“Ti-ri-ti-ti”

By María Fernanda Alfaro

When one hears the word “Cuba” many things come to mind. When one gets the opportunity to travel there, those images that had been taught to us, read to us, and constructed within our minds-have a new meaning. As we prepared for the trip, Dr. Cuesta and others, would speak to us about what we should expect and how we should prepare; and although I thought I was mentally ready for what I was about to experience, I later found out that I wasn’t.

Upon our arrival, we were greeted in Ediciones Vigía by the staff, whom would become more then our host. It didn’t take long for us to get acquainted with the people that would be our guides on the trip and whom we’d build a strong friendship with. That evening, we were invited to a concert where some of Matanza’s most prominent musicians and artist were performing.  It was at this moment that I begin to realize that music was an essential aspect of the Cuban culture.

Music became a dominant and important factor in our trip. When we traveled via the “gua-gua” we sang our heart out, literally. It didn't matter what decade we had been born in or what our country  of origin was, we sang. There wasn't a radio with an overplayed “top of the chart” list or commercial interruptions that dominated the moments we were living-it was our voices, our choir.

At the editorial, when working on the book, we sang and danced. We made up lyrics to and melodies, allowing nothing to get in the way of us doing so. It was the beat of each song that united us. It didn't matter what our political ideologies were, what our social status were, or even how many followers or friends we had our social media accounts-all that mattered were the moments we were living together. The moments where, we were all dancing to the same beat, and for at least a second we did not have a worry on our mind.

I once asked a friend, “Why do you guy’s love to dance, love music so much?” He replied, “Because sometimes it’s the only way to escape….” He was right. Music was the only way we could escape the reality we were living and being exposed to. 

A reality that we had to face in spite of all the advice we were given, yet were not ready for. One that included a the shedding of tears from the things we saw that none of us had never experienced. One that would forever change and impact our consumerism based lifestyles and force us to re-evaluate our priorities. A reality that included the fact that in a few days the trip would be over and we might never see our friends again. A reality that meant that we would come back to a country where we would try to explain Cuba, but unless it was experienced it would never be understood.  Music, in most instances, was the only thing we could be in control of and a way to express many things that we could not voice.

On our last night in Cuba, in Havana,  we went to dinner and a show. While there, I along with my classmates were asked to go on stage and dance the famous “Oppa Gotham Style”.  Once on stage they asked us where we were from. Each one of answered accordingly, “Argentina, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Cuba”. As the crowd stared at us, I realized that music had brought us together. Our social status did not matter, our levels of education did not matter, our origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender did not matter.  In Cuba, our essence as individuals was what mattered and music brought that out.

Till this day the melodies we moved to are constantly playing over and over in my head, along with the images of what we lived. Ti, ri, ti, ti ,ti ti- the “latest samba song” that had arrived to Cuba while we were there. That song turned the island of Cuba, to CU-BAH, an island filled with some of the most amazing and genuine individuals I have ever met. In my eyes a land that lives off the beat of her own drum.

Cuba changed the rhythm of my life, and wrote it a new melody.