Education in Cuba Trip
Cuban American Friendship Society
2022 ITINERARY
Day One
Arrive at Jose Marti International Airport in Havana, Cuba. Check into your B&B and get your first taste of Havana with a voluntary tour of El Vedado and the Malecón with an experienced English-speaking guide from the Centro de Investgaciones Psicológicas y Sociologicas(CIPS). Enjoy dinner with your colleagues at a restaurant in the area and an evening of leisure.
Day Two
Day of exploring old Havana and its significance in the Americas with a guided educational tour. Walk along the Malecon sea wall and enjoy the buildings designated as UNESCO World Heritage site. This tour may include visiting museums, El Morro Castle, and exploring vibrant Havana neighborhoods. Experience the civic life of everyday Cubans. A welcome dinner will be held at a local privately owned restaurant. (B) (L) (D) included
Day Three
Take a leisurely walk to CIPS, a beautiful historic colonial mansion where you will be taking your classes on Cuban education. After a tour of the facility, and a welcome reception, attend a lecture focusing on life in Cuba today. This discussion will provide a perspective on how the US blockade impacts everyday life as well as how the new Constitution has improved the life of everyday Cubans. After lunch, visit a community medical clinic which is the foundation of the Cuban medical system. Evening free. (B) (L) included
Day Four
Visit La Escuela Habana, a primary school in Havana. Tour the school with a staff member and engage with the principal, teachers and students. View performances by the students in the school. After lunch, visit la Escuela Castellano, a special needs school and interact with students and staff. Learn about the legal requirements related to the special needs population.Evening at leisure. (B) (L) included
Day Five
Visit the historic University of Havana. The University founded in 1728 is the oldest in Cuba and one of the oldest universities in the Americas. Tour the beautiful campus in the center of the Vedado district of Havana and potentially engage with law school faculty and other professors, as well as students and student organization groups. After lunch, visit Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM), the Cuban medical school which attracts a large number of international students. Evening visit to the world renowned Fabrica de Arte where contemporary visual arts, music and Cuban cuisine intersect in a very urban environment. (B) (L) included
Day Six
Visit a Cuban secondary school in Havana. Tour the school with a staff member and engage with teachers and students and meet with faculty and students from different departments of the school. After lunch, tour the Havana International School or arrive at CIPS and attend lectures given by faculty from the University of Havana on a specific area of Cuban education. Evening at leisure. (B) (L) included
Day Seven
Tour the Museo de Alfabetización/Literary Museum which documents the legal decision— and Cuba's successful efforts—to eliminate illiteracy on the island. This last afternoon provides an opportunity to individually or in small groups explore additional areas of academic interests, such as the National Museum of Cuban Art, Museum of the Revolution, Plaza de la Revolución, the neighborhood Fusterlandia, etc. (B) (L) included
Day Eight
Bid farewell to Havana and leave for an early morning departure from José Martí International Airport and head home. (B) included