Carmen Rasnick on Technological Disconnects in Cuba “There  was  no  way  to  predict  the  impact  Cuba  would  have  on  my  life.  No  inclination  as  

to  the  mental,  emotional,  and  spiritual  transformation  I  would  begin  as  a  result  of  my  

travels  to  a  place  that  was  so  close,  yet  so  far  away  from  home.  I  found  it  easier  to  

remember  the  conversations  I  had  each  day  when  my  mind  wasn’t  plugged  into  several  

outlets  that  demanded  my  attention.,  I  found  the  disconnect  from  Facebook,  cell  

phones,  email,  and  TV  to  be  freeing.  Each  night  I  was  able  to  talk  or  reflect  on  the  

cultural  connections  I  had  made  that  day.”  

Carmen Rasnick There  was  no  way  to  predict  the  impact  Cuba  would  have  on  my  life.  I  found  the  

disconnect  from  Facebook  and  technology  to  mentally  and  spiritually  freeing.  

Lucas DiPiazza on Cuban Fashion  

“One  of  the  first  things  I  noticed  in  Cuba  was  the  fashion.  The  clothing  style  in  Cuba  

was  so  interesting.  People  seem  to  throw  together  whatever  they  have  in  their  closet  and  

end  up  resembling  a  strange  mix  of  Ed  Hardy  fans,  bikers,  Jersey  Shore  Guido’s,  and  

hipsters  all  in  one.”  

 

 

Lucas DiPiazza Cuban  fashion  is  so  interesting  and  unique,  resembling  a  strange  mix  of  Ed  Hardy  

fans,  bikers,  Jersey  Shore  Guido’s,  and  hipsters  all  in  one,  nothing  like  I’d  imagined.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Alexandra Martínez on Cuban Architecture For  a  developing  country,  Cuba  has  a  surprising  past.  It  was  the  5th  country  in  the  

world  to  have  a  railroad,  built  in  1837.  Havana  was  a  place  that  pirates  had  to  stop  in  

for  trading  in  the  Caribbean.  Yet,  eighty  percent  of  Havana  was  built  between  1900-­‐

1958;  therefore  all  of  the  buildings  are  the  originals.  I  heard  it  multiple  times  referred  

to  as  the  “virgin  city”.  There  is  no  urban  renewal  therefore  the  city  is  preserved.  Today  

the  average  house  is  seventy-­‐five  years  old  and  at  least  three  houses  collapse  per  day.”  

 

Alexandra Martinez I  heard  Havana  multiple  times  referred  to  as  the  “virgin  city”.  Today  the  average  

house  is  seventy-­‐five  years  old  and  at  least  three  houses  collapse  per  day.  

  Sehar Noor on Cuban Newspapers “A  look  through  the  Granma  is  like  reading  a  farcical  advertisement  selling  the  Cuban  

government  to  the  people  –  it  is  as  though  the  Cuban  government  bought  out  the  

entire  newspaper  as  ad  space.  Whether  it  was  a  letter  Fidel  wrote  to  Maradona,  or  a  

story  on  the  evils  of  Yankee  popular  culture,  the  newspaper  articles  in  Cuba  are  under  

strict  supervision  by  the  government  that  punishes  anyone  who  "publicly  defames,  

denigrates,  or  scorns  the  Republic's  institutions,  the  political,  mass,  or  social  

organizations  of  the  country,  or  the  heroes  or  martyrs  of  the  nation"  with  prison  time  

(Cuban  Criminal  Law).”  

 

Sehar Noor A  look  through  Cuban  newspapers  is  like  reading  a  farcical  advertisement  selling  

the  government  to  the  people  –  it  is  as  seemingly  all  government  advertisement.  

 

  Brian Russoniello on Cuban Cars “I  don't  remember  the  point  where  I  could  walk  past  a  Chevy  without  feeling  the  need  to  

take  a  photo,  when  it  was  only  natural  to  ask  who  was  last  in  line,  when  I  could  one-­‐up  

street  vendors  at  the  art  of  bargaining.  Looking  around  me  though,  I  was  captivated  by  

the  automobiles!  Photos  and  anecdotal  evidence  of  how  common  these  cars,  relics  of  a  

Soviet  and  pre-­‐embargo  past,  are  in  Havana  do  not  do  them  justice.  From  old  jalopies  to  

well-­‐maintained  pink  convertibles,  these  cars  zoomed  by  in  complete  normalcy.  50  years  

of  automotive  innovation  never  touched  the  island.”  

