I could see the malecon from my balcony, and it was hot a lot! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I personally enjoyed being challenged to read a significant amount of high level text in Spanish and be expected to participate in class reflecting on what I had read. If you aren't comfortable with reading and writing (for finals and essays) in Spanish, this may be a source of stress for you. If so, IFSA provided access and paid for a tutor who might help with finals. We were also told if we felt we were in danger of failing a class, we could request a course tutor. I also think it is a great opportunity to interact with local students and ask for help from them (like: just to double-check, Prof. X asked us to read the Stanger text for next class, right?) While it may be on different levels, taking the same class means you can talk about class debates and vocalize shared frustrations.

On-site administration of your program

Havana and UH were amazing, but I definitely felt like there was room for improvement in communications between program staff and UH staff, including fully utilizing a liaison IFSA has at UH.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My host family was super warm and one of the key parts of my great experience, I was also located a walkable distance from the UH campus and in a part of town that had access to many social and cultural activities.

Super delicious!

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

This felt difficult to achieve as most students in each class had the same 4 classes together for their specialization, and had been taking classes together since their first year at university. I would suggest taking 2 classes with a group of students if possible to try and get to know students better. UH has many students who commute to campus and it can be more difficult to arrange hanging out with classmates outside of school. The excursions did help my understanding of culture and society in Cuba, but not my integration.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Did not require any emergency health care, but the program had limited mental health resources on-site.

Overall, Havana was extremely safe. If you ever have an incident where you do feel unsafe, program staff are there for you, at any time of the day. Exercise common sense, and don't let anyone try and intimidate you. The city does have some uneven sidewalks, potholes, etc. so do wear appropriate shoes and watch your step. I did find the amount of cat-calling quite frustrating as it happened pretty much everywhere, every day, and even if you were walking in groups.

I don't believe in regrets, I believe in making better choices. That said, I think it is all about fit! Make sure your program fits who you are and what you want out of your experience. Same for location. It's also important to keep in mind what and how external forces could affect your experience.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Havana is a very budget-friendly choice. I spent $2 a day on lunch for reference. If you want to spend money on experiences some of the tourist things can be quite pricey, it is important to make sure you're getting a student price not a tourist price, program staff should have good advice for these kind of specific questions.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

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• Host Family

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• Host Family

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• Local Students

• the city and the music and malecon
• host family and the great food they made
• excursions to see the cuban countryside

• more student input in excursions (give us options, at least)
• better communication with students, staff, and host families
• hire a recent UH grad to help navigate student culture

The Academic or Linguist