This past spring break, 14 Choate students were accompanied by Ms. Jessica Cuni, Dr. Yaser Robles, and Ms. Sarah Boisvert on the first ever Choate trip to Cuba. The ten-day excursion, which was in the making for the past two years, focused on art, history, and full cultural immersion.
In Cuba, each day was filled with activities from snorkeling and swimming to visiting the studio of a local artist or learning how to cook authentic Cuban food. But along with “touristy” activities, the group had the unique opportunity to visit an elderly home, tour a prestigious medical school, and converse with primary school students, allowing the Choate students to profoundly interact with the Cuban people. “In my opinion, the whole trip was more about understanding how Cubans see Cuba. It definitely centered on aspects that one would only be able to understand while in Cuba,” said Ellie Latham ’18.
Through these interactions, students found that there was a strong sense of national pride among Cubans. “Cubans are really patriotic about their government,” Latham continued, noting how open they were to talking about political issues.
“Although there might be political tension, Cubans are able to make a very clear distinction between the American government and the American people,” added Donovan Lynch ’18.
Joanna Ding ’19, a participant in the trip, illustrated her thoughts a!er visiting the National Art Institute in Cuba.
Students experienced firsthand the vibrant culture of Cuba and the candid spirit of the Cuban people. Voicing the same idea, Ms. Cuni and Dr. Robles stated that the purpose of the trip was “not only to educate, but also for the students to be able to view Cuba through a ‘raw lens.’”
The trip taught students new artistic concepts, and the new landscape sparked their creativity. Each day, students were given time to sit and draw, which allowed them to reflect on their day, take notes, draw the Cuban scenery, or capture photos of the beautiful architecture.
Through visits to multiple famous art museums, the students learned about the diversified artistic style that is Cuban art. “It’s different from Cuban-American art. It’s very colorful, positive, and unique,” commented Jeanne Malle ’19. “There’s definitely an influence from the culture and history; it’s very traditional.”
From a historical aspect, Dr. Robles provided the background to many of the structures that the group visited, focusing on the history of the Cuban sights. The expansive museums were also able to give the students a more in-depth understanding of the history. “The museums were fascinating in terms of getting a grip on how Cubans view the history of relations with the U.S.,” reflected Lynch. Other historical landmarks such as the Bay of Pigs gave the students a closer look at historical moments concerning not only Cuban-American relations, but also the entirety of Cuban history.
In the future, both Ms. Cuni and Dr. Robles hope to continue this program, making it a Choate tradition that extends not only to students, but to faculty as well. Based on this trip alone, this program clearly offers an immensely insightful and unique opportunity for the Choate community.
