During its 60+ years as a school, Brebeuf has allowed students many opportunities to travel during school breaks, including the spring break trips to Oxford, the summer immersion program in Spain, and more. This year, for the first time in school history, students have the chance to visit Cuba during fall break.
When applications for the trip went out in February, a large number of students applied in hopes of selection. A lucky twenty-two were chosen.
The trip’s leader, our very own Señora Grimes, discussed how she decided on Cuba for the long-awaited trip below: “Cuba was chosen for the fall break trip because it’s a unique opportunity for students to get to know the island and learn from its people and culture. Additionally, we wanted to include a service component in our Spanish language trip, and with Cuba, we can meet with locals and give back to the Cuban people.”
In the days leading up to the trip, students will be tasked with collecting old shoes, clothes, and other resources to take with them to donate to Cuban children’s organizations, embodying the term “traveling with a purpose.”
The trip, hosted by Colibri Travel Tours, has a thrilling itinerary planned for students: advertisements for the trip included ziplining, snorkeling, and tours through Havana. Señora Grimes expressed enthusiasm towards the activities, saying, “Our itinerary is packed with so many exciting things, it’s very difficult to pick just one item that I’m looking forward to. A few highlights include a midnight forest walk, a convertible car ride, a community art project with local children, and many meals enjoying authentic local cuisine.”
I spoke with Sylvia Rozwadowska-Shah, a representative from Colibri Travel Tours, and asked her how she thinks students benefit from the visit to Cuba. “Going to Cuba is a rare and amazing opportunity for students to experience a completely different world! But it’s also a country bursting with rich culture. Students will hear music on every corner, see people of all ages dancing salsa on the street, and visit incredible art galleries and art installations on the streets.”
“Due to the embargo and its own economic challenges, Cuba feels like a step back in time. Students will see beautiful cars from the ’60s running on modern engines and many other examples of Cuban ingenuity and resilience.”
She shared information about how the trip offers students a chance to interact with the Cuban people. “We plan to play soccer with Cuban kids in the Husillo project, learn the taco game played on Havana’s streets (a great intro to baseball), and have discussions with independent Cuban journalists to understand why Cuba is so unique. We’ll also meet a Cuban chef who cooked for Obama in his restaurant!”
Rozwadowska-Shah also added how each Colibri trip to Cuba is unique in its own way, honoring the legacy of the schools that travel with them. For Jesuit schools like Brebeuf, “We will visit the Jesuit center in Havana so students can see the beautiful work Jesuits do to promote entrepreneurship, support after-school educational programs, and so on.”
As for student opinions, Alben Marco ‘25 believes the Cuba trip was just what he needed for a perfect senior year: “I applied for Cuba to have a nice break before college applications are due. I also thought that since I haven’t gone on any immersion trips these past four years, it would be nice to go to at least one before I graduate.”
Not only will the trip offer him the chance to enjoy with friends, he’ll also receive the benefits of cultural immersion in Cuban society. “I hope to gain more insight on what it is like to live in South America. I haven’t visited much of it yet and I think going to Cuba will hopefully enhance my parents’ desire to travel to South America more and see what it’s like there.” Marco added.
A chance for students to practice their Spanish-speaking skills with natives, serve the Cuban community, and learn more about the culture, the upcoming trip to Cuba is a testament to how Brebeuf students are able to serve as men and women for others no matter their location. The trip is set for October 11th through October 18th, promising a week’s worth of fun-filled activities. If you know anyone who was chosen for the trip, be sure to ask them about it in the coming days!
