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Culture Shock

Foreigner put in the hot seat

John Clarke

05 Mar 2009

Cuba

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Cubans tend to ask foreigners a number of questions, starting with, 'What are you doing here?' Typically, they will invite you into their homes to talk more, and no topic is off-limits, from government to fashion to sports to news.

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Must Do

Play Dominoes and learn more than just strategic tile moves

Whitney Pray

23 Jun 2009

Cuba

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If you ever find yourself strolling the streets of Havana, you will inevitably hear a faint clinking of tiles or see a group of older men sitting around a small table on their patio. That's when you know it's Dominoes time. Games are lively, loud, fun, and usually full of slamming tiles and enthusiastic outbursts, not to mention some good arguments or comments about Cuba. Because of all this, you can get a full Cuban experience from simply watching one of these games. Better yet, and much more fun, participate in a round. Although you will surely not have as much skill or strategy as the pros, they might just fill you in on the wisdom and complexities of the game--and of life in Cuba.

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Food

There's a reason orange soda isn't a food group

Michael Fletcher

05 Mar 2009

Cuba

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In Cuba, I survived on orange soda, fruit shakes, and egg sandwiches, when eggs were available. The country's rich culinary tradition has been diminished by the unavailability of quality ingredients, and in many instances, just ingredients.

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Music

Never thought I'd be grooving to 'Billy Jean' in Cuba

Michael Fletcher

05 Mar 2009

Cuba

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Many Cubans I met were very obsessed with Michael Jackson and, for some reason, Air Supply.

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Sports

National loyalty comes to bat

Michael Fletcher

05 Mar 2009

Cuba

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Every province has a baseball team, but the Havana Industriales are the dynasty — sort of like the Yankees of Cuba. Their big rival is a Santiago de Cuba, a team from the other major city of the island. During home games, the Havana crowd shouts 'palestinos' at the Santiago crowd because the people from Santiago are known for migrating to Havana, and therefore do not live in their homeland.

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Nightlife

With two bottles of rum, even the bus ride becomes a party

Heather Kirkwood

05 Mar 2009

Cuba

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House parties always consist of pepinos (old soda or water bottles) full of homemade rum, and lots of salsa and reggaeton music. My favorite weekend was when I went camping with my Cuban friends. On our way there, the bus driver pulled over for us so that we could get our second bottle of rum out from the under-carriage; we had passed the first bottle around the bus so many times that one liter didn't even last the first hour!

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Being an American

Stumbling upon rare anti-Americanism during visit to Bay of Pigs site

John Clarke

05 Mar 2009

Cuba

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Anti-American sentiment is made very clear by the Cuban government, but it is rarely shared by the populace. In Havana, you can't walk down the street without someone stopping you to chat. I did experience some anti-American sentiment in Playa Giron, the site of the Bay of Pigs invasion. None of the locals would talk to us except for the family that owned our casa particular (rental home). There was one dance hall in town, and it was made pretty clear that no one was going to talk to us, let alone dance or have a drink with us.

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