school

Spanish is haaaaarrrdddd!! I´m studying all day and all night trying get it to stick in my head. I hav´nt any time to do anything else just grammar. Although it is fun to be studying again, I´m just conscious of how important it is for me

Casa update

In cuba there are two types of accomodation a tourist can legitimately stay in, a hotel (at great cost cheaper in american in my experience) or a casa particular. A casa for those who are unsure is a house, in this case a local family. I have today changed my casa particular to a cheaper place. My friend V found it for me, its a typical town house owned by three old ladies! I have my own room with a private bathroom. Its very simple but perfect for my needs. However I understand that they are not allowed to have tourist stay there so they could get into big trouble if the authorities new. However big the risk they are prepared to take it because they are so poor. I´m not going to talk anymore about this because it is a precarious situation.

sick today

I´ve eaten something I should´nt have and have a very upset stomach. When my stomach is upset I am upset. I hav´nt eaten for 24 hrs just drank fluids. My friend at school has kindly given me some medication but I think this maybe the first of many upset stomachs on the trip! Theres more info but I will spare you the details. Only to say the the kids are´nt happy!!! Indicidently cubans don´t generally go in for loo seats!

my second week!

Well this week I was not arrested which is nice. This week has been the start of my spanish classes at the international school in habana veija, which is situated in the old town of habana (tourist cenrtal). Veiga is like the covent garden of habana with loads of resturants and museums to visit, music playing all around you, thats veija.
The school is great fun, with loads of international students mainly german! but I have made some good friends with a scotsman, a swedish girl and two swiss girls. We do lunch after school and relax speaking english.
However the next political obstical is that the ministry of tourism came by the school and declared that all students have to saty in hotels not casa particulars! This could be a big problem for me in may ways and could result in me having to either stay in a hotel for over a week for the duration of the course at which my budget simply cannot afford or I have to quit the course!! The woman from the agency I booked the course through has flown all the way from edinburgh to sort out this problem and she will advise me accordingly. This is typical of the cuban authorities changing the goal posts daily trying to make life as difficult as they can for people like me. Although I don´t think I will say anymore as I believe ´they´ read all emails in and out of the country too!

Church

Today I went to my first cuban service at iglasia baptista. The church is not too disimpliar to christ church, it is a huge building on the corner of the street housing a congretion of hundreds. The morning service was full of families young and old and we sang many worship songs two of which I knew. Mt friend managed to transate the sermon for me which was very helpful. I met the pastor and his wife who were very interested to know I was from england and gave me a very warm welcome.
V gave me a little history of the church, it used to be a theatre and a circus about 100 years ago! The owner then became bankrupt so an american christian organisation bought it in the 1920´s and its been a church ever since.
The church is very much alive and has a thriving weekly program for its congegation with bible study mid week etc. However it does become apartent that they have no program for evangelism. I understand that the ´they´ have recently relaxed their policy on organised religion but it still remains forbidden to talk openly in public places about christianity.
I also attended the evening service too like a good boy only to find a smattering of people attend so I sat at the back with all the old folk falling asleep around me during the sermon which went completely over my head.

My first week

Well it has to be the most memorable start to my trip ever. Its a long story so I will not go into detail.

I arrived in habana to be greeted by customs who kept me for 2 hrs searching though my bags. I had bought gifts for my christian friends that caused me real problems. In the end they decided to tax me $100 because they did´nt like my gifts!

The next day went looking for my friend Vicente only to be acosted by a guy claiming to be Vicente. In the end we were both arrested by the police. I was briefly questioned and then released. I waited 2 hrs outside the police station for ¨Vicente¨ only to be adised he was in a lot of trouble so I went back to the hotel.

In the end the real Vicente and his wife contacted me at my hotel and came rushing over at midnight concerned for my safety. I was glad to see them and talked all about the confusing situation.

I now have an appartment in habana vieja, and start my spanish school on monday.

me cumpleanos!

Today was my birthday 29 yrs old. Its ok I´m still in my twenties!
To celebrate I had a really good meal with my friends V his wife and children. I had icecream and lots of sunshine. V and the children sang me happy birthday (in spanish) in the car as I was being picked up from the santuary of my hotel!
Thank you to anyone who saw me off on the 5th March, it was alot of fun, belgium beer it very tasty huh!