Cuba Now! Experience – Where Grit Meets Greatness

My parents were divorced. I had been to boarding school in China and the UK. I had been bullied and had some discipline problems. I had taken a critical thinking class with Dr. Clyne and had gotten along with him but I was not a great student.

I had a long talk with him on the flight to Cuba. I explained my past, and he seemed to have guessed it already.

Cuba was really different. It was as if my past was gone. I really enjoyed dancing and learning percussion. Since I showed some ability, Dr. Clyne got me my own dance teacher. I learned a lot. One night, while the group of us was walking down the street, we were grabbed by a group of Cuban older ladies and invited to a party. All of us had to dance and most of us had to a great time. At one point, I really started dancing hard and group of Cuban ladies formed a circle and started clapping the beat and encouraging me. I was nicknamed “Fresca” after that. My classmates even videotaped my frenzied dancing.

We also used to go to this art gallery run by a Cuban man named Eric. Eric spoke English fluently and helped us interview some local artist. After the interview Dr Robert insisted on showing them my portfolio. They were really impressed and asked if I went to art school. Once again, encouragement from total strangers! I was kind of shocked by how supportive everyone was. I didn’t have to be good-I just had to try hard.

My major setback came in the ring. In spite of safety gear, I got hit hard and was crying. Dr Clyne said this was because I insisted on being a ‘clown’ in training. I grudgingly agreed. He started training me extra hard during the gym and even in the hallway of the hotel. In my next fight, I fought a really athletic and tough girl, and I won. I was so happy that I even challenged Dr Clyne. He laughed and simply said, “Now you won’t get bullied in school!’

Cuba was probably the funnest three weeks of my life. Every day was new! I asked my parents to allow my friend and me to stay another few weeks. But they said no.~

My experience in Cuba was truly unforgettable. Every day was packed with activities.At the beginning, We were not familiar with each other and didn't communicate much. After a while, everyone began to enjoy the moments of learning and living, joked with each other, and started to cooperate like a real team.

We learned musical instruments, watched band performances, and participated in their shows and concerts (which were of very high quality). We also interacted with students from the local art school. Despite their rudimentary equipment, their passion for music was unparalleled. I believe this is the best and most sincere kind of music. We learned from Grammy-winning sound engineers, recorded music for local famous bands, and helped with their promotion. We donated supplies to the local people, practiced Spanish, and made friends with their children. We learned from them how to live with limited resources. We visited their blacksmith shops to try our hand at forging, and we were warmly invited into their homes. There, they introduced us to more relatives and friends, cooked traditional Cuban dishes for us, and engaged us in discussions about their daily lives and economic conditions. Everyone was incredibly friendly to us. We also engaged in physical activities like running, hiking, swimming, and boxing, with a boxing coach who had trained national champions!

What struck me most was the Cubans' warmth. Complete strangers would greet you with "Hola" on the streets. People faced cameras with natural ease - open, unguarded, and genuinely friendly, I deeply admire this cultural openness. This is really very different from the reserved style of the Chinese. One evening, we were supposed to attend a music performance, but we accidentally stumbled into a local music fair. The people there didn't know us at all, but they immediately pulled us onto the dance floor and taught us how to dance. Amidst the intense night and the music, everyone was spinning around and laughing. It was an experience I had never had before.

What left the deepest impression on me was the locals' warmth. People on the street would greet you with a “Hola,” and everyone was very comfortable in front of the camera, open, unreserved, sincere, and friendly, I deeply admire this cultural openness. Even if you are a complete stranger everywhere, you feel very much at ease everywhere. This is really very different from the reserved style of the Chinese. One evening, we were supposed to attend a music performance, but we accidentally stumbled into a local music fair. The people there didn't know us at all, but they immediately pulled us onto the dance floor and taught us how to dance. Amidst the intense night and the music, everyone was spinning around and laughing. It was an experience I had never had before.

Another thing that impressed me was the locals' level of education. Universities in Cuba are free and compulsory. Many people I met, even those who seemed ordinary, spoke with grace and had something meaningful to say. They also showed great respect for children and women. Even though the local economic situation is not good, most people carry themselves with pride. When you know that some people you meet will only talk to you once in a lifetime, no one will ever make you feel bored. Many times, the pleasure of talking with them is the same as listening to a beautiful musical piece.

Moreover, if you love the natural taste of food, beautiful scenery, and music, you should definitely come to Cuba. The mangoes here are more delicious than any I've tasted elsewhere in the world. There are also the best pizzas I've ever eaten in unassuming little shops. Every morning and evening, the sky is like God's palette, or like a storm of beauty. The sky, sunlight, and local architecture complement each other very well. The locals love to use colors with strong contrasts: white, off-white, egg yolk, parrot green, cherry red, sky blue, along with various beautifully styled black iron windows and doors. Music flows everywhere, just like sunshine, filling every street and alley. Even from an inconspicuous doorman's room, you can hear elegant symphonies, showing the owner's good taste in music. There was also a primary school student from the art school whose guitar playing was so gentle that you would forget his age. He truly put something into his music, which is why his performance moved me deeply.

Cuba is not as hot as you might imagine. The mornings and evenings are quite cool. Hotels provide uninterrupted power, so we can use air conditioning, hot water, and there is an abundant food supply. You don't have to worry about safety issues either.

There is a Tibetan proverb that says "Humanity's true home isn't a house, but the 'road' - life itself is a journey, and learning happens along the way." This Cuban adventure perfectly embodied that wisdom.

This is an experience that I would never forget in my life. I learnt so much, and had so much fun.

I recalled a lot when we were at local restaurants. One interesting thing is that when we are having dinner, lights suddenly went out. We ate with torches that act like the candles. We sang loudly with the band that are continuing to play. It’s something that you would not forget. We heard live bands that played in there and played with them with the our knowledge towards the Cuban music. We learnt so much music including percussion, like Bongo and Maracas. I also took private lessons from the band learning traditional Cuban music that I can hear everyday. I learnt playing guitar in Cuban culture. Interestingly, we had no music scores, instead, we wrote everything down like the chords and the notes.

Despite art, we also developed ourselves academically. We learnt Spanish, and did English vocabs. I act as a sister grader for Dr. Clyne because I passed my quizzes on Spanish. I kind of participated in some leadership roles in the camp. But I think I can learn even more if I can be back again. We made flash cards together for SSAT vocabs. Spanish is crucial for us to communicate with the locals for our research projects that we are trying to make.

We tried and saw so many different things that I have never experienced before. Learning scuba diving in the ocean, looking at those coral reefs and trying to get lion fishes; Using solar cookers-we actually used both coal and solar cookers to cook them, all tasted well; Killing a pig and understanding the lost of life; all that stuff would just sound incredible for me to do before I go to Cuba. It just meant a lot to me.

Lastly, we are trained physically to get prepared. However, personally, I don’t like any physical exercises, but I did them all. Like running and boxing, they are important skills that should be developed.