The Light - An Alumni Publication Fall 2015 | Page 15

day 1
“It was a lot of fun to travel in the shoes of exchange
students who go through a similar journey: pre-departure
and arrival orientations, all administered through folks
at YFU. We were living a sliver of their experience.
We would stop at a park and for lunch before getting
to the hotel. So much of Cuba is trapped in a time
warp. The park was full of children and a few adults who
were playing tug of war to loud, thumping music and
seemed more than a little curious about two busloads
of Americans who had invaded their summer-time fun.”
Children playing tug-of-war in a park in
Havana, shortly after the delegation’s arrival.

day 3

“The GMCW would have two performances today: one at
the National Library of Cuba, a significant cultural facility
for the nation situated very near Revolution Square.
Many members of Cuba’s LGBT community came out for
the performance, and while the Chorus was ‘in great
voice,’ the real power of this session happened in the
question and answer period following the performance.
One gentleman jumped up and excitedly said he never
thought he’d see the day a gay chorus was performing
in the National Library. It was a powerful reminder that
the yearning for human rights is inherent in people.”
Local members of Cuba’s LGBT community in the audience
as the GMCW performed at the National Library of Cuba.

day 5

“Later that night our hotel, the Quinta Avenida Hotel,
sponsored a concert for GMCW, setting up a stage
in the lobby. We were so moved by the combination
of rainbow and Cuban flags in the hotel. The men of
GMCW were again in wonderful voice, and we were
pleasantly surprised and touched to see some of the
performers from our first day in the lobby to root us on.
[The performers from the first day] asked musical as
well as diplomatic questions; our efforts to break down
barriers through music were starting to have an impact.”

Cuban and Pride flags lined the Quinta Avenida Hotel as
the GMCW performed in the lobby.