 

Brian Russoniello From  old  jalopies  to  pink  convertibles,  50  years  of  automotive  innovation  never  

touched  the  island.  I  don't  remember  when  these  old,  pretty  Chevy’s  became  normal.  

  Elizabeth Carter on Health and Medicine in Cuba  

 

 

 

 

Elizabeth Carter Cuban  dining  is  not  rushed;  it  was  not  uncommon  for  us  to  be  at  a  restaurant  for  

three  hours.  In  America,  we’re  rushed,  in  Cuba,  over  meals  I  understood  my  peers.  

Jacqueline Schultz on Cuban Food “Another  part  of  the  experience  of  dining  in  Cuba  was  the  fact  that  a  meal  is  not  

rushed.  It  was  not  uncommon  to  be  at  a  restaurant  for  about  three  hours.  In  order  to  

be  efficient  time  wise,  we  pre-­‐ordered  many  of  our  meals.  While  this  was  one  aspect  of  

Jacqueline Schultz Cuban  dining  is  not  rushed;  it  was  not  uncommon  for  us  to  be  at  a  restaurant  for  

three  hours.  In  America,  we’re  rushed,  in  Cuba,  over  meals  I  understood  my  peers.  

Cuban  culture  that  took  a  while  to  adjust  to,  it  is  one  that  in  hindsight  I  very  much  

appreciate.  Here  in  America,  I  am  always  on  the  go.  I  am  always  busy.  In  Cuba,  I  had  

the  chance  to  really  get  to  know  my  peers  on  the  trip  during  those  meals.”  

 

  Madeline McLaughlin on U.S.-Cuba Relations “The  majority  of  the  Cubans  I  talked  to  while  interacting  with  locals  would  love  to  have  

a  relationship  with  the  United  States  because  geographically  speaking  we  are  so  close  to  

one  another  that  we  should  have  some  sort  of  civil  relationship.  Also,  I  think  it’s  

imperative  to  have  a  background  knowledge  and  foundation  on  facts  about  Cuba,  

relations  between  the  United  States  and  Cuba,  and  in  general  to  know  current  events  

that  are  taking  place  in  Cuba  at  the  time  before  your  departure.”  

Madeline McLaughlin The  majority  of  Cubans  I  talked  to  while  interacting  with  locals  would  love  to  have  a  

relationship  with  the  United  States,  we’re  so  close  by,  a  civil  relationship  is  necessary.  

  Camilo Garzón on Cubanía “Two  things  Cubans  have:  laughter  and  their  identity.  Of  the  first,  we  see  it  as  an  

expression  of  their  wise  hilarity,  their  affirmation  of  the  sorrows  and  the  successes  of  

the  revolution.  Of  the  second,  we  know  the  reason:  la  Cubanía.  Cuba  might  not  be  the  

paradise  it’s  said  to  be  by  its  amigos,  nor  the  hell  it’s  painted  by  its  enemies.”  

Camilo Garzón Two  things  Cubans  have:  laughter  and  their  identity.  Cuba  might  not  be  the  

paradise  it’s  said  to  be  by  its  amigos,  nor  the  hell  it’s  painted  by  its  enemies  

 

  Kamil Fadel on Language and Community Service in Cuba “Meeting  grass-­‐roots  project  Espiral  was  magnificent!  They  were  really  friendly  and  

incredibly  well  spoken.  I  find  it  so  embarrassing  how  we,  as  Americans  and  coming  

from  “the  greatest  country  on  the  planet,”  are  so  poorly  inclined  toward  any  linguistic  

talent.  Nearly  every  student  from  Espiral  spoke  English,  yet  even  I  myself  was  feeling  

shy  and  embarrassed  at  my  Spanish.  Their  project  is  an  interesting  one.  Collaborating  

with  one  another,  they  are  a  volunteer  group  that  works  to  improve  the  community.”  

Kamil Fadel It  is  embarrassing  that  the  United  States  often  alleges  itself  as  “the  greatest  country,”  

yet  we  are  so  linguistically  impoverished.  Cuban  bilingualism  is  almost  the  norm.  

