Why Go To Cuba?

Americans, who have had little contact with Cuba during the last four decades, tend to view it as a poor, harsh country of crumbling buildings and old cars. But UST MIM students had the opportunity to go beyond media stereotypes and learn firsthand about a culture with very different priorities and struggles. Fidel Castro's four decades of leadership and struggle with the world's superpowers has created a unique landscape of sacrifice as well as extraordinary achievement. There is certainly poverty, with agricultural production unable to keep up with demand, and much of the urban infrastructure is old and run-down. But at the same time, Cuba has one of the highest literacy rates in the world, a sophisticated system of free medical care, and an influential arts culture of film festivals and street music. Only 90 miles from U.S. shore, Cuba offers an entirely different world from which students were able to learn much about: Cuban politics & law, the National Assembly of Popular Power and how it is structured and elected, the nature of the educational system, urban development, the development of various Cuban music and dance styles, and a general appreciation for how Cuban's have adapted when faced with economic hardships such as the "special period" of the early '90's after the end of the Cold War.

There are many features of its geography, history and social organization that make Cuba an especially interesting and rewarding place for a study-trip.

• It is a tropical island with beautiful beaches and a rich variety of exotic animals and plants.
• It has a long and proud record of achievement in art, music, literature, athletics, and medical research.
• It is one of the few nations in the Americas where the majority of the population is of African descent, but where you can appreciate the influence of Spanish, Asian, and Caribbean cultures.
• Since its Revolution in 1959, Cuba has been the target of persistent U.S. efforts to isolate it politically and economically from the rest of the hemisphere.
• Although it is often labeled as a third-world country, Cuba has an almost entirely literate, well-educated population and maintains a widely-admired system of health care which has helped raise life-expectancy in Cuba to 75.5 years
• The Cuban people are legendary for their fierce independence, their camaraderie, and their passion for having fun.