Cuba Summer Abroad 2017

Cuba Summer Abroad 2017

by: Emilse Rosa

I was nervous when I was faced with the thought that I was going to go overseas for the first time. A strange mysterious land.

Ready to embark on an adventure? That was my thought when I was faced with the beauty which is Cuba. Now, when I look back and think of Cuba, a smile comes to my face. I miss the warm summer breeze, the smells, the spontaneity of not knowing what adventure you will face for the day. All of this is included in the island charm. It is a beautiful, historical island! I never expected the variety and beauty of the architecture which we encountered. Most of my pictures are architecture related due to the level of detail and preservation. Other countries tend to destroy old buildings and build new modern buildings, but they do not hold the beauty and history which these buildings hold. New buildings lack history while old buildings are filled with it.These proud buildings have withstood the passage of time with a sense of pride, standing tall and intact for years to come.

Cuba was a lot of fun! We learned about a different culture from our own. It was an experience that I will remember for years to come; being an Art History major I was drawn to the transformative side of the island. It is everything that I expected it to be; colorful, happy, fast moving, enchanting and alluring. It draws you in, you want to know more about it, at every corner you are faced with ornate buildings filled to the brim with history because they served as different places over time. For example, this building used to be a fire station but today it’s a hotel. There are several buildings that resemble this style. This is an elaborate baroque style building, with its arches, columns, and dramatic central projection.

In Cuba, people are always outside keeping the city alive. The streets are filled with sounds and greetings at all hours of the day. The idea of togetherness comes to mind when describing Cuba because you often see people gathering in public places. In the park, the plaza, the streets, there are always people gathering just to use WI-FI, talk on the phone, take a walk, or just to talk to their neighbors. It is a close-knit community which creates a warm ambiance for visitors to the island, we are not used to people constantly being outdoors or an overcrowded park in the middle of the day. It is a very pleasant experience because of the human connection that is achieved once you remove the WI-FI accessibility. People feel the need to create connections.

This was the last thing I saw before embarking on our trip back to the airport to return back to Houston. These cars are like Cuba itself, they are made up of different parts to make a whole. Cuba is made up of different cultures and different people in one island where they all meet to make one country. Just like this car is inviting you to take it for a ride, Cuba is inviting you to come over for a memorable trip!