The Forbidden Island

In 1959, after Fidel Castro began his revolution, American slowly began to withdraw from the island.  In 1962, under President JFK, the US put a commercial, economic, and financial embargo on the island.  And under President George W. Bush, traveling to the island was changed to only Cuban-Americans—one every three years for 15 days—and people who obtained a legal license to go, such as certain journalists or humanitarian groups.

I set out to Cuba in March of 2008 through one of less than 10 universities with a license in the United States to study aboard in Cuba though Santa Clara University.  Our school unique in the fact that it is the only university that studies in Santiago de Cuba—the rest of the universities program is in Havana.  When I arrived, I spent one week in Havana, amazed at how close the island was from the United State but how different it was.  I have been to a handful of other Latin American countries, even another Caribbean Latin American country, and it was so different.  The island was immediately enchanting and beautiful, with its old buildings and the sea right there.  After that week, I flew to the eastern part of the island to Santiago de Cuba, the second largest city (Havana being the largest), where I spent the remainder of my 10-week quarter.  I fell further in love with the culture, the food, and the music.  And most importantly, I fell in love with the people.