglimpseofthereturninglovedonesIno.cedthecarsintheparkinglotthe57

Chevy'sandotheroldcarscreatedthelookofacarcruise,withoneexcep.ontheAmericanJeepinthefrontrow(spoilsfromtheBayofPigs?)

A]erarela.velyshort,butvisuallys.mula.ng,driveintheChurchvan(anewerBenz),wearrivedindowntown

HolguinandwerewelcomedintothechurchItoccurredtomehowmuchthedriverstac.csresembledthoseof

mostNewYorkCitycabdriversThechurchwasgenerallywhatIexpected,perhapsabitmoresoItwaspartDeepSouth,partDresdenSomeofits.llinastateofrepair,likeafewofmypoorYorkCountyrela.ves'homes

Noneofithadfunc.onalglassinthewindows

A]ervariousintroduc.onswesettablesforlunchThegrouphappilyconsumeditThebakedchicken,rice,

cucumbersandtomatoes,andbananachipswereawelcomedtreat,aswastheguavajuiceandfreshpapayaA]erlunchandcleanupweallrested,awai.ngourfirstworkdetailYoucantellfromthesloppywri.ngand

marksaboutthatI,too,needtorest

2:45PMASenseofUneasiness

RestwasdifficultontheboombunkEventhoughIhadtwomaressesandtwopillows,neitherpresentedmuchdefenseagainsttheflatboardsuppor.ngthemIwonderedhowmanydaysitwouldtakeformetoadjust

PerhapsImtoooldforthisBeforelyingdownwewerepresentedwithavarietyofac.vi.esandexcursions

aheadofusTheseincludedconstruc.onworkhereattheiglesia,avisittoahydroponicsfacility,conduc.ng

artsandcra]sac.vi.eswithchildren,andtripstoSan.agodeCuba,afishingvillageonthenorthcoast,aQuakervillagenearHolguin,andabeachresort

AsIwriteIwatchandlistentoagroupofchurchmembersalreadyworkinginthebackcourtyardTheyappear

tobepunganextensionontotheroofofanoutbuilding,perhapstoprovidemoreneededshadetothefungos

andpapayaplantsunderitsnowskeletalframeOthersinthegrouphaveproventobemuchmoreadeptatthe

languagethantheyletonEvenso,oneofthetwogroupleadersishavingsomedifficultycommunica.ngThe

next2+weekswilleitherleavemetoanewpathorbreakmedowninthemiddleofit


14/28

10:35PMToSleep,Perhaps

ThedaywasatryingoneThehighlightwasaclimbto

thetopofthescenicoverlookwhereallofHolguin,its

surroundingsuburbsandthecountrysidebeyondwere

infullviewThesiteswerespectacular!Aguide,71

verycolorfulyearsofage,ledusonthisexpedi.on,

havingnotroublescalingthe427stepstothetopofthemountwithus

Liketheviewfromtheplane,itwasaposi.veimage

formeThedescentofferedaviewthatprovideda

strongfamiliarityThisonerevealedasprawlingurban

centeraboutthesamesizeandpopula.onasmyhomecityRatherthanretraceourstepsdownthe

steepstepspastabandonedwatchtowersandCold

Warerabunkers,wefollowedawindingroaddown

thewesternsideBythe.mewereachtheboom,wewereagoodtwomilesorsofromwherewebegan

Moreimportant,weenteredasec.onofthecitythat

negatedallofthefamiliarityandbeautyIhadsoaked

upearlierOurguidehadledusintotheheartofthe

mostimpoverishedareaIhaveeverbeentoUnlike

ridingthroughEastJerusaleminthecoolandrela.vesafetyofatourbus,wefoundourselvesfacetoface

withpeoplewhoobviouslyexistedonlilemorethanthebondafamilymighthaveSeveralwanderedoutto

observethestrangeintruderswhostumbledintotheir

worldManyhadtheemptystaresofpovertyand

hopelessnessnotevenhopelost,buthopenever

realized

Wecon.nuedourlongwalkbackthrough

neighborhoodsthatslowly,veryslowly,transformedintorela.velowerclassareasIhavealwaysavoided

