Translation of Taifun

I like writting you messages although most of it is really pointless. I mean it is very good for my English studies, but except that I could not understand why you would be interested in reading it.
I would like to mention the conflict on the balkan, which has been going on for centuries. Both fought for religion and for land. During the fighting the hatred grew and stereotypes were built.
I visited the Hurricane watch center's website on a hourly basis hoping it would just go away, bt hurricane Ivan was on a direct path to Havana. It did not stop my vacation plans and I left the office.