It’s been two weeks now in Cuba and I’ve learned a lot about the way I should go about my day – what I need and where/how to get it. It’s taken this long to feel comfortable meeting basic needs, and of course I’m still learning. I’ve been thinking a lot about how strange it is to be out of the U.S. during a time when so much is changing politically in our country. In Cuba, people are not quick to talk about the government. I am often nervous to ask people about their views because I know that it’s risky to pose counterrevolutionary ideas. I’d like to figure out in which spaces people feel more comfortable talking about this.
During our first week, we went to see a play. It was titled, Harry Potter: La Magíca Se Acabó, and without reading anything about it, we arrived at the play believing it would be about Harry Potter. It turned out to have very little to do with Harry Potter, except for perhaps the magic of Harry Potter being a metaphor for the themes of the play. There were a series of different skits, each with a main character. They were mostly monologues in which the main character passionately spoke about their lives and opinions about society and the government. They wore beautiful and elaborate costumes, which changed each skit. It became difficult to follow the quickly spoken Spanish. I soon found myself exhausted trying to catch what was said, a feeling that has been common for me here. However, the emotion in the actors’ voices and the way they moved their bodies with the phrases they spoke were compelling.
I tried to gather my thoughts afterward. Something I understood was a sentiment that young people in Cuba feel a gap of ideas between their parents and them. Young people have access to the Internet and a sense that Cuba is changing, yet it’s still a challenge to have enough food to eat. The older generation still believes in the “magic” of the revolution, and a hope that the government will give them better lives. Young people want to move into the future, always asking for more, was also a theme of the government not allowing Cubans to have access to the arts. Even as they criticized and made fun of their home, they also seemed to express a love of being Cuban. The nationalism instilled by José Martí and Fidel Castro still feels strong. After experiencing the reserved attitude about politics, it was surprising to witness people shouting their opinions. The play was one of my favorite experiences here so far. It made me wonder about the ideas that were presented and how freely they were presented. It continued my questions of how freely people can speak against the government in Cuba if it’s under the guise of art. I look forward to witnessing more of this type of art.