Students Jonathan Bell and Dustin Staves kept a journal of their activities while in Cuba. If you missed the first few posts, you can read their account from the beginning. You can also see a full photo gallery of the trip on KWC’s Flickr account.

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Day 9
Today was mostly travel to Pinar del Rio, a beautiful mountainous place. It is here you will find Cuba’s “Mt. Rushmore” – a large mural painted on the side of a mountain. The scenery was breathtaking and the water refreshing. We visited an old coffee plantation and an environmental park to replenish the natural trees and plants of Cuba.

Day 10
We returned to Havana and back to the Hotel Presidente’. Our last night in Cuba – tomorrow we leave. All evening the song by Ronnie Milsap, Lost in the Fifties Tonight, played over and over in my head. For 11 days we traveled back in time to 1958, to a country where time has appeared to stop.

Our last night, we gathered at the pool and discussed the wonders of Cuba. Our adventure was coming to a close. The night settled in and the evening passed – soon we would be back in the USA. The good old USA, where we would leave the 50’s in the past, turn on our cell phones, boot the computer and get “connected.” I wondered if that is actually a good thing.

Next time: Coming home and more photos …

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Students Jonathan Bell and Dustin Staves kept a journal of their activities while in Cuba. If you missed the first few posts, you can read their account from the beginning. You can also see a full photo gallery of the trip on KWC’s Flickr account.

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Day 7

Today we had free time to walk around the town of Cienfuegos. Dustin Staves had the opportunity to meet with a group of school children, and handed out notebooks and pens from the college. The students were absolutely thrilled, as were the teachers.

The rest of the day, we had a meeting with the local government, who explained the inner workings of a city in Cuba. We then met with law professors and discussed more legal topics, much like in our meeting with the Jurists. We continued on to Santa Clara, arriving at our hotel where we spent the remainder of the night.

Day 8

Today we travelled to the Che museum and memorial. No pictures were allowed. We were there the day before the memorial of his death, so there were many preparations for the memorial on the following day. Inside the museum was the story of Che’s life, told through memorabilia and personal possessions.

In the memorial were the names of the soldiers who gave their life in combat, and a single flame in honor of Che. We all walked through quietly, and respectfully. We then visited an area in which Che derailed a train, which many believe was a turning point in the Revolution.

Following this tour, we met with veterans who served alongside of Che in Cuba and in the Congo, Africa. We travelled back to Havana, to spend one night before travelling to the opposite side of Cuba.

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Students Jonathan Bell and Dustin Staves kept a journal of their activities while in Cuba. If you missed the first few posts, you can read their account from the beginning. You can also see a full photo gallery of the trip on KWC’s Flickr account.

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Day 5

Today was mostly a travelling day. Our first stop was in Batey Soplillar, where we toured the 50^th Anniversary Memorial and Library of Castro’s 1959 Christmas Eve dinner. This was an attempt on the part of Castro to thank the poorest and most downtrodden of Cuba during the time of the revolution.

We travelled to the “Fish Cave” situated near the Bay of Pigs for lunch, followed by a quick swim in the Bay of Pigs. We then travelled to the Bay of Pigs museum in Playa Giron. We eventually ended up in the town of Trinidad, where we remained the rest of the night.

Day 6

Today we ventured into the town of Trinidad, on Cuba’s East coast. We toured an old mansion from the 1800s which still contained most of the original furniture. We watched pottery being made by hand, and some even bought some souvenirs. We boarded the bus and headed to our next destination of Cienfuegos.

We stopped for lunch along the way in Manaca Iznagos. Here we learned a story of two brothers, both longing for the same girl. One brother built the highest tower in the land to confess his love, the other built the deepest well. Neither brother won the girl as she was sold (she was a slave) by their father. The legend goes that no one has yet discovered the well. However, we had the opportunity to climb the tower.

We eventually arrived in Cienfuegos for an unbelievable night, the closest to which many of us will ever feel like celebrities. Student Jonathan Bell describes his impression of our meeting with the Committee for the Defense against the Revolution (CDR), and the block party to follow:

That day we met up with the Committee for Defense in Cienfuegos to witness how that local community participated in local government and politics. It was like a form of our neighborhood watch programs, but to me, the involvement of that community was the polar opposite of ours. They are much more passionate and take the rights they do have seriously. In America, I think we have become somewhat complacent to what we deserve and the freedoms and rights we have.

After the meeting, a block party broke out. Every year around October 8 – the day Che Guevara died – Cubans celebrate his death and his involvement with the Revolution that took place in Cuba. My impression of the meeting was absolutely astonishing! I was deeply moved to see the dedication and the strong sense of passion the locals had to protect each other and to celebrate a person that helped them gain some freedoms they have today.

