A Semester in Cuba

[Red Saxon]

Despite my parents wishes, I do have enough money saved up to stay a semester in Cuba to better my Spanish skills. I'll be staying in Havana with a host family and my school will be in a cultural center.

I would also like to take Socialism classes at the university there, but when I called they said due to the current U.S. Embargo I wouldn't be allowed to enter officially, but I was more than welcome to sit in on the classes.

I plan to leave in 2011 after my first semester at Ohio State University.

Any tips on living in Cuba?

[Raúl Duke]

I heard that Sarah Lawrence College had a (still-functioning) exchange program with a Cuba university..

Any tips? Well I wouldn't know really but obviously you should try to attain some degree of Spanish that would allow basic conversation. When I went to Italy my "basic knowledge" (depends on what one would consider basic; I was able to have basic conversation although in terms of understanding I find Italian very easy to understand even if they talk of things I might have not learned explicitly due to similarities in Spanish) of Italian helped a long way.

[Red Saxon]

I heard that Sarah Lawrence College had a (still-functioning) exchange program with a Cuba university..

Any tips? Well I wouldn't know really but obviously you should try to attain some degree of Spanish that would allow basic conversation. When I went to Italy my "basic knowledge" (depends on what one would consider basic; I was able to have basic conversation although in terms of understanding I find Italian very easy to understand even if they talk of things I might have not learned explicitly due to similarities in Spanish) of Italian helped a long way.Sarah Lawrence is the most expensive university in the United States o_o

[Raúl Duke]

One thing I heard from some travel sources is, if you want to be charitable, bring in certain kinds of goods (relatively modest/cheap ones mind you; I'm not asking you to spend a large sum in goods just to give it away) that are unavailable or hard to come by in Cuba and give it to people, etc. Although not sure how this would be looked upon by the Cuban government (especially if you try to barter or, even more so, sell it to people) but in a sense you'll be helping people.

[Red Saxon]

I'll be sure to bring gifts to the family I'm going to be staying with, but probably not much more. I do realize how incredibly hard it is to buy some products like toothbrushes, but I'm going to come prepared.

[Luisrah]

Don't forget to make a diary or something on how things are going there. Tell us atleast something about it when you come :)

[*Viva La Revolucion*]

Lucky person! I hope you have a good time. :)

All I can think of is maybe finding out about any customs which are specific to Cuba, so that you don't accidentally offend people. Also you could check which items you should bring for your stay and do some research so that you don't end up being caught up in any bureaucratic troubles.

Why don't your parents want you to go?

[ellipsis]

I feel like this is a Mutual aid forum topic but:

My tips based upon a 9 day visit and from talking to a lot of people who travelled to cuba through my university.

*The weed sucks and it not even worth smoking.
•People will constantly be approaching you offering their services which is a double edged sword. On the plus side people will show you around or help you find an address and they don't expect too much in return, maybe a couple of dolars or some smokes. on the negative lots of people are trying to swindle you, "hey can you send a letter to my father in new york, come with me to get the letter" and then they order drinks for themselves which you are expected to pay for while you wait for a letter which never comes and
• The police don't really bother foreigners.
• Havana is pricey so try to get out of the city and go to the bay or pigs and cienfuegoes or something.

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

I'm travelling independently to Cuba in May. Going to stay in Havana I believe.

Make sure if you are going to learn some Spanish that you learn American-Spanish, because there is a wealth of difference between that and traditional spanish, akin to the difference between French and Creole, for example.

Aside from that, pick and choose carefully which Cubans on the streets you talk to (there's meant to be a divide between well meaning ones and Jinteros - hustlers, in effect, although it seems like the Capitalist guides like LonelyPlanet overplay the 'impoverished Cubans' thing), and enjoy the best Rum, Mojito, Cubra Libre and Cigars you'll find;)

[Raúl Duke]

Yes, learn American Spanish.

Preferably from other Cubans but I guess Puerto Ricans (the 2 islands have historical ties. To the Cubans, Puerto Rico is the sister island to Cuba. The cuban independence movement had great ties with the early Spanish-era puerto rican independence movement. The Cuban government also continues to support independence for Puerto Rico and I seen photos of a museum dedicated to this from a former class mate's trip to Cuba.) and maybe Mexicans are ok to learn from.