In Cuba, discussing politics is more than a social taboo at dinner parties—it’s dangerous in almost any form in almost any location. Publicly deviating from the party line can get you demoted from a your job or in extreme cases get your passport seized by the government. You might think there’s nothing political to talk […]
Taking Inventory
I have gone through 1 tube of toothpaste, nearly 1 bottle of 2-1 shampoo and conditioner, and 3 rolls of toilet paper. I still have another tube of toothpaste, 2 more bottles of shampoo, and 1 more roll of toilet paper, and tomorrow marks the halfway point in our program so I’m not too worried […]
Sharing a Sunset with My Dad
The sun slowly descends behind the distant hills projecting its final fiery rays of gold and orange across the glimmering water. The darkness of the rocks grows with their elongating shadows, and the hills transform in color from red to orange to purple until they too fall into darkness. The bright sun bobs behind clouds […]
Navigating Feminism Within a Machismo Culture Pt. 2
I learned a new word in Spanish class: piropo, which loosely translates to a flirtatious comment or catcall made on the street. Apparently they originate from roman era and brought to the Americas by Spaniards who thoroughly spread it around as piropos are everywhere in Havana: down the street, around the corner, sitting on a […]
Navigating Feminism Within a Machismo Culture
I have come to two obvious conclusions: First, sexism is an international phenomenon that transcends borders, languages, and cultures. Second, the same goes for the look of a woman who isn’t having any of it. The other day I took a botero (a cross between a taxi and hitchhiking) to my university’s campus. It was […]