Cubana For a Day

When girls get married they say they get to be Princess for a Day. Well, I found something even better than being a princess... I got to be Cubana for a day! I spent Friday at Cuba Nostalgia- the first time I ever went-and I am grateful that I had the chance to make the trip. Every person I met made me feel not just welcome into the giant Cuban family, they made me feel like I was Cuban. Marta (My Big Fat Cuban Family) kept saying "I keep forgetting you're not Cuban," and some guy I met kept asking me if I was sure I wasn't Cuban. I told him I was pretty sure but I didn't have any ethnic ID on me to prove otherwise! Plus, Mario (OJDingo) bestowed upon me special Cuban powers- thanks Mandingo. In addition to sentir cubana, the effect of which was heightened by croquetas, yuca rellena, tostones, masa real and, of course, café, I also felt lucky to be able to meet all the Babalu people, who were as cool in person as I had imagined, as well as a bunch of people whose names I never learned, who struck up conversations with me at the Babalu booth and in vendor booths.

I left there envious of the big Cuban family that celebrates being Cuban, wishing that Italians still did things like that, but also feeling lucky that I was a part of it this year. I didn't envy the circumstances that caused a Cuba Nostalgia, and remembering the reason for it made me sad at various parts of the event. The music, the dancing, the food, the art, the camaraderie... If you have not yet gotten over there, make sure you do, it's really amazing.
Thank you everyone who made me feel welcome. I miss you already!

I have posted some photos HERE and will add more later.

Posted by Claudia4Libertad at May 18, 2008 12:33 PM

Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.babalublog.com/cgi-bin/mt/hut.cgi/8305

Comments

Posted by: Robert at May 18, 2008 12:38 PM

Posted by: Peter Perez at May 18, 2008 03:52 PM

Post a comment