University at Albany Education Abroad

Every Tuesday for over eight weeks during my study abroad, I went to work with kids in a local bi-lingual middle school. I would pull out as many as five to six and work with them more intimately on the subject for that hour. This was an amazing experience to add to my many memories of studying abroad. The exposure to knowledge and freer ways of thinking that the children have access to amazes me. I loved the opportunity to speak with them in English and correct their speaking mistakes. I also became very aware of how important it is for me as an educator to pronunciate effectively so they are able to hear the differences between our languages and the sounds of our letters. This made me realise the direction of my teaching career will focus more on ESL learning with people of all ages.

The best part of this experience was that I was able to learn about Cuba in a multi-faceted way. Firstly, the classes were very informative and taught by some of the top professors in Cuba. But I also learned just as much by living with my host-family, who were so nice, loving, and welcoming. We had many great conversations, and it's great to hear from as many people about growing up through Cuba's complex history. Our visits to places like the Pedagogical Institute were also incredible. The whole trip was balanced with plenty of learning and plenty of fun.

If I had to design my ideal study abroad program, the end result couldn't be better than this program in Cuba. This program brings together diverse, passionate students from around the nation and gives them an unparalleled opportunity to immerse themselves in Cuban culture. Every day you will be challenged by your courses, professors, homestay families, Cuban friends, and US peers to rewire your brain and think differently about Cuba's unique societal structure, democracy, and US-Cuba relations. You will leave this program better understanding your place, personally and politically, as a global citizen. And- you'll do all of this while having the most fun time of your life! From dancing salsa and listening to Cuban jazz to spending lazy days on the beach, you will get a taste of what makes Cuban culture and people so vibrant.

This trip to Cuba was everything i dreamed of and more! My absolute favorite part was being able to stay with a host family, and truly grasp the Cuban experience. The families were very friendly and accommodating. Most people in the neighborhood are aware of the program and recognize the students, receiving them with open arms. I remember the last week of my program, the parents of one of my peers invited us over to have a small going-away gathering. We had a party on the roof and had music provided to us by our very own host-brothers. This is just one of the many gestures we experienced from the hosts families. This trip allowed me to experience the world in a different way; food, music, culture, history, and more. Cuba is a country that can offer you so much, you'd never want to leave! I know i sure didn't. And until this very day, i am counting down the days until i can once again meet with Cuba again.

Going on excursions to places that were actually interesting was the best part of our curriculum. We explored Volkswagen, Natura, and the markets. I really liked that we got to visit their version of the stock exchange. It' was a great balance of fun and education during the time. Because of this trip I'm planning on going back to Brazil again. Hopefully I can show my friends the same amazing things that I saw and more.