  Emma Jones on Traveling to Cuba

“President  Obama  has  done  the  most  recent  work  in  opening  up  travel  to  Cuba.  In  order  to  visit  Cuba  you  have  to  get  a  general  license.  To  get  a  license  you  must  be  within  

one  of  the  twelve  categories.  Some  of  those  include  educational  opportunities,  visiting  a  

close  family  member,  full-­‐time  journalist,  visiting  for  an  international  conference,  or  

travel  related  to  sale  of  agricultural,  medical,  and  telecommunication  products.  You  can  

also  get  a  specific  license  that  includes  visits  for  other  educational,  humanitarian,  or  

religious  interest.  In  our  experience  of  flying  to  Cuba,  there  were  a  lot  of  luggage  

restrictions  because  a  lot  of  travelers  from  the  U.S.A  (mostly  Cuban-­‐Americans)  bring  

back  items  that  are  very  hard  to  find  in  the  island.  At  the  baggage  claim,  for  example,  

two  men  had  at  least  five  bags  of  100  pounds  each  wrapped  up  in  plastic.”  

Emma Jones President  Obama  has  done  significant  work  in  opening  up  travel  to  Cuba,  though  it  

still  remains  difficult  with  many  luggage  restrictions  due  to  the  ongoing  embargo.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Tobia Sestak on Cuba´s Dual Currency “There  are  two  parallel  worlds  in  Cuba:  one  for  the  people  and  one  for  the  wealthy  and  

tourists.  One  world  has  the  CUC,  Internet,  freedom  to  travel  the  rest  of  the  world,  fancy  

hotels,  cars,  and  restaurants  while  the  other  has  pesos,  markets  without  potatoes,  

ration  cards,  and  crowed  bus  rides.  Governmental  jobs  are  paid  in  pesos,  (average  

salary  equates  twenty  to  thirty  US$  per  month).  Cuban  convertibles  (which  have  equal  

value  to  the  US$)  is  used  in  the  tourism  industry.  If  a  doctor  working  in  a  hospital  

makes  thirty  dollars  a  month  but  son  makes  the  same  amount  on  his  daily  shift  at  a  

restaurant,  I  am  sure  he  won’t  be  compelled  to  follow  his  father’s  footsteps  in  

medicine.”  

Tobia Sestak There  are  two  parallel  worlds  in  Cuba:  one  for  the  people,  another  for  the  wealthy  

and  tourists.  One  has  internet  and  fancy  hotels,  the  other  crowded  and  rationed.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  “Currently  Cuba’s  most  desired  goods:  Rum,  Cigars,  vintage  Cars,  and  its  major  

agricultural  exports  such  as  Sugar,  Citrus,  Seafood,  and  most  importantly  Coffee  

would  all  integrate  into  the  U.S.  to  generate  a  steady  flow  of  cash  to  Cuban  businesses  

and  industrial  sectors.  Aside  from  Rum  and  Cigars,  the  most  important  thing  for  

Cuba  is  coffee;  coffee  culture  is  very  structured  and  a  part  of  every  meal.  When  we  were  

in  Las  Terrazas,  on  the  last  night,  I  saw  a  young  Cuban  child  drinking  coffee.”  

 

 

Mauricio Chaves Cuba’s  most  desired  goods:  Rum,  Cigars,  vintage  Cars,  but  aside  from  rum  and  

cigars,  the  most  important  thing  for  Cuba  is  its  culture  of  coffee  

 

 

 

 

 

  Aida Sevilla on Organic Farming “One  of  the  places,  I  really  enjoyed  while  visiting  Cuba  was  a  trip  to  a  local  Organic  

Farm.  The  way  it  was  organized,  as  mostly  everything  in  Cuba  is,  a  form  cooperative.  

The  farm  not  only  supply  food  to  the  people  of  the  region,  it  also  supplies  jobs.  This  

agricultural  farm  provides  sustainable  affordable  food  for  this  costal  region  Cuba.  

There  were  thousands  of  different  species  of  plants,  which  were  combined  in  a  way  that  

they  will  protect  one  another  from  plague.  This  combination  will  also  provide  the  

ability  to  avoid  the  use  of  any  chemicals  and  avoid  the  use  of  pesticides.”   Aida Sevilla Unlike  anything  I’ve  seen  in  the  United  States,  in  Cuba  we  visited  a  local,  organic,  

cooperative  farm,  supporting  sustainable,  affordable  food  and  jobs.