backhomeAsIreflectitremainsatryingday


15/28


16/28

June 24 6:55 AMInitial Coping Skills

I was pleasantly surprisedthat I was able to get to sleeprather quickly, I and sleptthrough the night. I awokearound 6 AM, having had a solidseven hours. I knew I would

not be able to fall back asleep,especially after having to walkout to the bathroom for mymorning constitutional. I tookmy iPod out to the front room,watched a few music videosthen reviewed some of theSpanish for DummiesIdownloaded on my iPod Kindleapp before I left home. While

there was still much timebefore breakfast, I decided totake a shower. The ritualassociated with this becameimmediately apparent to me thenight before, and I felt the

comfort in both theprocedure and the water--cooler in the morning thanthe evening before.

I returned to perform whatsurely will become anothertime- passing ritual: goingthrough the items in mysuitcase. There was aspecific purpose to thismorning session because Iwas only able to find one ofthe two work gloves Ibrought, and I wouldapparently be needing themthis morning. Missionaccomplished. As I writeShana is with me. The

students have put on a goodface so far, but I wonderwhat's really going on in theirheads. I'm sure it willbecome more clear as thedays progress.


17/28

6:35PMHomesickandLonely

AlthoughIspenttheen.reday

withintheconfinesofthechurch

compound,itwasafairlyfullone

Muchofthemorningwasspent

doingheavylaborintheformof

dismantlingaconcreteandbricks

cisternThestructurewasabout6x

10with3foothighwallsatleast10inchesthickItstooduponfour

concretepylonstotheheightof

about15feetThatlastpartis

worthmen.oningbecauseatonepointwetookturnshammering

throughthefloorofthestructure

whilestandingonit

Oneofthecoleaderslikenedthisto

somekindofBugsBunnyrou.neIreplied,Thefactthatwereusing

anACMEsledgehammerdoesnt

helpmaers!


18/28

ThatlilejokeoneofthefewI'vemade,sofarrareformeItwasonly

halfofajoke,anywayItrepresentswhattheCubansfaceregularly:their

toolsarearchaic,andthematerialstheyusearechallengingtoworkwithThecoleadersreferredtothispeakoilpreviewasakindofhead

startonsomethingwewillallsomedaybeforcedtodealwithwhentheworldsoilsuppliesdryupIfso,itisnotsomethingtowhichIlook

forward

A]ermee.ngafewmorelocaldignitaries,wewouldworksomemorein

thea]ernoonWewerevisitedbythePartyrepresenta.veassignedto

religiousaffairs,aswellasabankexecu.vewhohelpedtheiglesia,while

alsobeingarankingPartymemberThegirlshadspentthemorning

pain.ngthenaveswallswithwaterlikepaint,stretchedtothelimitIlaterdiscoveredthatgasolinewaswhatwasbeingusedtocutthepaint

TheChurchmembersknewtheywouldrunoutofwhattheyhadand

probablywouldn'tbeabletofindmoreA]erpain.ng,someofthegirls

decidedtogoforawalkintothecenteroftownAtonepointIwasgoing

tojointhem,butIdidnotIwillnotmakethatmistakeagain,astheonlyglimpsesoftheoutsideworldwerethroughcracksinaboardedupgate

overlookingSanJoseIglesiaandthroughbarredwindowsonto Calle

Libertad


19/28

Latea]ernoonfoundourgroupinthechurchtorehearseaskitandsongwewouldbeperformingattheSundayserviceIhavelinesinthe

skit,astheprofessorgivingatestMercifullythemainoneissimply,Buenasdas,nios.Vamanoshacerelexaminahora

IfeltmorelostandlonelythanusualduringthehourandahalfofotherrehearsalsIt'snowalmost7PM,anddinnerhasnotyetbeen

servedThehungermixedwithhomesicknessisashiycocktailSpeakingofwhich,I'msurprisedthatIdon'tmissthebed.mesnackof

cheeseandbourbon,orevendrinkbeforedinner


20/28

Main Title

Im not sure where to begin. I

felt like I got through the

second alright and had little

trouble falling asleep. I feltbetter about things until I woke

at 4:30 AM. I couldn't stop

thinking about the upcoming bus

trip to Santiago. What sounded in

the early going like a great way to

occupy my mind for a day is

taking on a more ominous tone.