When we drove up in the bus, I was blown away with how they treated us – they were chanting, “We love Americans!” and dancing, clapping and giving us a welcome like we were famous.

Out of the entire trip, that night was the best! The feelings and passion that I felt we brought to them were life changing. They stressed that they want to have a better relationship with America, and that the embargo should end. To me, it is time to let what happened 50 years ago stop. We have better relationships with countries that we have had devastating relationships with in the past than we have with a country that is only 90 miles away. To me it is utter craziness that we can’t support them and make them feel more like a family member than an enemy.

For a full gallery of photos, head to our Flickr account.

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Students Jonathan Bell and Dustin Staves kept a journal of their activities while in Cuba. This is the fifth post in the series. If you missed the others, you can read their account from the beginning. You can also see a full photo gallery of the trip on KWC’s Flickr account.

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Day 4

The Union of Jurists

Experts on Cuba's legal system (and Dr. Ayers)

Today was a short but informational day. We met with the Union of Jurists – experts on Cuba’s legal system. We were granted an open discussion with the Jurists, and all of us used the opportunity to ask many questions. Throughout the meeting we became educated on many topics. Here are just a few:

Regarding the right to vote, one must be 16;  one must be 18 to run for office. Women are granted equal rights in this process. The only people who cannot vote are those with legal sanctions, such as criminals, or those who lack the mental capacity. It is not mandatory to vote, but it is considered a civic duty. We also found out that over 90 percent of the population votes, and of this percentage, over 95 percent is for Fidel Castro.

Regarding the death penalty, Cuba is slowly moving away from using it on the recommendation of the United Nations. The last time it was used was in 2001 for a case involving piracy. The death penalty can be used for a variety of crimes, and does not have to involve loss of life. For example, drug trafficking is punishable by the death penalty. If the defendant is eligible for the death penalty, the defendant is automatically given a main trial, followed by a second trial, regardless of the findings in the first trial. The high court of Cuba can rule on the process of the trial, but cannot determine guilt or innocence. Fortunately, Cuba has a very low crime rate, and no guns are permitted.

In general, men and women are considered equal – there is no discrimination based on race, religion, sex, etc. Prisoners are given jobs after completing their sentences and are reintegrated into society. The courts supervise all punishment, and have oversight of the prison system, and there are no juries, only a panel of 3-5 elected judges, who serve a term of 4-5 years. They also mentioned that it is difficult to get Cubans to join the police force.

Cuban Sandwiches
After our meeting, we enjoyed lunch at “El Ajibe.” The rest of the day was down time, as this was the last night in Havana for four days. For dinner, Dr. Ayers and student Dustin Staves, along with trustee Jack Wells and his wife Gina, took a taxi to the Hotel National, a five-star hotel, and enjoyed a huge Cuban sandwich. They all say it was one of the best sandwiches they’ve had. Maybe it was just something different from the pork and rice and beans.

Cuban sandwiches at the Hotel National

Next time: The Bay of Pigs …

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Students Jonathan Bell and Dustin Staves kept a journal of their activities while in Cuba. This is the fourth post in the series. If you missed the others, you can read their account from the beginning. You can also see a full photo gallery of the trip on KWC’s Flickr account.

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Day 3

Today, we started by touring Ernest Hemingway’s hotel room in Old Havana, Cuba. We got to see his belongings, including his typewriter, where many of his famous stories came to life. We continued the day by travelling to the other side of the harbor to see a gigantic statue of Jesus, which greeted the sailors as they came to port. The designer, a woman, wanted the statue to be larger than the one in Brazil; however, the statue had to be completely blocked by the hillside to prevent damage from annual hurricanes.

From here, we travelled to another bay, where Ernest Hemingway wrote “The Old Man, and the Sea.” Here we ate an interesting lunch, while surrounded by pictures of the man many believe is the inspiration for the old man in the novel.

Our next stop was the revolution museum. This building was originally the presidential palace, for Batista. There were many remnants of the Cuban Revolution, including many bullet holes, when Batista was overthrown. We saw the presidential desk, and a secret passageway where Batista managed to escape.

Revolution Museum

Dinner was on our own tonight, and the group decided to travel to Havana’s Chinatown. We travelled by taxi, an interesting adventure in itself. The Chinatown was much like what you would see anywhere, however, it was much smaller. The restaurants only extended down a few blocks on the same street. After dinner, we took the taxis back to the hotel, for much-needed down time.

