The day had started just like any of the prior four days since my study abroad group had arrived in Cuba. By this point we had experienced a scorching hot day on the beach learning about climate change’s effect on the beautiful beaches of Cuba and the exhilarating yet peaceful sounds and moves of Cuban salsa. Now we were getting into the meat and potatoes of the trip, exploring US-Cuban relations and the legacy of Cuba’s most divisive figure in politics, Fidel Castro! Forgive me for not containing my excitement but most Americans can agree that our knowledge of Cuba doesn’t often go further than these two topics initially. Prior to going to Cuba, whenever someone mentioned the island I thought, one, “Oh yeah, I can’t go there right?” without ever really knowing why and two, “Isn’t that where Fidel Castro is from?” My knowledge was so limited that I almost felt guilty about accepting to go on the trip. But here I was, and here we were ready to be enlightened on what really is going on between the “imperialistas” of the United States and the “commies that don’t surf” in Cuba.

            So on this particular day, we were supposed to go to the Centro Fidel Castro first, but the event was rescheduled to later that afternoon. So we went to CIPS, our study abroad sponsor, for our lecture on US-Cuba relations. And immediately upon entering the classroom we were greeted by an English-speaking professor! Now you might be saying to yourself, “Why are you so excited about an English-speaking professor? I’m sure you’ve had a lot of them.” But in this case, the previous professors for our lectures abroad couldn’t speak a lick of English. So all the lectures up until now had to go through our wonderful intermediary/translator Ana Leina. But this professor could speak English which meant we could absorb all the information in all its impassioned glory.

            And so our lecture started, with a seemingly simple question. “When do you think US-Cuba relations began?” Some of us said the Cuban Missile Crisis others said the independence of Cuba from foreign rule and others said the 1959 Revolution of Cuba. Turns out only one of us was correct. An impressively intelligent student in our group mentioned the Monroe Doctrine as the catalyst for our strained relations with the island of Cuba. Now if you’re wondering how in the world he knew that I’m right there with you because I have no idea. But it turns out the Monroe Doctrine was repurposed by JFK to condemn the actions of the Soviet Union in Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis. So maybe some of us who mentioned the Cuban Missile Crisis were right indirectly but who knows. Either way, within the hour or so we spent in that classroom, I realized that this was probably the most engaging lecture and discussion the group had participated in since we arrived in Cuba. Maybe it was because the language barrier was removed for this particular lecture, but it also could have been the fact that in this hour, with this topic we finally realized how detrimental U.S. policy in Cuba has been to Cubans for over 60 years. And by the end of it, we were left with this underlying pressure from a single statement by the professor, “it’s up to you now.” Initially, I couldn’t understand this statement because honestly, what can I do? But in the post-lecture discussions within the group I realized that by the end of this program we were meant to have a new understanding, through experience, of the struggles of the Cuban people, their willingness to cooperate with our country and relay that knowledge to our fellow Americans. Heavy stuff indeed.

            And with this newfound perspective rummaging around in our psyches, we went for lunch at a local restaurant called El Peregrino. Now by this point, we had developed a pretty good relationship with the API staff and our designated driver Carlos. So we engaged in a conversation over lunch with Carlos about life in Cuba and aspirations of one day going to the US. I jokingly asked him if he would consider marrying my aunt so he could come to the States, not realizing he was married. But then I asked him, “Why do you think Cuba has such a bad rap in the States?” And if you’re wondering about my motivations for asking this type of question, it was mainly because of my concerns of losing Global Entry and the task of having to keep my receipts for five years which I still believe to be pretty ludicrous. But his response really brought it home that the problem is mainly politics, which many Cubans don’t even really concern themselves with. He told me that many Cubans believe in “live and let live”, and living in the shadow of a regime that shapes perceptions abroad about Cubans has been very bad for everyone including Americans even if we don’t see it in our daily lives. To be honest, I couldn’t have expressed myself on the matter better than that. And with that, we moved on to our next adventure, the Denouncement Memorial Museum.

            We arrived at the museum on foot, and I cannot really recall why but I remember we walked because we passed by a foreign consulate as we made our way there from where Carlos dropped us off. Upon entering, we entered a room where we learned a bit more in-depth about US-Cuba relations through CIA declassified documents. Scrolling through the interactive touch screen timelines gave us a codified timeline of the events in Cuba leading up to the revolution and also the events that would unfold post-revolution into the U.S. embargo era. I remember the room with the glass floor that preserved various types of ammunition underneath the glass because the room was artificially scented to smell as if we were on a battlefield. Videos of various Castro speeches were intermittently played throughout the tour as well as footage of the revolution. Initially I thought this tour was going to be an in-depth exposé on Castro but alas that was reserved for the Centre Fidel Castro which was up next on our itinerary. And away we went. 

            Upon arriving at the Centro Fidel Castro, we realized how important the preservation former leader of Cuba’s legacy is to a segment of the population. We had to pass through a metal detector as if we were boarding an international flight. Only a water bottle and our cell phones were allowed inside the building. Once we entered the building, we experienced a side of Castro we had not really seen before, from his youth all the way up until his death. Medals that had been given to Castro were perfectly preserved in fiber glass and even his identity card was plastered on the wall in what looked like a squeaky-clean mansion for a monarch. We were in for many a surprise. Castro’s life, within the museum, was being presented to us as a rags to riches type fairytale. Having come from a poor family, which was debated rigorously within the group, he rose up to lead a nation that would come to see him as a paternal figure and set an example for generations to come in Cuba. By the end of the tour, most of the group left with scrunched up eyebrows because of how pro-Castro this museum really was. Yet it didn’t deter anyone from wanting to visit the gift shop which unfortunately was closed for the day. But alas, tomorrow is a new day with new adventures. And with that, the day was over.

            Overall it was a great day during our trip in Cuba. Partially due to the fact that as an American I should be informed about how our country’s policies affect people coming from a completely different lifestyle and background politically and economically, but also because for a brief moment I actually felt like I was becoming Cuban.