The bus ride is four hours each

way, and we are now goingwith locals; we are expectedto interact with them. Idon't think I can. It has thepotential to be the loneliestplace I've experienced yet.

When not obsessing over the

trip I wonder how I couldcut it short. Can I leave myfour students behind? CouldI even get a flight out inshort notice? Can I affordto do so? I have no idea howmuch it costs between herein Miami. How lame with myexcuse be? Enough. I needto do somethingconstructive, like help setthe tables.


21/28

5PMACrumb

WejustreturnedfromawalkintotownAlthough

thedistancewasshort,wewereabletomilkabout2

1/2hoursoutofitAboutanhourofthatwasspent

inanInternetCafIthadthreecomputers,twoof

whichactuallyworkedLuckilyonlyoneotherpersonwasononeoftheopera.ngmachineswhenwe

arrivedAraretouristinthiscity,heseemedtobe

checkinghisstockporolio,whichIfound

interes.ngWhenitwasmyturnIfran.callyusedup

my30minutepaid.me,threeCUCsworth,tosend

anemailhomeIdidn'twantthemtoworry,butI

didmakeitobviousthatImissthem,andhome,

tremendouslyIle]anemailaddresshereatthe

iglesia,hopingdesperatelythateitherGregorKa.e

wouldactuallygetthemessage

Wespenttherestofthe.mewalkingaroundthe

square,stoppingatasnackshopforsodasand

shoppingTwoofmystudentsandImetavery

friendlyCubanwhospokedecentEnglishItwasnice

tomakeatleastasmallconnec.on

Wereturnedtotheheatandseclusionofthe

compoundTherestofthedaywillbebusy:music

rehearsalin20minutes,serviceat8PM,andamoviea]erworkIhopetogettobedlateandnotwakeup

un.lnomorethananhourbeforebreakfast


22/28

June 26, 7:21AMCoping Skills For the second day in a

row I awoke at around4:30 AM. Passing the time

was not quite thearduous task it had beenthe day before, however. Iwatched some musicvideos and listened to DanHicks. While it didn't putme back out, it at leastoccupied my mind. I amfinding that having eventsto look forward to and

the morning ritual help.

Step one is the bathroomritual. This includesrelieving myself (TP in thewastebasket, as Cubas

public waterworks do notcreate enough pressure tomove anything beyond bodilywastes), carefularrangement of discardedclothing and a new set(cant let them touch thewet floor), shower (rinse,water off, lather, rinse,dont repeat), pad dry,carefully dress, brushteeth (bottled water torinse both mouth and

brush). By the way, morningshowers provide thecoldest water--no not abad thing.


23/28

SteptwoislearningSpanishTodayIaemptedtotranslateanar.cleinranmaabouttheCubanbaseballteams64losstoCurrazoro

StepthreeistomakesuretochargemyiPod,forIwouldbetotallylostwithoutit

LasteveningwasagoodoneWeaendedayouthserviceatthechurchandsangThisLileLightofMineinEnglishandSpanishOur

groupwaswellreceivedbymost,althoughsomedisplayedre.cenceoverourbeingthereIwillbecurioustoseehowwearereceivedattoday'sSabbathmee.ng

A]ertheserviceseveralchurchmembersledusonatourofcentralHolguinAtnightitwasverybusyandenergizingTheyoungpeople

withwhomItalkedwereabletoalmostmeetmehalfwaywithlanguageIwashappytobeabletotalkalilesportsHisfavorite

AmericanteamistheDetroitTigers,andeverythingheknowsaboutAmericanfootballisbywayofPlaySta.onIasked,Madden?He

enthusias.callyconfirmedthatIttookabitlongertofallasleep,andIheardtheen.reLewisBlackplaylistIhaveonmyiPodbefore

dri]ingoffI'lltrytogotobedlatertonight

Itlookslikeabusyday:SundaySchoolat9AM,followedbymee.ng/serviceat11AMWewillhavesome.mea]erworktogoonour

firstrealexcursiontothebeach


24/28

Sidebar:interesng,ifnotallaccurate,baseballtranslaons

fromanarcleinranma:

