CUBA NOSTALGIA
Today I spent the day at Cuba Nostalgia and it was a beautiful tribute to the Cuban-American community, of which I am not part. This was sad for me because as a second generation American, I do not get to experience anything like this with Italians. Our wave of immigration has been over for decades. And despite everyone asking me if I was Cuban or oddly, if I was a Pedro Pan, and once, where in Cuba I was from, and speaking Spanish to me everywhere I went, I felt like an imposter who strangely felt emotional at watching people who had to leave their country, still find happiness in music and dance. Watching a group of older Cubans sing and dance made my eyes tear up. All I could do was picture them fifty years ago, dancing in a club in Cuba the same way, dressed to the nines, enjoying themselves. I definitely felt like I was on the outside looking in, like someone had given me a little window into the exile world to peer into for a day.
However, it wasn't all as morose as I paint it. I love the Cuban culture and I got a heavy dose of it, to be sure. And I did get to meet in person a bunch of people with whom I have been corresponding for the past year: my culinary guardian angel and fellow scrapbooker, the effusive Marta Darby
(of www.mybigfatcubanfamily.com fame) with whom I connected on several levels, 
another bubbly fellow scrapper and blogger, Amanda Dufau, Val Prieto's (of Babalu) sweet and adorable wife, Maggie, who when she met me, called me "Mi Claudia" like we had known each other for years and took me by the arm into stores, explaining the secrets of a how to get a good deal and and telling me stories of Hulk Hogan (her client!) and Ziva and Gusano, also of Babalu, with whom I exchanged commentary on the sights most of the night, a "Jesus" sighting among the more interesting of them. I met an exhausted but nonetheless welcoming Val Prieto for the first time and although I already knew Henry Gomez, he now has a special place in my heart for dissuading me of insecurities about my hands.
I wish Italians still celebrated being Italian in such grande style. I feel cheated but I guess we had our day too. I just wish I had been old enough to appreciate it. I left Cuba Nostaglia tonight with new friends, a lot less "s's" in my Spanish, a little indigestion and a deeper appreciation for Cubans and for my own people.
Que viva Cuba Libre!
Claudia,
NO you were not an imposter...so,
I here by proclaim with the magical Cuban powers of the universe and the spirit of BABALU and with a lot of A-CHE (blessings) and Celia Cruz AZUCAR energy to make you a full fledge CUBAN! NOW, welcome to the family!
Hey, my wife Michele is of Italian Sicilian ansestry and she feels very Cuban - so don't worry - you too can be one of us! She does this by drinking a lot of cafe con leche and eating black beans and rice. But seriously...
...Anyone who fights for the freedom of Cuba - even if they are not Cuban - becomes CUBAN in my eyes and i think in the eyes and hearts of the community! We are proud of you!
So there.
Posted by: Mario (ojdingo) | May 18, 2008 at 01:52 AM
Claudia,
NO you were not an imposter...so,
I here by proclaim with the magical Cuban powers of the universe and the spirit of BABALU and with a lot of A-CHE (blessings) and Celia Cruz AZUCAR energy to make you a full fledge CUBAN! NOW, welcome to the family!
Hey, my wife Michele is of Italian Sicilian ansestry and she feels very Cuban - so don't worry - you too can be one of us! She does this by drinking a lot of cafe con leche and eating black beans and rice. But seriously...
...Anyone who fights for the freedom of Cuba - even if they are not Cuban - becomes CUBAN in my eyes and i think in the eyes and hearts of the community! We are proud of you!
So there.
Posted by: Mario (ojdingo) | May 18, 2008 at 01:53 AM
Citación de reunión de todos los bloggeros Cubanos
¿Sabes que vamos a reunirnos todos los bloggeros Cubanos en Europa Y Estados Unidos?
ahhh.... si no lo sabes ve a la pagina de información donde hay una pilaaa e cosas. no importa como pienses, como seas o donde estas. Solo importa que seas Cubano o que ames a Cuba esa isla de todos. La intención es el acercamiento y el diálogo entre todos los cubanos. Porque todos los Cubanos somos lo mismo.
La blogosfera cubana sigue ampliándose, y con ella crecen las ideas y expectativas de sus bloggers. Al convocar este Primer Encuentro de Bloggers Cubanos pretendemos traspasar el mundo virtual del blog y encontrarnos, en un ambiente de reflexión, con personas interesantes, a muchas de las cuales habremos leído en alguna ocasión, pero que nunca hemos saludado en persona, y a otras que seguiremos leyendo después de conocerlas, que reflejan todas el tema cubano en sus bitácoras.
Siendo el blog un instrumento de opinión, y también de reportaje, en Blogueando a Cuba tendremos oportunidad de compartir experiencias en temas tecnológicos, culturales y también nuestros puntos de vista sobre el futuro de la nación cubana a la que pertenecemos, incluyendo a la comunidad de bloggers que viven en Cuba. Reforzaremos con ello la creciente popularidad de este formato de comunicación. No faltará tampoco la parte lúdica y la música cubana, bien común cuya excelencia nos une, por encima de las fronteras y los rencores.
Creemos que será un evento enriquecedor, plural y abierto, de seguro un referente para futuros encuentros y una muestra del factor de progreso que constituyen ya las redes sociales y la Web participativa. ¡Te invitamos a unirte en este propósito!
ECHA PACÁA Y SEAMOS TODOS BLOGGERS POR UN SUEÑO
http://www.bloggerdecuba.blogspot.com/
Voluntario pero sin escopeta.
Grupo organizativo de bloggers por un sueño
-oe esto me suena a citación del comité militar....
-nooo está bien así
-esto suena raroooo
-que no coompadreee que esto es un fiestón Cubano
-oeee se va a caer la barbacoa con tanta gente
-tate tranquilo y cuelga el telefono que yo creo que nos están oyendo.
-ta bien.....¿cuando empezamos??
-yaaaaaaa
Posted by: blogger por un sueño | May 18, 2008 at 10:03 PM
Hi, thanks for the add, and for considering
us freedom fighters (o:
We've included you in our blogroll.
cheers
GA/albert
Posted by: GeNeRaCiOnAsErE | May 19, 2008 at 09:05 AM
My dear partner-in-crime,
You mean you're NOT Cuban??? =D
I miss you already.
Besos,
Marta
Posted by: Marta | May 22, 2008 at 01:18 PM