Because Americans cannot travel to Cuba as tourists, we maintained an Academic status, thus our days had to be completely filled with activities. So as you can imagine, most of us were worn out by the day’s end.

A pickup soccer game ...

Next time: Voting in Cuba and the best sandwich you’ve ever had …

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Students Jonathan Bell and Dustin Staves kept a journal of their activities while in Cuba. This is the third post in the series. If you missed the others, you can read their account from the beginning. You can also see a full photo gallery of the trip on KWC’s Flickr account.

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Day 2

Revolutionary Square
After much-needed rest, and a quick breakfast, we headed off to our first stop of the day in Havana, Cuba. We visited the “Revolutionary Square,” which could be compared to the Washington, D.C. Mall, but not nearly as large or glamorous, although the Cubans believe everything in their country is bigger and better than what we have in the United States.

The Square consisted of a monument of Jose Marti and his memorial tower, the highest point in Havana, along with the Cuban library, fine arts center, army headquarters, economic building (formerly the lottery headquarters), communications headquarters, and intelligence headquarters. The Office of the President could be seen in the distance.

The City of the Dead
We then travelled to the “City of the Dead,” for a very dramatic tour. Our tour guide explained to us that all the millionaires of Cuba wanted to be buried on “Millionaire’s Row.” This is where Christopher Columbus was buried, before being relocated to Spain. It was considered prestigious to be buried closer to Christopher Columbus, thus the wealthiest of the wealthy were laid next to him. The services for all of the funerals take place at a beautiful yellow church at the center of the cemetery. Approximately 36 or more services take place every Sunday.

Our next stop was an old fort, located at the entrance to Havana’s harbor. Here we had a history lesson on the fort, and also toured a cigar store, where every cigar is hand rolled. It is also the home to the Guinness World Record for the longest cigar.

The Model House
After leaving the fort, we travelled by bus to “The Model House.” Inside this house was a huge, exact replica of Havana, Cuba, built to 1/1000of the actual size. We were taken on a tour of Havana, using the model.

Lunch was at the “Friendship House,” our host for our trip in Cuba. We then toured Old Havana during the daytime, by foot, stopping for rest at a hotel where Ernest Hemingway frequented. The rest of the day was down time, before we had dinner at the “Jazz Café.” We enjoyed a wonderful meal, while listening to Jazz musicians of Havana, Cuba.

Next time: Hemingway, the Revolution and China Town

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Students Jonathan Bell and Dustin Staves kept a journal of their activities while in Cuba. This is the second post in the series. If you missed the first post, you can read their account from the beginning. You can also see a full photo gallery of the trip on KWC’s Flickr account.

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Day 1 — Part 2

Saran-Wrapped Luggage

Waiting at the Havana Airport. Check out the wrapped-up lugagge.

This was the first time anyone from our group had been in Cuba and we were all anxious, as the next step was Cuban customs. We stood in a single file line, being called to speak with a Cuban customs officer, one at a time. If we were cleared, a buzzer sounded and the door opened to the other side where baggage claim was. Fortunately, everyone cleared customs, and was granted access to Cuba.

We all waited for our baggage to come around on the conveyor belt, just as we would in the United States. Baggage began to come out, and after an hour of not receiving ours, we all became concerned. Everyone’s luggage was coming out, except ours, but it was saran-wrapped. Did the Cubans know something we didn’t? Hour two passed, and still no luggage. After hour three, we found someone who spoke English and Spanish and they happily informed us what the PA system had been announcing since we arrived: Our luggage was on a second plane that had just left Miami.

During hour four of our wait we learned why our luggage was on the second plane. During President George W. Bush’s administration, the Cuban-Americans were strictly regulated as to how many times they could visit Cuba, and what they could bring. During Obama’s administration, the Cuban-Americans had less restriction, and were allowed to bring whatever they wanted within the limits of the airlines.

Apparently, every Cuban-American on our flight brought the maximum allowable luggage along, which was what had been saran-wrapped. They brought everything from food, to clothing, to medicine, and even several flat-screen TVs. So much luggage had been checked, that a second plane was sent from Miami to Cuba with nothing but extra luggage. Four hours, two planes, and hundreds of saran-wrapped packages later, we finally retrieved our luggage.

Hotel Presidente
We left the airport terminal and made our way through an emotional crowd of Cubans at the entrance to the airport. Many of the Cubans were emotional because, for most of them, it was the first time they were being reunited with their family after many years apart. We made it to our permanent tour bus for the trip, and met our assigned guide, Jesus (pronounced Hay-Zeus). He said we could pronounce it like the Christian version if we felt he was that great.

