The Beginning: Orientation, Pre-Cuba Departure
It's started. So far, I've made it to Miami, the first step in this incredibly surreal experience of studying abroad in Cuba. Initially, I was sick to my stomach. Of course, I had somehow convinced my mom to come with me to Miami to share my last moments before I willingly shipped myself south. I'm not afraid to admit I cried a little, but my mother always told me, "Be a Viking, don't cry." And quite frankly, being able to experience this opportunity isn't anything to cry over. There are 27 students in our group, mostly from the Northeast of the United States based in schools like Dartmouth, Brown, Harvard, Vanderbilt, Middlebury, NYU and others. I won't be completely stripped of my newfound southern comforts, however. Two students are from Atlanta, and one just so happens to be my roommate (shoutout to you, Jamila). Day 1 was spent awkwardly meeting each other, stiff intros describing our name, school and any pre-departure excitement. I hate, ha...