I was 19 when I first went to Cuba and I fell in love with the country almost instantly. There was so much beauty in Havana – the colors, the buildings, the people, the music, the ocean. I was there on a study abroad program for four months, but I rarely did any studying. I spent my days walking in Vedado and Havana Vieja, learning to salsa and meeting new people. I went out for dinner almost every night. I went out dancing almost every night. And I drank alcohol and smoked cigars almost every night. I brought $1,400 with me for the duration of my stay and that amount of money afforded me a very comfortable lifestyle in Cuba that I had never had in New York City, where I was born and raised. It was a lifestyle that was completely inaccessible to most Cubans, but I didn’t give it much thought at the time. Of course, my stay wasn’t all magical and wonderful. I had bad times. But for the most part, I spent every day seeing only what I wanted to see. I was so young and, in many ways, so ignorant, and I projected so much romanticism onto this place. For me, being in Cuba as an American felt like being in on a secret.
Chapter 37: An American in Cuba
I love Natasha’s experiences and insights and this wonderful newsletter in general. Keep up the great work!