Welcome to Cuba and Matanzas

Leaving home behind, we fly together to our first country of the semester, Cuba, a nation recently opened to U.S. citizens and a land seemingly untouched by time. Once clear of customs in Havana, we travel down the coast bound for the city of Matanzas, a vibrant university town which serves as our home base for the next several weeks. In Matanzas we receive an orientation to Cuba, which includes an overview of its fascinating history, and map out our itinerary setting both individual and group goals for the duration of the program. We introduce our curriculum and brainstorm ideas for our individual Capstone Passion Projects, identifying points in the semester where each of our five global themes will be present.

Cuban Microfinance and Food Delivery by Horse and Buggy

Our orientation complete, we break into groups to learn about the many challenges and joys of running a small business in the Cuban economy. In our small groups we spend the week shadowing various small businesses around Matanzas, understanding how they got the funds to start their business in the communist economy and the many barriers these entrepreneurs face within the Cuban system. We then spend time working with an inspiring local organization that prepares and delivers food to senior citizens and the homeless populations of the area. We traverse the community’s cobbled streets delivering meals by horse and buggy to those who can’t make it to the community food center. We are honored to be able to provide valuable assistance to local families and thankful for this extraordinary access to the everyday citizens of Cuba.

Bay of Pigs, Caribbean Beaches and Havana

Taking a break from our time in Matanzas, we head to the southern coast of Cuba to visit the famed Bay of Pigs. At the Bay of Pigs Museum we dive deeper into the historic conflict of the 1960s and the U.S. involvement in Cuba during that time. We also snorkel the crystalline waters and soak up the natural beauty surrounding us. Switching gears, we say goodbye to the tropical island waters and head cross-country to Havana. Havana is a city paused in time but aching to join the 21st century; a fascinating blend of the colonialism of days long gone by. We visit Hemingway’s favorite haunts, take guided tours of Old Havana and El Malecón, visit famed museums and have time to stroll the cobbled streets and plazas of Old Havana. All the while we continue to come together as a traveling community, refining both our individual and group goals for the semester.

Panama City and The Panama Canal

Continuing on to our first country in Central America, we settle into our hostel in Panama City, eager to explore this new region. After receiving an orientation to Panamanian culture and customs, we wander the streets of Panama Viejo, the old city, whose ruins date back to the 1500s when Captain Morgan burned the city to the ground. We then head to the famed Panama Canal, a unique historical talking point in Panama, and visit the Panama Canal museum where we dig more deeply into this contentious waterway with its close ties to the United States.

Language School in the Jungle

Leaving the city behind we make our way to Boquete, a community nestled in the Panamanian jungle. For the next week we sharpen our Spanish skills, taking classes taught by native speakers and practicing what we learn during our homestays with local families. Outside the classroom, we may choose to participate in a variety of activities, such as yoga, Zumba, or local cooking classes. Outside of class we take time to visit a local bee farm and coffee plantation, gaining an understanding for these unique production markets and their place in Panama’s global economy.

Public Health Initiative in the Bocas del Toro Islands

Leaving the jungle behind, we head to the northeast corner of the country to begin our exploration of the Public Health theme. Partnering with a local grassroots organization, we spend a day acquainting ourselves with this unique island archipelago and the remote indigenous communities that inhabit them. Our partners work to provide health care access to these island communities that otherwise would have to travel long distances to receive care. We shadow these inspiring health providers as they venture from island to island setting up pop-up clinics, and have the opportunity to interview the traveling doctors and thereby gain a deeper understanding of this incredible project.

Costa Rican Rainforest Exploration and Whitewater Rafting

Leaving Panama behind, we fly together to San Jose, Costa Rica, where we are welcomed by our local partners and jump right into our in-country orientation to Costa Rican culture and customs and understanding the “pura vida” lifestyle. After a day exploring San Jose, we head to the world-renowned Pacuare River for two days of exploring the rainforest and navigating the river’s famous whitewater. Floating our way through the pristine forest canopy, we discover hidden waterfalls and natural rock slides. Making our home at a river lodge set back amongst the huge leaves of the Sombrilla de Pobre (“Poor Man’s Umbrella”), we use this area as a base to explore and adventure.

Sea Turtle Conservation Project

From the river we travel south along the Nicoya Peninsula to San Miguel where we delve into the Environment and Conservation theme with a sea turtle conservation project. Working alongside a local grassroots organization, we help monitor the nesting activity of the Olive Ridley turtles. Since 1998, volunteers have protected 2,618 nests and released 129,529 baby turtles and we can only hope to do our part in the protection efforts. In addition to patrolling the beaches at night and learning about turtle conservation during the day, we participate in community outreach educating the local youth on the importance of the Olive Ridley turtles and why these protection efforts are important.

Student Planned Module

After a meaningful experience in San Miguel we dive into our Student Planned Module. This section is completely planned, organized, budgeted and implemented by the students. We can’t wait to see what the group will do!

Wildlife Conservation in the Costa Rican Jungle

Deep in the mountains, we are welcomed into a wildlife sanctuary working diligently to rehabilitate and conserve various endangered species and rescued animals including birds, mammals and reptiles. Settling into a homestay, we are immersed into the community and given the opportunity to compare and contrast this conservation center with our work on the coast. We have ample opportunity for service learning and cultural exchange, helping out with chores on the family farms, working in the organic garden, and cooking meals with our local hosts. Our primary project at the animal refuge will be assisting in the building and reparations of habitats for the rescued wildlife. We also explore the rich rainforest surrounding the village and spend time with our new friends, playing soccer, sharing laughs, and forging bonds that will last a lifetime.

Surfing on the Pacific Coast

Our last days in Costa Rica are spent atop Costa Rica’s amazing surf breaks. After a few lessons from local surf instructors, we feel confident catching the friendly beginner waves. At the conclusion of our time here, we return to San Jose for a final day in Costa Rica before our final adventure in Belize!

Invasive Species Research, SCUBA Certification and Conclusion

Landing in our final country of the semester, we take a day to explore Belize City and gain an understanding for why Belize is the only English speaking country in Central America. We venture out into the jungle to explore the Xunantunich Mayan Ruins and try our hands at tubing through some of the exhilarating caves in the region. We then take a short boat ride to our small private island located on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, where we settle in for the remainder of our semester.

Our first few days here consist of SCUBA diving classes to obtain our PADI Dive certifications. Once accomplished, we partner with a local organization committed to eradicating the invasive lionfish. Using our new SCUBA skills, we dive the reef to help capture the lionfish underwater, then have the opportunity to dissect and study their biology alongside the researchers.

After an insightful final project, we spend the remainder of our time soaking up the crystalline Caribbean waters of our private island. With our semester coming to a close, we reserve time to present our Capstone Passion Projects to our gap peers. Sharing our new perspectives with the group, there is no question our living, learning and traveling together will prepare us for the rest of our lives. We savor our last week together, but are excited to head home to share our newly gained knowledge and insights from our firsthand look at Cuba, Panama, Costa Rica and Belize.

*Please note that the order of the countries and of the projects is subject to change depending on your group assignment.

Below you will find several Group Journal excerpts, written by ARCC students during their Gap Year with ARCC: