Binders and Scarves...no más

Every year I anticipate that first week of September when suddenly it's acceptable to debate which composition notebook is best suited for English and which outfit is both put together and casual. Back at home, back to school is a holiday in its own right, and I celebrate accordingly.

Things are a little different here.

Come Monday we all had our first day of school butterflies. Our group arrived at breakfast unnecessarily early, overanalyzed what writing utensils to bring, and debated the pros vs. cons of personally introducing ourselves to our professors. Well, all our anxiety was for naught. It's only been four days of class, but already our group is picking up on the super laid back tendencies of the Cuban back to school variety. And at a university where solidarity is of utmost importance, Cuban students are more than eager to help us out. Five practical week-one lessons:

1. The only special school supply you need is a FAN. The classrooms do not have AC, and 40 plus bodies sitting still in a small classroom (known as "aulas") for an hour and 30 minutes in the 80+ weather, results in a lot of sweating. Within five minutes of my first class ever girl had whipped out a fan and I realized what it felt like to be a Cuban guy- jealous and over- heated.

2. If you arrive to class in the right place and at the right time, but there is not a soul in sight, you aren't lost or confused. There is just a very good chance that it is one of those classes that always starts 14 minutes late. All the students seem to know which professors arrive exactly on time and which don't, and plan their schedules accordingly.

3. If you can't find a seat in your classroom, don't panic or awkwardly stand around, go to the next-door classroom and borrow one. All the classes have those elementary-school style connected chair-desk combos, so they are easily transported from one aula to the next, (but they lack tennis balls on the bottom so they make horrific noises when you drag them). When I arrived in my third class and couldn't find a seat I nervously hovered in a corner until a Cuban student was nice enough to take pity on me and personally deliver a desk. I felt proud to be able to do the same for a fellow clueless American in my fifth class.

4. Don't go to the library! All the books are infested with fleas, and it's being fumigated.

5. You are not allowed to eat ice cream in class. Although smoking and note passing are permissible, depending on the professor, there are clear "Prohibido de Comer Helado en La Aula" signs on the walls. When frozzens (Cuban fro-yo) is only 5 cents, and it's 90 degrees, it's obvious why it would be tempting.

I’m sure I’ll only continue to learn all the norms and nuances of Universidad de Habana life, and eventually begin to understand the accent of the polish exchange student who I now only ever nod and smile at.