Safe, professional Spanish language program

Although I have traveled widely in Latin America and in post-Soviet Eastern Europe, I found myself feeling nervous about visiting Cuba. The folks at Corazon Cuba created a rich and safe experience for me. I was picked up at the airport by a kind taxi driver arranged in advance (having the driver arranged in advance simplifies things for US visitors, as we cannot change US dollars at the airport). He brought me to my lodgings: a comfortable, air conditioned single room with bath in a family home. My language instructor was experienced and professional, able to work with my level and help me polish up my Spanish (I am very comfortable speaking Spanish, and have even lived in Central America, but over time had lost proficiency with some verb tenses and gotten quite lazy in other areas). The building where the language instruction is offered is very comfortable, and I immediately bonded with other program participants. There were people of all ages the week I was there, and I felt very welcomed despite being considerably older than some of the participants.

Cuba is difficult to visit. The poverty, created by historic and current US and Cuban government policies, is hard to witness. The facilities at Corazon Cuba and at the home where I stayed, while perfectly comfortable and impeccably clean, are meager by American standards. It's...a lot. That said, I am profoundly grateful I had the opportunity to visit. I brought some medications as donations, and would strongly urge other program participants to do the same. Some of the medications I brought are available in the US only by prescription (my child is very sensitive to medications and I have lots of prescriptions that she started but couldn't finish) and the folks at Corazon Cuba were able to get them to a local doctor who could make appropriate use of them.

Other important info: as a middle aged, vegetarian queer woman, I had no difficulties. I felt perfectly safe, accepted and well-fed the whole time I was there, and I hope to return soon.