hen we got off the plane in Havana, the heat hit, like an ambiance of sweat steaming from the concrete. We boarded school buses that groaned down empty highways, past dripping vegetation that was, well... lush. We got off at an official-looking Dan estate surrounded by cow pastures. The Canadian contingent was one of the first to arrive that afternoon, to be checked in; to wait. We waited for hours, to have our passports checked, our billets confirmed, our itineraries finalized. We waited while the Cubans tried to teach the Canadians how to dance. The sound system was massive. The salsa instructors were very patient in showing that ‘no, don’t follow your feet, follow your hips, move your hips!’ Some of us were caught in a self-conscious show of, ‘oh, gosh I can’t, I don’t know how, Pll just watch.’ Invitations kept coming, however, and eventually our feet started to slide. We stopped waiting, and started having fun. We danced with people from Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina. We started talking with people from Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. We connected with others vastly different from ourselves. And yet, we all had one strong similarity: we had come to the country that represented revolution, in order to learn about social change. Cuba is the place where I learned a lot about creating social change; creating culture. It is a small country with its people sharing a commonality in fun: Salsa Cubana. The dancing, singing, and appreciating music, unifies the Cuban people. As a unified, daficing collective, they also share a common societal perspective. The Cuban people are interested in the communal, rather than the individual. They are interested in creating, rather that consuming culture. This means that they donit have the choice. of purchasing forty different kinds of fabric softener. But they do know (and dance, and sing with) their neighbours. Cuban neighbours meet together to make decisions about their immediate community. They are active participants in creating their local society. This was part of the structure, set up by two guys, named Che Guevera, an Argentinian doctor, and Cuban Fidel Castro, which helped to revolutionize Cuban society. Before the revolution, Cuba in many ways was'a resort colony for the wealthy of the United States. When Cubans decided that they wanted to exist outside the playground paradigm, they organized for change and revolted. In the late 1800’s, Cuba started a war of independence from its colonial ‘ruler’, Spain. Jose Marti, a lawyer, journalist, and poet, helped to inspire that revolution. Marti was exiled from Cuba for anti-Spanish activity, and he organized the independence-from-colonialism movement from New York. “Marti had emphasized the need to free Cuba from any foreign power, be it Spain or the United States.i (Elizabeth de Lima-Dantas: Cuba: A Country Study, p.19) But the United States entered Cuba’s fight for freedom in 1898, helped defeat the Spanish, and started six decades of U.S.-controlled Cuban ‘self-determination’. This lasted until Fidel Castro, remembering the anti-imperialist words of Marti, led his band of revolutionaries, and toppled the repressive US-backed, Batista government. This isolation, due to the forty-year embargo by the United States, makes Cubans create, and rely on a huge collective support system. ‘Revolution’ has a different definition in a Canadian, ‘let’s negotiate’ context. Here, we talk about revolution when we want changes in our consumer culture. We use symbols from others’ struggles to help inspire us. I read an article in Terminal City a few months ago detailing how ‘the revolution’ was over. The writer (Patrick Harrison, I by Bernadette Wycks uba ulture | nd anew evolution December 1998 eo influx ee sig hen we got off the plane in Havana, the heat hit, like an ambiance of sweat steaming from the concrete. We boarded school buses that groaned down empty highways, past dripping vegetation that was, well... lush. We got off at m cnaroree Dancing the Dream Outside by cow pastures. ‘The Canadian contingent was one of the first to arrive that afternoon, to be checked in; to wait. We waited for hours, to have our passports checked, our billets confirmed, our itineraries finalized. We waited while the Cubans tried to teach the Canadians how to dance. ‘The sound system was massive. The salsa Jntructors were very patient in showing that ‘no, don't low your fet, follow your hips, move your hip! Some of ws were ‘aught in a self-conscious show of, ‘oh, gosh T can't, T don’t ow how I'l just watch’ Invitations kept coming, howeves, and eventually our feet started to slide ‘We stopped waiting, and started having fun. We danced with people fom Mexico, Braz and Argentina, We Started aling with people from Aca, Asa, Bure and the “America, We connected with others vastly diferent fom ‘ounces. And yet, we all had one sttong sna we had ome to the country that represented revolution, in order to Tear about social change. Cuba is the place where I learned lot about ‘retin social change; creating culture. Tei a small country ‘with is people sharing a commonality in fun: Salsa Cubana ‘The dancing, singing, and appreciating musi, unifies the Cuban people. AS a united, dancing collective, they aso share a common societal perspective. The Cuban people ae interested in the communal, rather than the individual, They are interested in creating, ater that consuming culture. This means that they donit have the choice of purchasing forty diferent kinds of fabric softener. But they do know (and ‘dance, and sng with) their neighbours. ‘Gubn neighbours meet together to make decisions bout their immediate community. ‘They are active participants in cresting thi oal society ‘This was part ofthe ‘Argentinian doctor, and Cuban Fidel Castro, which helped to revolutionize Cuban society. Before the revolution, Ciba in States, When Cubans decided that they wanted to exit ‘utsde the plground paradigm, they organized for change and revolted. To the late 1800'S, Cuba started a war of Independence fom its colonial “rler’ Spain. Yo Mart a lawyer, journalist, and poet, helped o inspite that revolution “Mai was exe from Cuba fr at-Spanish activi and he ‘organized the independence-fom-colonalism movement fiom New York. “Marti had emphasized the nced to fice Guba from any foreign power, be it Spain or the United States Elizabeth de Limna-Dantax: Cubs Country Stud, p19) But the United States entered Cubs fght for freedom In 1898, helped defeat the Spanish and started six decades of omtolled Cuban seldeterminaion’. ‘Tis lasted unt Fidel Castro, remembering the antiimperialst words of Mari, ed his band of revolutionaries, and toppled the repressive US-backed, Batista goverament This isolation, due to che fory-yea embargo by the United States, makes Cubans create, and rely on a huge collective support system. “Revolution” has a different definition ina Canadian, ‘les negotiate context, Here, we talk about revolution when we want changes in our consumer culture We use symbols from others’ struggles to help inspire us. 1 read an article in Trina ity afew months ago detailing how the revolution’ was ove. The writer (Patrick Harrison, 1 by Bernadette Wycks and a new Revolution December 1998 influx 26053