Abridor=starter

Anotaciones=runs/scores

Elizquierdo=le]fieldCerrador=reliever/closer

Dosouts=twooutsElderecho=rightfield

Fueronlimpias=earnedruns

Tecerouts=threeouts

Elcentral=centerfield


25/28

1:10PMWai.ngfor18CubansandaBus

Thismorning'schurchservicesweremuchhardertogetthroughthanIthoughttheywouldbeThefirstpartwasnotbad,andIpulled

offmypartoftheskitThingsdeteriorateda]erthatThenextpartincludedworkingeitherwithsmallchildrenoryoungadultsThelile

onescoloredpicturesofJesusincoloringbooks,whiletheyoungadultsdiscussedseveralpassagesfromtheBibleWithoutany

forethoughtIwasplacedinthelaergroupIwasabletostaylow,nothavingbeencalledonGoodthingasIhadnocluewhatwas

beingtalkedabout

A]era10minutebreakandacupofjuice,myspiritssankmuchfurtherThelasthourand25minuteswasspentinacombina.onof

songsandtes.monies,culmina.nginwhathadtobeahalfhoursermonIfoundmyselfdesperatetothinkofanythingtostaysane,

includingcoun.nginSpanishIgottoabout230beforeIevengottooboredwiththisTheservicemademefeelhorriblylonelyagain,

nothavinganyideawhatwasbeingsaidwhileseeingmosteveryoneelsereac.ngtohumorousinterludesobviouslyaboutourgroup

WereturnedtothemainhouseviatheCourtyardwithinthecompoundforlunchThismealconsistedofbeansandrice,inanoffwhite

sauce,muffins,akindofprocessedmeat,bread,andfruitEverymealincludesfruitAsIwritethiswearewai.ngforatouristcoachbus

thatwillcarryourgroupand18localstouardalavaca


26/28

11:30PMADayattheBeach

Oncewele]thecity,passingrightbythebaseballstadiumararemonumentthatincludedFidel'slikeness,we

travelledthroughtheruralNorthofHolguinProvinceManyofthehomeslookedlikecutaways,withseeminglyrandomcollec.onsoffurniturescaeredaboutManyhouseslookedatonceunfinishedandinneedof

extensiverenova.on


27/28

TheBeachresortwasverymuchwhatColumbusdescribedas

heavenonearth,especiallywhenconsideringthepocketsof

HellwedrovepasttogetthereItwasbeau.fulandthesea

waswarmrelaxingmorethanrefreshingIwitnessed

firsthandanactofusingwhiteinfluence,aslaterdescribed

byFran,onbehalfofminori.eswhenTomwasabletotalkthe

aendanceintoallowingourCubanfriendstousethebeachshower,reservedforpayingcustomersofthehotel(aka

whitetourists)TheCubahereseemsmuchdifferentfrom

whatIhaveseeninthefirstfewdaysThereweretwoother

contribu.ngfactorsThebus,itself,wasafirstrateluxury

modelmadeinKorea(Ithink)Theotherwastherestaurant

whereall30someofussharedamealofeitherchicken,fish,orfishwithshrimpIchosethelastandIwasgladIdid


28/28

Thebuscametwominutesbeforeit's8PMscheduledarrival,andweheadedbacktothecompoundOnthewaywegotevenbeer

viewsinsidethenowdimlylithomesIwassurprisedtoseefarmorepeoplesingaroundandtalkingthanwatchingTVMaybethisis

anotherresourcetheCubansdon'thaveenoughof;evenifyouhaveone,itonlygetsfourStaterunchannelsTheeveningendedwith

muchneededshowers,acirclediscussion,and.meformetowriteanddosomemoretransla.ngfromyesterday'sbaseballar.cle

Corredoresencirculacion=runnersonbaseConectaron=connected/hit

Sencillo=single

two worlds part 1

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