We travelled via bus to our hotel, the “Hotel Presidente,” where we would spend the next four nights. We were greeted by the hotel manager, who welcomed us to Cuba, and then proceeded to exchange our money. We were told that we could not exchange U.S. dollars in Cuba. Our money was exchanged in Miami to the Euro, and our Euros were exchanged at the hotel for Cuban pesos (aka CUCs).

Our luggage was taken to our rooms, and we travelled via bus to Old Havana, for a quick night-time tour, and dinner at “La Imprenta,” an old printing company, turned restaurant. After a dinner of Banana Cream and Garlic Soup, and Jambalaya with mashed plantains and rice, we returned to our hotel and called it a night.

Next time: Revolutionary Square, the City of the Dead, and hand-rolled cigars …

The class, entitled Justice and Revolution in Cuba, gave the group a unique account of the history of the Cuban Revolution, and the status of the current legal system in Cuba. The group travelled throughout the country, and met with Cuban government officials, law professors from the University of Havana, and veterans of the Cuban Revolution, as well as local Cuban citizens.

Jonathan and Dustin kept a journal of their activities while in Cuba, and this is their first-hand account of their journey. This is the first post in the series. You can also see a photo gallery of the trip on KWC’s Flickr account.
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Day 1

Landing at the Havana airport for the beginning of the adventure.

We arrived in Cuba today after a short, one-hour plane ride from Miami, Florida, to Havana, Cuba. When the plane touched down in Cuba, all of the Cubans on board began to cheer and applaud. We could all tell they were excited to be here. Dustin had an interesting discussion during the flight with a Cuban-American who was seated next to him. Here is Dustin’s account:

Carlos’ Story
As we boarded the flight, I found my seat in the middle, next to a very large man. My first thought was, ‘This is going to be uncomfortable.’ The plane took off, and due to the heat of Miami, everyone was anxious to get the air flowing. Each seat had its own air vent, so I positioned mine to flow air in my direction. About five minutes later, the man sitting next to me grabbed my vent and moved it to his direction. I was on a chartered plane full of Cubans and didn’t know how the man would react if I grabbed it back, so I simply sat there.

Roughly ten minutes passed and I decided to move my air vent back, which I did, cautiously. Minutes went by, and neither I, nor the man moved or made any comments. Eventually, I decided to lighten the mood, and said, “Hot airplane, huh?” Much to my surprise, the man laughed, and in a Cuban accent, speaking in English, introduced himself as Carlos.

Carlos and I spoke the rest of the flight to Cuba. Based on my uneducated assumptions about Cuba, I was hesitant to ask the man any questions. But he asked where I was from, and the conversation, and my abundance of questions began.

I learned that Carlos had made three attempts to flee Cuba to the United States, for reasons he described as being suppressed. On his second attempt he was caught by the U.S. Coast Guard and sent to Guantanamo Bay for 17 months. Upon being released, Carlos tried again, and succeeded. He spent five days at sea in a raft with other Cubans. Some did not survive.

Now Carlos is an American citizen and has his own company in the real estate business. Carlos was coming back to Cuba to visit his son, who is in medical school at the University of Havana. I asked Carlos if it was worth the risk, to which he replied, “Absolutely.” Carlos said he would do it all over again if he had to, and he loves the United States.

Carlos also gave me some advice for my trip. He told me that most Cubans would speak openly about Cuba, including about the government, but not to pressure them into it. He also relieved my worries by telling me that Cubans are very open and welcoming to Americans, as they aspire to be Americans, or to travel to America.

When the plane landed, Carlos told me to take back my stories of Cuba, and to spread the word about the Cuban people to Americans, who may not be aware of what being a Cuban is like. With this advice, I stepped out of the airplane onto Cuban grounds for the first time, and was eager to begin my travels.

Next time: Saran-wrapped luggage and the Hotel Presidente …

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January 3 – 19, 2012, could be epic for Kentucky Wesleyan College students.

For three short weeks, you get to take the college classes you’ll remember for a lifetime, the classes that aren’t requirements for your major, the classes that you’ll write home about (literally), the classes that are the reason you came to college. And you get to do it all at half the normal tuition rate.

We created Winter Term to let professors and students get out of their traditional class routines and have an adventure or two. Classes change every year — in 2012, try Leadership Through Sailing (in the Virgin Islands, on a working sailboat) or The Tudors (including 10 days of touring in England) or jump into another culture with a international studies trip to Costa Rica.

If international travel isn’t your thing, we’ve got other options right here in Owensboro. Physics and the Arts (the math is easy), Ye Gods and Goddesss (classical mythology) or Musical Theatre (if you’ve always wanted to sing and dance) all promise to be great.

