the cuban milk story
We’re really lucky in Canada to have all the luxuries we want, when we want them. We’re also really lucky to have such warm positive attitudes.
They’re not really as nice in Cuba as I originally thought. It’s like they look at us and see only money…and they want it. I learned they make something crazy like $20-50 Cuban pesos a month. So, I can see why…
They do this thing where they say “hi” and compliment you, then they ask if you need help finding something or to buy something and then ask for money.
We met a real asshole on the last day. He started chatting to us about how beautiful Cuba was and that he loves Canada but it’s to cold for him. He spoke pretty good English and was wearing a gold watch. He was persistent and kept with the handshakes which I didn’t like.
We tried to get away but then came the pitch “No money, don‘t want money but can you buy me some milk for my baby”. I didn’t see a baby anywhere. He said it was to take to the hospital for the baby. Ok, fine, its just milk, gonna be like a couple pesos.
We waited with him in this line at a small merchant shop in Old Havana. He asked me to order milk and the lady gave me a bag with about 4 litres and told me it was $20.
WTF. How the hell can it be $20? I was pissed. I told him that wasn’t cool and refused to pay for it. He tricked us.
We ended up returning 2 bags and paying the lady $10 for 2 litres of milk to get him off our back. We walked away cursing the dick as he walked behind us for a minute before disappearing. I’m sure he went back and returned the milk for cash.
It made me look at the people differently. They’re not nice, they’re poor and hungry and live in shit conditions. They’ve really got begging from tourists down to an sneaky science.
It may be cold in Canada but we’ve got warmer people and attitudes.
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Come back to Boston! we are clean and friendly here and won't soak you for milk however it's just as cold as Toronto!!
I don't disagree that it was a crappy way to do it, but I wonder what I would be willing to do if I made 20-50 pesos a month, and could scam some tourist (that the propaganda has been telling me since I was born is the reason that I have nothing) out of half a months salary?
“Hey pal, can you spare $5000 for some milk? I have the biggest fucking baby you've ever seen, and he's HUNGRY!!!!”
haha maybe is was a special milk from a sacred cow? we didn't even think to ask or look at what kind it was? #duh do they even have cows there? i heard you might know a thing or two about cows.
I know that cows get pissed if you don't milk them – their tits get sore, sacred or not.
Almost peed my pants laughing #lol #cows #milk #cuba
In Cuba, milk is rationed. It is a luxury there- why it is so expensive and puts it out of reach for most Cubans. Since desperation can make people do crazy things, don't get swindled when you are on foreign soil. A little research for us big-hearted Canadians can go a long way and then you will know when to say a firm NO and walk away.
I often read your blog. It's fun and sassy. But your perspective about Cuba is all about your own experience. By the sounds of it,perhaps your first trip to a country that is not well of economically and socially speaking… Why not open yourself to the expereinces of the people living in those conditions instead of critizising how poor and disgusting it is… Cuba is well to do compared to other places. I suggest you leave the bubble more often and wake up to a reality that there are billions, yes billions of people living on less than a $1 a day and who go without food for days and weeks on end… Your reality of thwe world is what you have grown a-custom too. Perhaps choosing between which $300 pair of shoes or skirts is the hardest reality gets for you… But Shitting on poor people who have to hustle to just survive shows just how sheltered and shallow your existance has been… Let go of the rope darling… Who is the happier? She who has braved the storm of life and lived or she who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed?
Living on your own and partying all the time doesn't count when it comes to saying I've roughed it. I've been in hard times… Pissing on Cubans for try to hustle a bag of milk is pathetic… Turned off by your lack of compassion for others.. The world doesn't owe you anything Casie Stewart… Never did. Never will…
Thanks for your input. I can comment and say what I like. I didn't know it was so bad but I'm not a fucking retard and I know people are suffering around the world. HENCE why I do so much so try and help charities all YEAR and write about it ON THIS VERY BLOG. Duh. I also don't spend my life partying and buying $300 shoes. I work hard and if you read it more often you would know I buy vintage all the time. I got where I am by working for it and no one help my hand and payed my way.
If you don't wanna read this blog cause I say what I like then don't, I don't write it for you. I write it for me so I remember.
AND I don't think the world owes me anything.
it's all about my own experience on my own blog. if you want travel advise or some facts ask google!
“It may be cold in Canada but we’ve got warmer people and attitudes.”
you really think Canadians would be nicer and warmer given similar circumstances?
That is a questions I can not answer, things may just change there as they will here. At the moment, it's colder here but we have warmer attitudes than they do.