1. 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.

2. 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.

3.
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.

4.
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.

5.
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.

6.
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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9.
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

10.
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.

11.
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.

12.
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.

13.
“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

14.
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.