Western faculty to lead study abroad program in Cuba this winter

Western’s Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies will offer a 15-credit educational travel program, “The Cuban Experience: Socio-Politico/ Agro Environmental Issues,” this winter. This course is designed to acquaint students with historical and contemporary issues impacting the Cuban state, and will entail both a seven-week on-campus instruction period and a three-week faculty-led segment in the Republic of Cuba from Feb. 11 to March 1.

The course will reflect upon the Cuban political relationship with the United States over the past two centuries as well as an examination of U.S/Cuban contemporary political relations during the “Special Period” and the Obama era. The course will further emphasize the strategies and gains that Cuban co-operative farmers have made in the areas of agronomy, organic farming and sustainability.

Students will discover how racial and cultural identities are complicated by questions on gender, class, religion and sexuality both in Cuba and among Cuban populations residing within the U.S. Participants will also have an opportunity to learn a specialized Spanish language which focuses on Cuban-Spanish phraseology and idioms.

While on the island, students will learn about sustainable agriculture, organic farming, and community food security by the Cuban people. In addition, this travel program allows students to explore local destinations such as Old Havana, Pinar Del Rio, Playa Del Este, Varadero, Valle Del Viñuales and Cojimar.

The course may satisfy certain college, departmental and program requirements.

The program is open to a limited number of participants, and prompt registration is encouraged to reserve space. The priority application deadline is Nov. 1.

Details are on the Web at http://studyabroad.wwu.edu

For more information, contact Fairhaven professor Larry J. Estrada, at Larry.Estrada@wwu.edu, or (360) 650-3016, or Fairhaven professor John Tuxill, at John.Tuxill@wwu.edu, or (360) 650- 4435.