Reflecting on my Cuba experience

This trip gave me a lot more perspective on what poverty and freedom really mean. Being fortunate enough to come from American suburbia, I never really came across the struggles that I saw on a daily basis in the streets of Havana. While no one is starving there, per se, everyone is struggling, and this trip has given me a much deeper appreciation for the blessings that I have in my own life. Freedom also means a lot more to me now than it did before I left for Cuba. The limits on speech, movement, and personal choices that the people of Cuba face are profound, and having those freedoms in my own life mean much more to me now that I have seen the comparative.
Having just finished my freshman year, I have a lot of time and a lot of elective space to fill. This rich intellectual experience has convinced me of the value of pursuing knowledge pertaining to other cultures and places, and I hope to take a plethora of courses in order to broaden my understanding of the world.
This trip helped me to find my artistic side, which I am very appreciative of. Majoring in Math and Finance, I never really get the opportunity to take course-work in the arts. Seeing how much I enjoy creating new works has motivated me to pursue more of it in my free time, and I look forward to exploring New York City this summer with a DSLR in tow.
How did I navigate through my fears and apprehensions that I had prior to studying abroad?
I did what I always do. I counted to 3, and told myself that everything would be ok. I didn’t dwell on fears and I knew that things would work out. I think that whenever someone is going on a trip like this one, they need to remember that at the end of the day, as long as you follow your instincts and keep a clear head, nothing will go wrong.
Speaking with the local people gave me a lot more to think about in regards to the place of the US in the world, and how we should be interacting with other peoples. Discussions about imperialism and the like came up frequently, and it helped me to concretize my own understanding of how the US is viewed, and how we can change that image in a positive light. By studying in another part of the world, I have come to understand my own in much greater depth.
The single greatest benefit of studying abroad for me was the language immersion. I have never taken a Spanish course before in my life, and now I am able to navigate around Havana and interact with the locals. Picking up new languages is an incredible experience, and one that can be had in almost any study abroad trip on the planet!
I loved my first weekend in Havana. I met a man named Jose, and he became an informal tour guide for myself and a few other people from the group. I was able to see Havana from a local’s viewpoint, which I found very cool. Better yet, I found the interactions with locals to be more genuine, providing a different facet to Cuba experience.
Take advantage of every day. While it can be hard to get over the nerves of being in a foreign country at first, the worst thing that you could do is not exploring enough. From day one, I was determined to immerse myself as much as possible, and I genuinely feel as though this led to a much richer experience for me. Conversely, there were other participants on the trip who were a bit more nervous about exploring, and from speaking with the afterwards it became clear that they regretted not getting out more when they had the chance.

I would love to study abroad again! I think I’d really like to go to East Asia, as it possesses a rich history while also positioning itself to be a major player in future affairs. Of course, I think virtually any study abroad program has a ton to offer, and I look forward to exploring what other options Northeastern can provide!