Hey guys,
So, right now I am half way to Brazil. Life on the boat is a bit .monotonous, but its fun and the food isnt all that bad so I am doing ok. All of my classes are interesting and engaging, but I have this feeling that they are going to get increasingly difficult as time goes on. So how is everything going for all of you? Are classes going well? Whats been going on in all of your lives? I hope all is well with everyone. Well, we left Cuba a few days ago, so I thought I would write and fill all of you in on what I've been up to.
Cuba was, in one word, amazing. I know I have already told a few of you, but Cuba was quite possibly one of the most interesting places that I have been to. It combines the architecture of Western Europe, with unavoidable poverty. Its culture is a combination of the Indians who first inhabited the island, the Spanish who brought in the modernization, architecture and Catholicism, and the African culture, which lends to Cuba it vibrant colors, mystic beliefs, and many of the social standards.
The Cuban people are so incredibly hospitable, inviting us into their homes to eat and to stay. It is also amazing the numerous similarities between the US and Cuba. But I also found myself disturbed by a lot of what I saw there. The conditions under which many of the people live is unimaginable. Poverty is wide spread, and only but a few of the elite have access to many of the things that we enjoy in every day life. While we were in Cuba, we had the privilege of visiting the University of Havana. Through speaking with the students I began to understand the way of life and customs of the country. This proved especially valuable when we visited the open market.
Later, our first night there we went to the baseball game. Despite a few very small differences, it was exactly as it would have been in the states. After the game I went with a small group to a local restaurant where upon having another ham and cheese sandwich, I decided that the national food of Cuba is the ham and cheese sandwich, I had only been there for 12 hours, and yet this was the second one I had eaten.
The next day I had the opportunity to learn about the health care in Cuba and visit a few of the facilities. I was baffled by what they referred to at modern technology, and high health care standards. For example we visited the ICU in the pediatric hospital in Havana, and not only was it decades behind what I had become accustomed to in the states, but it was remarkably unsanitary.
Later that evening we went to the Palace of Commerce to listen to Fidel Castro speak. Despite the fact that I had imagined this to be one of the highlights of the visit, I found out very quickly that it was going to be very long, boring, and painful at best. He spoke for over an hour for his introduction and then took 2 hours to answer only one question, however the party he threw for us afterward was well worth the agony. There were a few other highlights to the trip to Cuba, namely visiting the international school of film and television, going to Ernest Hemingway's favorite restaurant for dinner, going to a tobacco farm, visiting a village in rural Cuba, and getting to converse and connect with the local people in Havana.
Hope that wasn't too long and boring. If you guys have the time, try to write back and let me know how things are going for you all. Take care!
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Brazil
Hello everyone!
Right now it is the butt crack of dawn and I am writing you because the pounding outside of my room is soooo loud that I can't sleep. So I figured what better way to use these few extra hours than to write to everyone at home and let you all know how things have been going and how Brazil was.
I'm not really too sure where I last left off, so forgive me if a bit of this is monotonous. About three days before reaching Salvador, Brazil, we crossed the equator. Now for those of you who, like myself, didn't realize the significance of this event it was a day full of hilarious and at times disgusting traditions. We were woken up especially early, marched out of our beds by "Neptune's Band" (ie our crew on the boat dressed up as old seamen Gods wearing tin foil hats, togas made of sheets, and banging on pots as drums") needless to say it was hilarious. We were all lead down to the pool deck area where King Neptune (our captain adorned in one of the most ridiculous outfits I have yet had the privilege of witnessing an old man wear) addressed us explaining that we were all "pollywogs" and had to pay tribute to him to allow out safe crossing of the equator. This tribute was an ordeal all in itself. It started with having fish guts dumped on us, followed by a "shower" of sorts by fire hoses as we attempted to cross the emptied pool. Upon exiting the pool, we had to kiss a fish then bow to the "king", kiss his ring, and read the oath of Neptune. It was a pretty entertaining day!
Now for Brazil. It started with a late arrival after having some trouble with one of the boilers, but all in all it ended up being an awesome country. The first day I had a few hours to explore the city with some friends. It's an awesome city built on a hill, with a huge elevator that takes you from the lower city to the upper city. We took some time out of our touring of the city to do some shopping. Everything is amazingly inexpensive in Brazil, as a result, I ended buying a lot, including three Brazilian bikinis. Later that night we had a welcome reception, where we had the opportunity to learn Capoeira dancing and experience traditional Brazil food and music. The Brazilian people, as a whole, are amazingly kind, hospitable, and accommodating. They opened their hearts to us, showing us their lifestyle and teaching us about their culture.
The next morning I was up early to catch my flight to Iguassu Falls. The 6-hour flight with two stops in between was a bit draining, but when we arrived at our destination, it was well worth it. From the plane we could see the falls and the mist that they created. It was breath taking, even from that altitude. After getting off of the plane, we went straight to our hotel, which was within the national park and only a few hundred yards from the falls. It was amazing. The falls were so expansive, the seemed to stretch on forever, releasing such enormous power. We spent most of that afternoon hiking through the Brazilian side of the national park, viewing the falls from so many different aspects. The next day we had the opportunity to do the same from the Argentinean side, and that afternoon from down on the water itself. I don't think I have ever experienced such an awesome or beautiful display of nature's power before, in my life. I suppose I could tell you all more, but I imagine you are getting rather bored by now, so I'll move on.
Upon returning to Salvador, we went to visit Itaparica Island. A former stopping point for slaves before entering the country, it was a beautiful island, very similar to what I would imagine seeing in the tropics. Later that evening, we went to a soccer game between Victoria and Bahia (two of the states in Brazil) once again, it was a great experience where I had the opportunity to meet the people and enjoy their national past time.
Well that is about the end of my trip to Brazil (at least the short version). I hope everyone is doing well at home, email me and let me know what you are up to.
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