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“My team is going to beat yours,” said one Cuban boy to another. They were getting ready for their third soccer game of the day. It was the championship, and the arena was a gravel alley road. None of the boys had soccer cleats; instead, they had bare feet. By the end of the game, their feet were bloody and swollen, but they didn’t care. They carried on laughing and trash-talking each other. I didn’t understand how none of the boys passed out because the Cuban air smelled of petroleum and cigars.
A few summers ago, I had the opportunity to take a volunteer trip to Vinales, Cuba. Vinales is a small rural town about three hours outside of Havana. Everyone in Vinales lives nearby, so it’s a dream for the children. They play soccer and baseball together every day after school, unaware there is a free world outside of Cuba. While the kids were outside playing one evening, I sat down and talked to some of their parents. I asked about how life was in a Communist country and if they knew anything about the United States. They told me about the struggles of living in Cuba, like women having to make reusable feminine products. However, they would rather live there than in the United States because “Americans are traitors.”
Watching the children play and getting to sit down and have a conversation with locals drastically changed my view on the world and my life. It convinced me that I am passionate about learning about cultures and emerging myself in them. This is why I now study international relations. The major itself is centered around diversity and new experiences. Studying abroad is a requirement for the major, and I studied abroad in Mexico City this past month. I learned so much about myself and other cultures. I recommend anyone who has the chance to study abroad to do it!
About The Author:
Marissa Galicia'22
International Relations and Affairs
Entrepreneurial LeadHERship Course Student - Spring 2022
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