On April 12th, 2018, this years Global students embarked on a journey to Cuba that changed the Global Perspectives team from peers to family members. Prior to the trip, we had been preparing for the two week visit to immerse ourselves in the culture of Cuba; none of us were aware of how life changing our travels would end up being. Each individual Globalite experienced personal growth, whether that was through overcoming the heartbreak that went with developing an understanding of our own wealth and privilege, or through the daily trifes of staying in a third world country. New connections blossomed in our travels, with not only fellow peers but the Cuban University partners as well.

 

Our adventure began with an early morning bus ride after a touching, yet eager, goodbye to our families and friends. The Global team then departed from Barrie to catch our 10:00 AM flight to Varadero, Cuba. As soon as our plane touched down in Cuba, the Global team was overwhelmed with the friendly faces and warm welcomings of Cuba. We stayed at the three-star resort, Club Karey, which was conveniently located on the shores of Varadero. Despite many preconceived doubtful assumptions of the state of this resort, we were pleased with the services. The staff were very helpful and kind, the beach was gorgeous, the pool always clean and the overall vibe of the resort quite exceptional. Even though the air conditioning in certain rooms quit working every once in a while and there was no wifi, we all agreed that the resort was altogether enjoyable.

 

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

​

 

 

 

 

 

​

 

 

 

Everyday spent in Cuba was a new adventure; the first few days, we quickly developed amazing new relationships with our Cuban partners. Through music and dance, the two groups of youth connected in an unexpected way. Eventually, the Global teachers matched a few Canadian students to every Cuban student, as a way to expand these preconceived relationships. The Global team and their Cuban partners went on multiple day tips to different cities; Varadero, Matanzas, Havana and Cardenas.

 

Every single one of the cities visited were different, yet at the same time, similar; all provided a new perspective on our own privilege as youth growing up in Canada. Matanzas, the hometown to many Cuban students, allowed us a glimpse into the everyday lives of our partners. Cardenas, the city with the highest crime rate out of the cities we visited, exposed us to the dangerous side of Cuba. Varadero, the city full of resorts, gave the Global team an idea of how important tourism is to the Cuban economy. Havana, the capital city of Cuba, giving the students an opportunity to see Cuba through a tourist perspective.

 

Overall, our trip to Cuba was full of hundreds of amazing moments, giving the Canadians memories that will last forever. Although we wrestled with language barriers, challenging dance moves, and the occasional emotional moments, Cuba gave us a better understanding of ourselves and our values. We all experienced personal growth in one way or another, whether it be with our own personal comfort levels or our comprehension and appreciation of our privilege. The Global family was truly brought together on a whole new level.