CAS CONNECT 2015

5 “They’re at the forefront of farm-to-table organic farming, which is sort of a new wave of activity here.” — Dale Lightfoot, OSU Department of Geography head hills of the Viñales Valley. The tobacco produced in the area is considered among the best in the world, hence the repu- tation of Cuban cigars. Untouched by American agricultural practices, Cuban farmers developed efficient organic meth- ods more out of economic necessity than ideology. Now those methods could appeal to modern Americans. “They’re at the forefront of farm-to- table organic farming, which is sort of a new wave of activity here,” Lightfoot says. “They adopted it out of emer- gency financial exigency, and now they’re experts in the field.” While the schedule was packed with planned activities, participants had time to explore on their own. One group attended a baseball game featur- ing Havana’s most storied team, the Industriales. As if to cement their educa- tion on Cuban economics, the group members discovered their cab driver once played for the very Industriales team they were going to see. Enthusiasm for baseball in Cuba is perhaps exceeded only by enthusiasm for change. “There is a pervading sense of optimism,” Lightfoot says. In part, that attitude convinced Lightfoot and Wikle to schedule another study-abroad course in Cuba for 2016. Now that one group has successfully completed the course, future travelers will have a better idea of what to expect. The 2015 travelers may not be finished with the mysterious island of Cuba, either. Gliedt says, “As soon as the embargo lifts, I will be going back.” basic living expenses. Modern conve- niences, such as televisions or washing machines, are only obtained with CUCs so those same doctors and lawyers may moonlight as cab drivers or wait tables. With Canadians and Europeans supporting Cuba’s tourism industry, espe- cially during winter months, the island nation is in good shape to welcome a potential influx of American travelers. “They do have a nice tourism infra- structure in place,” says McAlister. He was especially interested in the cultural geography of Cuba and enjoyed the charm of Old Havana. “I loved seeing the old Spanish colonial architec- ture,” he says. One of the highlights of a visit to the Cuban countryside was a stop at an organic tobacco farm in the limestone The l imestone hi l ls of the Viñales Val ley is home to some of the top tobacco produced in the world.