Relaxed travel restrictions are impacting the number of students choosing to spend a semester or two of their college career in Cuba. Changes will allow more students to have the opportunity to study in Cuba. They will be able to learn Spanish and gain cultural knowledge about an island that is situated geographically close to the United States, an opportunity younger generations have not had before.
Just last week, the Obama administration announced new rules that will allow Americans to travel on their own to Cuba without as many restrictions. Americans that now plan their own educational day-to-day activities will be permitted to travel to Cuba. This will open up even more opportunities for students go to there for an extended period of time for educational purposes.
The reasons why Cuba is so appealing go far beyond its warm climate.
“I knew it would be a place that was completely different and that’s the point of traveling,” Jes Mallepalle, a student at Arcadia University who spent a week in Cuba noted. For young travelers, wishing to immerse themselves in a diverse culture and experience that is sure to be eye-opening, Cuba is without a doubt, a top pick.
Janelle Crilley, a senior at Arcadia University who spent a semester abroad in Cuba comments, “I wanted to study in Cuba because I wanted a language and cultural experience in a Spanish speaking country other than Spain.” Janelle took classes at the University of Havana alongside other Cuban students and stated, “I knew this was an opportunity of a lifetime since (when I applied) the US and Cuba were not even talking about making changes to their relations and the embargo.”
Being immersed in Cuban culture also means disconnecting from technology, including the Internet. While this can be a major challenge and change, many students may find that stepping out of their comfort zone allows for an even greater learning experience while abroad.
“Having limited Internet access, although difficult when I wanted to communicate with my family, allowed me to make some of the most authentic friendships I’ve ever had. Instead of being on my phone, I was forced to make conversation all the time,” says Crilley.
Students that have studied through Arcadia University’s Cuba program have seen how Cubans live firsthand and have observed the difficult conditions there while simultaneously seeing how they still manage to have a good time and enjoy their cultural surroundings. Studying in Cuba also allows students, who are accustomed to having reliable access to food and electricity, to learn not to take these things for granted.
“I wanted to learn more about Cuba in general, since I didn’t know much about it before I started thinking about going. I definitely got more out of my experience than I expected. I have an appreciation for things that I have always taken for granted like reliable electricity, water, and access to food,” Crilley states.
It will be interesting to see how relaxed travel restrictions, besides influencing the number of tourists flocking to Cuba, will impact the number of students studying abroad on the island. But, there are still many obstacles to be overcome in relation to mending economic and diplomatic ties between the US and Cuba.
