The Cuba Fellowship

My time Cuba was amazing! I am beyond grateful for the experience and the opportunity to go with The Cuba Fellowship (TCF). Going with an organization like TCF is something I recommend everyone to do. I maximized my experience in Cuba thanks to the educational structure that was put in place. I learned so much from class and also from locals. I was able to apply what I learned in class in my day to day activities. This summer I traveled to 3 countries and I have to say that I learned the most from Cuba. The experience is like no other, if you have the chance to experience this for yourself, do it! The staff is amazing and the friends you'll make are awesome!

My trip to with The Cuba Fellowship was educational, safe and a whole lot of fun. The site directors do a great job of making sure all three of those are satisfied. The classes are super interesting and do a great job of outlining Cuba's history, U.S. Relations and the island's current state. Often times we would talk about a historical location then go see it in person right after class, this made the lessons very engaging. Don't be fooled, this trip isn't just class and historical tours! Cuba has a vibrant night scene for young people where you can meet welcoming locals along with interesting tourists from around the globe. The program encourages independent exploring and facilitates weekend adventures to other areas outside of Havana. The directors had answers to all my questions and provided resources for anything I needed during the trip. Overall it was an experience that transformed me with it's unique atmosphere and overwhelmingly kind and interesting encounters. I highly recommend traveling with The Cuba Fellowship or any Atlantis Project/Saffron Ventures cohorts.

I'm a very blunt person and when a program does a poor job I'm the first to say it. I really enjoyed my time in Cuba and the company. Liz was an amazing teacher and I definitely learn a lot from her. The day I arrive she gave me so much insight about the place and I was able to feel very welcome. Overall things ran super smooth and I would definitely recommend this program to really get a different perspective in life. This is a way to learn about another's culture by living it and having to experience cultural shock. And really reflecting on how others love their daily lives.

Cuba was such a fascinating place. I learned so much about the people, culture, history, and political situation in such a short time. My program mentor Elizabeth was also wonderfully fun, supportive, and knowledgeable, and helped make my time in Havana even better.

I would definitely recommend that everyone take advantage of this amazing opportunity to study in Cuba while there is still time. You won't regret it.

Before I arrived in Havana, I thought I knew Cuba. I had spent a great deal of time studying the country’s history, its tenuous relationship with the United States, and I did my best to envision what I thought it would be like when I got to the Capital city. Very quickly, I was shocked by how much I didn’t know about this extraordinary place. It’s truly one of the world’s best kept secrets, for Americans at least.

After having traveled to Cuba, I am so optimistic about the future of the island. You can sense that the nation is on the verge of great things. I am so fortunate that I found this unique program when I did. One of its best aspects is the complete immersion into the culture that was an integral part of the Fellowship. Although I was only able to experience Cuba for a short time, I feel like I’ve spent a lifetime here thanks to the exceptional program staff. We went to so many great places that only the locals know about. Morning classes were supplemented by afternoon visits to some of Havana’s most famous historical sites. Everyone I encountered was so welcoming and vibrant, and that includes the group of students that I was with. Although our areas of study varied greatly, our shared love for Cuba made the program that much better.

There simply isn’t a better way to be introduced to this incredible nation. The intricate history of the island and the infinite idiosyncrasies of its people that I was able to learn about gave me an immense sense of empowerment for future travel abroad. The people-to-people exchanges I had every day were my favorite part of the trip, and my Spanish is so much more advanced thanks to the constant interaction. I’m happy to say that my experience in Cuba completely exceeded my highest expectations! I will definitely be returning in the future.