Latest News

Stepping out of the airport, the warm bright sunlight beaming  and fans of green palm tree leaves swaying in front of me,  I felt like I was back in Senegal. With my fellow Lehman peers and Professor Bertrade Banoum and Professor Betty Wanguri, we escaped the freezing cold of New York City on a research trip to Havana, Cuba. Thanks to CIVITAS, we not only got to share our knowledge and research during the 28th Scientific Workshop of Afro-American Social and Cultural Anthropology conference, but we also got to learn so much about the incredibly rich and complex history of Cuba. In the 10 days of our trip, we also visited Matanzas, Cienfuegos, and Trinidad, experiencing new art, architecture and meeting locals along the way. On our first day, we were treated to a fashion show and got to meet the designers. They shared their ethos, their vision for their brand and the ways they come up with their designs. The models descended the staircase gracefully, and showed off the dresses and outfits that represented Cuban and Afro-centric culture.

Drexel University offers several short-term study abroad courses called intensive courses abroad. These ICAs are typically taken during breaks between quarters and are followed by traditional classroom assignments like papers during the usual quarter time frame. One of the more unique opportunities offered by Drexel is the chance to go to Cuba. The United States has had turbulent relations with the island nation since the early 1960s, and travel to the country is still tightly controlled. Several students shared their impressions of the course with me in a series of discussions regarding Cuba and studying abroad.