Everyone got together in a big group on Monday to visit Organipónica, a farm whose expertise in sustainable organic agriculture was cultivated the hard way. After the USSR collapsed in the late 1990s, Cuba was left without its most significant economic ally and source of imported food, technology, and fuel. The starvation was so severe that the average Cuban lost 30% of her body weight. Without any modern amenities, Cubans were forced to return to time-honored agricultural traditions. It’s hard to believe that this thriving cooperative, alive with flowers and trees, grew out of such hardship! Students documented the work of the farm and enjoyed a new treat: fresh sugarcane juice with lime.

Later, we practiced our new salsa moves at a beautiful outdoor venue on the Malecón where the almost-full moon transformed us into silhouetted statues on the parapets jutting out into the sea:

The music and dance students led the way as we danced for hours through the warm night: our reward for the long, hot day.

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On Wednesday we spent time in our workshops groups refining our skills: the music and dance group returned to our friends at Havana Compas to learn the secret to their unique fusion of flamenco and Afro-Cuban rhythms. First we practiced our best impressions of Eleguá, the Afro-Cuban orisha of opportunities, chance, children, and play, and then we turned our bodies into drums as we learned syncopated Spanish rhythms. Finally, we got the basic tumbadora rhythm into our bones — the Cubans make it look easy, though it’s anything but!

We spent the afternoon tranquilizando in the ocean pool at the hotel, then prepared for our last night on the town in Havana before our adventures in the island’s interior!

— Britt, Melanie, Carina, y James