Random Thoughts by Ktownbuddha

Best line I've heard all week, "Things in Cuba are heavy, you need to leave them at the airport on your way out."  This is the statement that pretty much sums up how the ex-pats look at have girlfriends down here, and wives back home.  So basically I was told this so that in case I ever run into them in Canada with their wives, I don't find it awkward. Also down here young doesn't mean a thing.  These older guys are late 40's to late 60's and they are all dating women who are younger than 25.  Some of them have been dating these women since the girls were 20.  I don't know about you, but I find that troubling.  I guess the legal age down here is 16 and the way they look at it, that's ok.  The funny thing is that there are two of us here that are much younger.  Me at 32 and another guy at 30.  We both find this troubling.  The 30yr old has been here for 2 years in January and hasn't had a girlfriend since he has been here.  He does go on dates

Alright, most of us get a computer to use for work purposes.  We are meant to use it for work purposes and that's about it.  We aren't supposed to use it for personal purposes.  We all sign various agreements to that effect when we start our jobs. Now then, what are some of the things you shouldn't put on your work computer?  Well personal financial information would be one.  Perhaps correspondence and love letters to girlfriends.  Maybe pictures of said people.  How about pornography?  Today I had the distinct pleasure of reviewing the computer files from my predecessor.  I found all of the above and this was after somebody had already deleted most of the pictures.  I found his prior tax returns, his love letters, pictures of his very young girlfriend, and pretty much anything else you can think of. So yeah, that was my day.  I didn't want to see most of the stuff but unfortunately in order to sort it all out somebody had to.

So here I am back in beautiful Moa, Cuba.  No major mishaps really.  I ran into a contractor who is doing work for the company and she tagged along with my driver and I this morning to make the trip from Holguin to Moa.  It was nice.  She speaks Spanish so she could talk to the driver and I could zone out.  It was nice.  Stopped and picked up some fruit along the way which should make for a more enjoyable week as well. So the only real eventful part of my journey was that there was a surprise guest sitting in first class.  I didn't see the individual in the airport as we waited to board, but I'm sure he saw me.  As I passed through the cabin to board, low and behold it what do I see, the guy I'm replacing.  He didn't look at me, but boy was I shocked.  He knew I was flying back in on that flight, and I guess he must have been headed to Holguin to see his friends and stuff and take a bit of a vacation.  We didn't talk or make eye contact even though I'm sure he

I know, I know, its been awhile.  I didn't have internet for a few days in Moa, and last week I was in Toronto and wasn't in the writing mood.  This week I finished my last two days in Fort Sask.  I didn't mind my time there, but it is nice to say good bye and move onto what I really signed up for. I tried to convey my concern to the people at home about living there.  The job will have its challenges, but overall I think it will be the easy part.  Living there will be hard.  I will try and do a better job of taking pictures this time around.  People kept asking me about it so I will see what I can do. I'm currently sitting in the Edmonton airport waiting for my flight back to Kelowna.  I have a ton to do over the next 3 days to get ready to leave.  Its only a month, but still.

This is the market in Moa.  Its only around on Saturday, and really its the only means to buy fruit and produce in the city.  I went to the other stores and while they have some canned goods, they don't have fresh produce. Take notice of the color of the dirt on the ground.  That is the color of the soil around the city, and its what contains the nickel and cobalt that our mine mines.  This stuff is all over town and stains things like you'd never believe.

Here is a pic of the road from Holguin to Moa.  The driver had stopped to go and get his fruit again so I took the chance to take a few pics.  This is the good section of the road.

Here are the pictures of my room.  I wanted to take pictures of a bunch of stuff but apparently its frowned upon.  People think if you are taking pictures that you are a spy.  I will get some more next time and slowly add more.

So I've have been debating with myself about whether or not I should filter myself here.  There is one story that I believe is border line life changing.  If it had happened in another situation in another place given the same circumstances I would have had more options.  In this situation it was my first day in Cuba working with a different culture of people. Everything here is different.  From the fact that our immune system can't handle their drinking water (apparently our water in Canada is too clean and makes us sick, where as for the Cuban's its fine), to the recycled ass wipe that is harder to find that an honest politician, to the lack of soap in the bathrooms,  inventory tags on furniture, to the 27 min lunch breaks.  Its just plain different. The people are very nice, and very welcoming.  They don't believe that anybody is better than anybody else and that everybody is equal.  Not only in life but in the work place as well.  Those of you who know me, know

So I get through customs everything goes smoothly.  My work visa pretty much takes care of everything and presto change oh I'm picking up my bag.  At this point I make a rookie mistake.  I was so excited to find my driver and get going that I forgot to get cash.  Oh well they will take credit cards at the hotel and may even have a money exchange there.  So in my excitement I go outside and read all the signs and nothing.  Nobody is there. So one of the government officials asks me what am I looking for and I tell her I'm looking for my driver to go to Moa as I work for Sherritt.  She quickly locates the gentleman and I'm on my way again. Now then this guy doesn't speak any english, and well my spanish performs much better after a few beverages.  So I'm literally just following this guy and have no clue where I'm going or even what hotel I'm staying at as the travel arranger said that the driver would take care of me.  Uh yuh.  So we start driving and the r

I finally got internet set-up in my room.  It's hard being without communication to the outside world.  I've been to Cuba before for vacation (Varadero) but this is a whole new ball game.  So I left my motel in Fort Sask at 5:30am on Saturday morning.  Drove to the airport which takes about 45mins.  While I'm sitting in the Chili's having breakfast, up walks a bunch of guys in suits.  Next thing I know the restaurant is full of the BC Lions catching the early morning flight back to Vancouver.  They seem like nice enough guys so I started talking to a few of them.  I even met Casey Printers (QB but a DB).  So I finish up say my farewells and make my way to my gate area. Now then its festival season in Edmonton.  This means that there is crap going on every day for 6 weeks.  Capex, Indy, Heritage Days etc, and concerts every night.  So I'm sitting there waiting for my flight and who happens to walk bye, Kardinall Offishall.  For those who don't know me, I love my