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Aubrey Casey: Student Report from 2016 Alternative Summer Break in Cuba

Aubrey Casey at Malecon
Aubrey Casey takes a stroll along the Malecón, the roadway that runs alongside the Bay of Havana.

Prior to this trip, my knowledge of Cuba was fairly limited, but when I saw a flyer I knew instinctively that it was something that I wanted and needed to do, despite the loan it required and the extra stress it added to an already challenging semester. Now, over a month away from the experience, I’m so thankful for the amazing opportunity I had and the willingness to take a risk.

City Street in Old Havana
A city street at the edge of Old Havana.

My first thought when entering the foreign world of Cuba was that I’d never seen a place so filled with life. Granted, I’ve seen relatively little in my 21 years, but in terms of travel abroad, I’ve hardly scratched the surface. So as we drove into Havana, Cuba, for the first time, I was amazed by the variety and richness of life – from the buildings of degraded decadence throughout Old Havana and along the Malećon, to the 50’s style cars, people, dogs, and bicycle – “bici” – taxis that moved with a hectic but fluid motion in the streets, and even in the large and delicious meals we were served during our week. I expected to enter Cuba and see what they lacked, but instead I was amazed by how vibrantly the Cuban people lived with their limited resources. Of course, the poverty and neglect were physically evident – the streets and sidewalks were torn up and infrastructure was visibly not a priority, but the people functioned well around it.

Aubrey Casey with Dog Statue
Aubrey Casey with a sculpture of a dog on Havana’s Plaza Vieja.

We spent our week exploring Old Havana and the surrounding area including working on restoring a park that was a ferry boat’s ride away from our lodgings. As aspiring engineers, we were assigned to work on building benches and a coconut bar along one of the trails. We worked with the locals who had dreamed up the project, and we used every bit of old lumber and nails, abandoned pipes, and whatever we could find to add to their vision. I was amazed by their innovation and inspired by their engineering abilities used to solve a problem however possible, despite any formal training. I was excited to see the essence of engineering in application.

Andres and Farmer with Yucca Plant
Andres, our Cuban host, and a tobacco farmer show just-harvested yucca.

While I loved the life and tarnished splendor of Havana, one of my most cherished experiences in Cuba was our day spent in the Viñales Valley. We took our old 12 passenger van with no air conditioning, opened all the windows, and drove a couple hours outside Havana across the beautiful Cuban country to the mountains of Viñales. I couldn’t recall a time that I’d ever felt more relaxed. Where Havana was visibly impacted by the embargo, the countryside seemed to me a constant: simple, practical life that moved forward. One of the best examples I saw of this was during our visit to a local tobacco farm where we learned the entire process of growing, harvesting, and preparing a Cuba cigar. The farmers we met were friendly and relaxed, and our interactions with them helped me visualize the beauty of living in a slightly isolated simplicity.

Cuban Countryside
Viñales Valley in Cuba

In retrospect, I’m so incredibly grateful for this opportunity I had to grow and learn. Many thanks go to the team of people who worked tirelessly to make this trip happen. I’m not sure that I’ll rush back to Havana, or that I’ll ever have another opportunity like this to return, but I know that travel is something I’ll have to keep pursuing because there is such an incredible value in opening the mind and embracing another culture.

Viva Cuba!

Sunset in Cuba
Sunset at Castillo del Morro.