The point? You can have fun and earn credit all at the same time with a winter term class at KWC. Plus, the price is half off. Seriously.

So if you need an extra class to graduate on time or if you want credits at a reduced rate or if you just want to broaden your horizons and have some fun, check out KWC Winter Term 2012 for a world of possibilities.

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Travel classes:

The Tudors (England)
Leadership Through Sailing (Virgin Islands)
Costa Rica

For a full list of other classes available, visit www.kwc.edu/winterterm.

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Details: 

For more info about how to register, when classes meet, tuition costs, etc., visit www.kwc.edu/winterterm. Registration for new students opens November 7 — sign up today!

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Zev Buffman is a legendary Broadway producer who has produced more than 40 shows and 100 national tours. He brought Elizabeth Taylor and Dustin Hoffman to Broadway and was a founding member of the NBA’s Miami Heat. He has spent the last eight years as the director of Owensboro’s RiverPark Center.

Laura Early, assistant professor of theatre arts at KWC, arranged for Buffman to spend last evening at KWC reminiscing about his life and career. The story that follows was in the Messenger-Inquirer today.

Buffman shares tales of his past and announces his departure at KWC
By Dariush Shafa, Messenger-Inquirer
Published: Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Nearly every seat was taken in Roger’s Hall at Kentucky Wesleyan College on Tuesday night as students, faculty and residents turned out to hear Zev Buffman talk about his experiences in show business. The crowd got an extra treat as Buffman also shared his favorite stories and some of the lessons he learned along the way.

Buffman’s stories ranged from his first big break as a director and producer to working with celebrities such as Dustin Hoffman, Elizabeth Taylor and Muhammad Ali.

Laughter and applause turned to disappointment though, as the president and CEO of the RiverPark Center also shared the news of his pending departure. Buffman’s eight-year contract at the RiverPark Center was not renewed in a Tuesday meeting of the RiverPark Center’s board, and Buffman announced he has accepted a job in Clearwater, Fla.

Still, Buffman said Tuesday’s event at KWC was something that he was glad to do, even with the day’s events weighing on his heart.

“I’ve been looking forward to this for the two or three months it’s been in the works. I’m only sorry we didn’t do it more often,” Buffman said.

Those in attendance said they not only enjoyed Buffman’s stories and advice, but are sad that his time in Owensboro is drawing to a close.

“I am a Broadway child. My mother was a Broadway dancer, and I’m from New York City,” said Ginny Weant, a vocal performance sophomore at KWC. “Every story (he told) was meaningful and can be applied not only to theater but to life in general.

“I’m very heartbroken I don’t get to spend more time with him, but I’m very grateful for the opportunity (tonight),” Weant said.

Buffman’s departure will be difficult to overcome, said Matt Ruark, Assistant Director for Development at KWC, who came to see Buffman’s event.

“He’s done a lot for Owensboro, and I just wanted to hear about it straight from his mouth,” Ruark said. “That’s a great loss for Owensboro. I don’t think we’ll be able to replace him.”

Laura Early, assistant professor of theater arts at KWC, said she’s glad Buffman was able to come for the event.

“It’s huge. How many times do you have the opportunity to have someone who’s produced 40 Broadway shows speak to students?” Early said. “You can tell the students love it. They’re just ecstatic to meet him.”

Phoenix Jenkins, a senior studying sociology at KWC, also said she was happy to be there and talk to Buffman.

“I felt honored,” Jenkins said. “He’s humble and he shows you that you can be all you can be.”

Buffman said he is especially enthusiastic about the future show business and educational possibilities that exist in Owensboro thanks to the partnership between the RiverPark Center and local educational institutions.

“The marriage between the performing arts center and theater students is not always possible,” Buffman said. “You don’t get that in Miami or New York because you can’t get them (students) across the line because there are strict (labor and union) rules.

“This is not only going to be a more important college town when the new downtown arrives, but also a major destination for theater students,” Buffman said.”There is a great future for this town just around the corner.”

During the event, Buffman said that the opportunity to talk to and share experiences with students is a joy because it’s a chance to pass on the little things that helped make him successful.

“You should never stop dreaming just because you wake up in the morning,” Buffman said, noting how that is one of his favorite sayings.

Buffman later said he felt Tuesday night’s event helped take away some of the sorrow from the end of his time in Owensboro.

“On a day like today, which was a day of departure and moving on, this to me was a phenomenal catharsis of just feeling free and happy about my eight years here and knowing I can still make contact with young people,” Buffman said.

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