the shoreline. But unlike the tourists who had been coming for years from other countries around the world to relax and enjoy the sun and sea, we were travelers—moving from one adventure to the next, making many personal connections along the way. With the borders just beginning


to be open to U.S. citizens, there are still restrictions on travel to Cuba. Our trip had to be an educational one, focused on getting to know the Cuban people and their culture. Although our beautiful Hotel Melia Cohiba was by the sea, we only expe- rienced the waves hitting the wall in a way that reminded me of the waves of Lake Michigan crashing alongside Loyola’s Lake Shore Campus. As travelers we received an en-


riching educational exchange from the moment we landed. Since Ameri- can credit cards are not yet accepted in Cuba, our first immersion into the culture was exchanging our Ameri- can dollars for a tourist currency called a CUC (pronounced kook). From there our days were packed with activities and discussions, as we experienced the Cuban culture and the country’s friendly people. With the help of our excellent tour


guides, Natalia Makarova and Jorge Perez Soria, we visited a range of sites and learned a great deal about Cuba’s history and culture. It was so stimulating and energizing to learn and experience the Cuban life that one was not tired. However, we did sleep well at night. We visited cathedrals in Trinidad


and Havana; there was a dialogue with a rabbi in the synagogue and a priest in the Santeria temple. We discovered what makes the Cuban cigar special (the quality of tobacco and the climate) and saw the process of how each cigar is handmade and tested before being packaged. We learned how people crafted their own cars during the years that the embargo kept them from import- ing parts; those vintage cars remain the pride and joy of many Cubans. We experienced the local arts and entertainment scene, from salsa dancing to live music, and even visited the former home of author


Ernest Hemingway, whose time on the island inspired his Pulitizer Prize-winning novel, The Old Man and the Sea. A member of our group asked our


tour guide Jorge why some people still risk their lives crossing the ocean from Cuba to come to America. He said, like other people in the world, they hope for a better life. I can understand this, as I have nieces and nephews who move from state to state for the same reason. Someone in our group pointed out that Cuban students get a free college educa- tion, but there is a lack of jobs for them in Cuba after they graduate. My knowledge of Cuba and its


people, their history and journey since Columbus visited here in 1492, has been inspiring and expansive. The insights gained over my eight- day trip were brought back to the U.S. and enable me to provide an- swers to the many friends who, like I once did, have questions about this myserious island. Some discussions lead to more questions, and my trip becomes an ongoing journey. Our little group of travelers were


from all walks in life but we bonded over a common thread of excel- lent educational opportunities and intellectual pursuits. Our minds were filled with information; our hearts were filled with joy from our fellow travelers and the people of Cuba. For many this was a first time with


Loyola Travel but it won’t be the last. Without a doubt, the trip was worth every CUC. L


Learn about upcoming alumni travel opportunities at LUC.edu/ Loyolatravels


DONNA TOBIN WESTEMEYER


(MUND ’66) and her husband, John (BA ’62), live in Woodbridge, Virginia. Both shared professions in education, and Donna credits her professors from the BVM community at Mundelein Col- lege with preparing her for her career and inspiring in her an awareness of humanity. An avid traveler, she and her husband have visited all seven continents and 49 U.S. states.


STATUS UPDATE


What was the best place to eat near campus?


Standee’s was the best. Late night greasy food


and a juke box. #Classof2012 #loyola —Robby DeGraff (BASC ’12) @TheRobbyDeGraff


Looking at this photo (of Standee’s) clogged


my arteries! I’m not mad, I just want cheese fries. —Emily Giese (BA ’08)


We have a photo of the Standee’s sign


in our living room. —Jerry Bauer (MA ’08)


My first taste of Ethiopian food was


at Ethiopian Diamond on Broadway. Still go back when near campus for the best injera. —Benjamin Pietrzyk (JFRC Fall ’03, BA ’05, MA ’06) @benpietrzyk


Papa Dee’s, The Campus Room, and Carmen’s


Pizza. They all were next to each other along Sheridan under the L stop across from Campion Hall. —René Luís Alvarez (BA ’91)


My Pi, and there was a deli right next to it


that served some of the best cheesecake in Chicago. And of course for those of us that lived at Gonzaga Hall, our dining room. —Jose Izquierdo- Rivera (BA ’76)


Sam’s Chicken & Ribs. Best broasted chicken.


—Virl Seribo (BA ’03) @Virl_S


Portillos. (above, center) —Li Yang (BBA ’15)


Moody’s Pub. (above) —Mark Maloney (BA ’93)


The thai grille. —Patti Marohn (BA ’05)


SUMMER 2016 43


PHOTOS BY JOHN MOUTES


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