Hello From Cuba – Part four – Bureaucracy Galore –
Hello From Cuba – Part 4 – Bureaucracy Galore – The University Of Havana
Yesterday I had to check in for my Spanish course on the University of Havana. The Campus of the University is an astoundingly gorgeous choice of classical structures and a Cuban tank graces the doorway to the library.
At 9 am your entire international students, about forty of them, met in the Edificio Varona and we were shepherded with the aid of different professors into a particularly antiquated lecture corridor. (By the way, of the five or 6 washroom stalls in the womens bog, in simple terms 1 or 2 have bogs in them, no rest room seats, and no strolling water inside the sinks. Again a signal of truly run-down infrastructure…)
There they informed us about the program, however in basic terms in Spanish, which become k for me, in view that I discuss Spanish, yet about 0.5 the neighborhood turned into wholly misplaced. We then had to do a brief written placement experiment to assess our current Spanish knowledge after which the forms all started.
We observed out that we vital the following information:
– a copy of our passports
– an reputable copy of the motel visitor card and/or a duplicate of the licence of the individual Casa Particular
– 200 CUC (Convertible Cuban Pesos) in revenue for a 2-week route or extra for different courses
– forty CUC for altering our traveller visa to an academic visa (in economic stamps which we had to gain abuot five km away)
– 2 passport photos
– 25 CUC in earnings to expedite our educational visa if we are in town for in simple terms 2 weeks.
I associated up with a group of international pupils and we headed off collectively on our quest to meet the Cuban desire for Burocratismo. We first received cash at financial institution on the Hotel Havana Libre, then received the passport pix done (to be equipped for pickup three hours later), then searched for the opposite bank on Calle 23 that will give us with the 40CUC stamps for the tutorial visa. With ultra lengthy lineups all over the world, this took day yacht charters us about 2 or three hours.
Then we were given actually hungry and we had been approached by means of a native “Jinetero” (restaurant tout) who promised us a whole meal with major dish, salad and aspect dish for six or 7 CUC. We walked with him, best to discover that the wait at the Paladar (private restaurant) might be about forty five minutes to even sit down, now not together with nutrition practise time.
So we walked up Calle 21 and a exclusive eating place owner approached us for a meal and we gave in and got here interior. It used to be a fascinating colonial villa, with the exception of that the guest room with is mandatory three tables and 12 seats was once in a dark small dingy room perfectly devoid of windows.
However, we had a scrumptious homestead-cooked meal, I had roasted hen with rice & beans, salad and a lemon delicate drink, interested by eight CUC (approximately eight US$). 2 of my student colleagues have been from Germany and the alternative fellow is from Toronto as nicely, yet firstly from Poland. We had some titanic conversations and it used to be interesting linking up with a host of Europeans in Havana.
After a short relaxation inside the resort, my pal Pedro lower back picked me up in the evening and I couldnt assistance yet inform him approximately my expertise with the Cocotaxi driver the day prior to this, who had tried to go with me up, no matter my clarifications and statements that I used to be married and now not drawn to any amorous movements.
Pedro explained that sexual relatives in Cuba are a particularly standard, user-friendly-going issue and that that is very known for human beings to link up for immediate “meaningful in a single day relationships”. He pointed out the Cuban workers as very “passionate and hot-blooded”, I bet that explains several the advances that I had been receiving up to now, above all when you consider that there is also extremely a whole lot of sex tourism where guys (and even women) come to Cuba to engage in with no trouble conceivable erotic experiences.
Pedro and I walked due to the outdated city and of direction along the Malecon (the seafront street) and noticed the beautiful Plaza Vieja and the Plaza de l. a. Catedral where a mass turned into being held for the passing of Pope John Paul II.
This turned into very pleasing, considering Cuba is a Communist / reputable atheist nation and there are a lot fewer Catholics as we speak than prior to the Revolution. Actually tons of Cubas faith is a aggregate of Catholicism and Santeria (non secular practices of the African slaves). Regardless of religiousness, Cuba has declared a three-day “duelo nacional” (a national mourning era for the Pope) and the mass changed into attended via masses of men and women.
Pedro and I then had a pleasing meal inside the “Barrio Chino” (Havana’s Chinatown) for five.60 CUC (less than US$6) for 2 employees and a couple of vegetarian food and tender drinks. After a pleasing dinner he lower back flagged down a neighborhood inner most automobile driving force and gave him about 1 CUC for identifying us up and shedding us off at my Hotel. At dead night I dropped into bed, exhausted.
However, at four am this morning I woke up with significant intestinal disorders. Apparently my Chinese meal had now not turn into me so nicely and I had extreme digestive themes emanating from equally sides of my physique. This morning I realy felt rotten and I ended up utilizing my very own clinical equipment for the 1st time and took a few Immodium.
I used to be not able to devour breakfast, but I made my approach to the college wherein at 9 am our periods began. Surprisingly the situation verify had placed me into the extent of “perfeccionamiento”, the top point and the level of Spanish in my elegance was certainly very top. The classification includes 7 pupils, a younger female from England, a young lady clinical student from Denmark, a middle-elderly woman healthcare professional from Finland, a young male law pupil from Sweden, a younger girl and guy from Norway and myself from Austria/Canada.
Obviuosly there may be an excessively heavy Scandinavian slant in my category and it seems to be everyone within the type is a passion sociologist, political scientist, environmentalist and historian. We asked some pretty robust questions on Cuban life, the political approach, the monetary hardships, the double economy, the challenge of ladies and blacks in Cuba, machismo and the crisis of the ambiance.
Some of these questions made our feminine professor suppose particularly uncomfortable and it seemed like she was squirming less than the barrage of probing political and sociological questions. She obtained very protective a few occasions approximately the Cuban equipment and solely when we discussed the good and undesirable sides of European and Canadian societies did she loosen up a bit of and grow to be a touch greater open and frank about the precise Cuban life. It seems to be that to at the moment Cubans must be very cautious about what they say in public.
For instance, she frankly admitted that racism nonetheless exists in Cuba and to this present day it's miles nonetheless a rustic with plenty of machismo. However, she did not admit that Internet get right of entry to and access to non-Communist media is forbidden for Cubans, she in simple terms defined it as an financial difficulty. (Several of my colleagues had heard or else in their travels in Cuba, readily that a Cuban is absolutely not allowed to have access to the Internet). She also admitted that it isn't very allowed for Cubans to talk over with the traveler places of the Cayos (e.g. Cayo Coco) that is completely reserved for vacationers and Cubans have no get right of entry to to that arena by any means, a sure aspect of contention among the many locals.
Class ended approximately 1:20 and my disenchanted belly did now not allow me to consumption any meals. I headed again to my inn, slept somewhat and were on the Internet for the beyond 2 or so hours (racking up a bill of approximately $US 20.00 or s0), documenting my vacation.
It’ll be a quiet nighttime this night due to the fact I am seeking to cool down my belly. But I am definite the adventures and the learning will maintain day after today.