What inspired you to work for Corazon Cuba?
I was motivated for the possibility of doing what I like, which is to teach. Also, I was motivated by the option of better incomes and interaction with people from everywhere in the world. I was working as a teacher in a primary school before so I had many experiences and skills that wanted to continue strengthening. Corazon Cuba allowed me to take on a new adventure.
Nothing but smiles in this group photo with some of the guests on the Corazon Cuba program.
Describe a typical day at work.
Arrive at work and talk having nice conversations with coworkers, who I consider friends. Then prepare for my lessons and teach my students until the day’s activities are completed. After, I help work with and cooperate in other activities that involve the staff.
Why do you do what you do?
I do this because it is a way to interact with people from all around the world. At the same time, I get to present my culture and traditions to them through the Spanish language. Also, I do this for personal growth and to be able to have time for other personal plans.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of my job is receiving new guests! I enjoy welcoming them and showing them around our place. I like making them feel a part of the family.
Also, I love doing recreational activities where I can freely speak to others and show a fun part of my personality. In those moments, I can really increase the bound between the people that participate on our programs.
How do you use your education and international background in your current role?
Being a teacher for many years made it easy for me to adjust to another teaching role. For example, I have excellent classroom management long skills and I know when someone needs special treatment. My international background is a big help during conversations relating to culture and customs.
This is a photo of me in my daily life working as a teacher with Corazon Cuba.
What challenges do you often face and how do you overcome them?
The communication breakdowns make people feel less confident. However, I overcome this by getting people to talk about their life experiences while trying to speak a different language than what they speak.
It is also difficult to be able to match different speeds and styles of learning. The most common problems are managing staff members in the most effective way. However, if I remain flexible, I do not get disappointed or easily disturbed by any problem. Also, I put use my patience and knowledge to overcome problems of any kind.
What are some current projects you are working on?
I'm working on new techniques to achieve better attention from the students to motivate them to speak in lessons. I am reorganizing lessons and curriculum to customize it to the different students I work with. Additionally, I am exploring the possibility of creating a booklet for the lessons.
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
Be ready for everything and do not be shy at all. You will discover a new world but your traveling adventure brings new experiences that will help you become a better human bein. Also, you will get to meet new friends that guide you. Also, you will make more friends that will turn into family.
What makes Corazon Cuba special?
The warm welcome and the ability to treat people like family in the place we work makes people feel like they are at home. Additionally, the professionalism in the way we treat our guests giving makes our organization very special.
Why should someone choose Corazon Cuba over competitors?
They should select my organization because is not just a cold offering travel experience. We offer a new style of living while showing the realism of the Cuban society by using language learning as a tool for interaction.
In our daily lives, we offer elements of our culture but still respect of the culture you come from. We do ensure to spend a nice time in Cuba while making yourself comfortable with the experiences that you should try while you're here.
What hopes do you have for the future for Corazon Cuba?
I hope we can expand our range to many other parts of our country. I hope we create a completely immersive experience while at the same time, keeping up our reputation. For the future, I hope we will be able to get to the highest point of satisfaction our guests by continuing with the levels of satisfaction we enjoy now as well.
Are there any developments with Corazon Cuba that you would like to share with us?
Corazon Cuba knows guest experiences all around the world and their culture, we plan to develop better communicative skills to be able to deliver on expectations for the guests.
What makes Corazon Cuba easy to market to potential participants?
The Spanish learning sessions are very professional yet they do not remove the fun. Furthermore, the cultural immersion aspects while taveling in Cuba and the feeling of safety and comfort that Corazon Cuba provides. Also, they make sure you won't miss the important things that you're looking forward to enjoying.
What is Corazon Cuba's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
The mission of my organization is to satisfy the expectations of the guests who visit us while enjoying the experience of learning a new language. Our mission is to teach cultural aspects of life in Cuba by using fun activities. My personal goal as a teacher is to create an environment for students to learn efficiently and effectively.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
I hope they take away nice memories from the experiences they have lived with our program. As well as memories of a warm environment when they were abroad which provided them with all of their needs in cultural knowledge through the Spanish lessons. Also, that they can ensure to have a nice place to always come back to.
How do you help support participants?
I support students through the Spanish lessons and the daily interactions that make them understand our culture and the elements of the language. At the same time, I am breaking the barrier of communication to help them be able to interact with locals and participate in as many activities and experiences as possible. Participation is a must as well, as much as possible. In the activities students participate in, it is essential to practice so they can one day talk in the language in the real world.
If you could participate on one of Corazon Cuba's programs, where would you go and what would you do?
I would prefer to participate in a four week Spanish learning cultural walk. Also, I would love to dance with the addition of the volunteering too. This program will lead to special things and ensure that the learning can be more real and less in a rush. This program gives a full immersion in many sections that can lead to really understanding of our society. In addition, if it is possible to leave my position to help others needs, the volunteering work is a way to achieve that.
A fellow coworker and I while we were enjoying a day on the job in the gorgeous Cuba.
What questions do participants often ask you, and how do you typically respond?
One of the most frequent questions are about the Cuban society, economy, and the structure of this. On many occasions it's necessary to explain in detail with facts and even take them to places for proof and to give them a better explanation. The answer has to always be the real facts, because they can see with their own eyes if is real or not the correct information.
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
New experiences make people understand their own world and give you values as a human being. Learning a language abroad in the first place, immerses you and is a better way to apply what you've learned. Travel gives you independence and freedom, as well as a new tool to open many doors in life because the more you learn about places and their culture, the more it gives you more elements to make new judges for life decisions.
Why do you think learning a new language is important?
Learning a new language breaks the barrier of communication with new types of people and it opens safer pathways to travel. Also, it is possible to get new job options because of how skillful in another language you get to be.
What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?
Is not an option to be totally on your own or be alone because you many people will be around and the immersion in new cultures is mostly coming from interaction; individualism is totally against that. Also, the people traveling with you are like your family and the first response team next to you. The interchange ensures the absorption of new information, new style of doing things in life and new ways to improve in your own daily life.
What issues do you see in the world of international education that don’t line up with your values and expectations for mutually beneficial & educational relationships between providers/programs and the communities in which they are located within?
Some agencies offer things they don't know or haven’t ever experienced before. Some people choose travel and activities but do not really take the most out of them. They reconstruct the experience in a different way while leaving important things in a less important basket. Some people don't know their limits; knowing your limits and capabilities for doing certain activities may ensure that the travel won't become a frustrating experience.
What does ethical global engagement mean to you?
The possibility of interacting with cultures from around the world in the environment of respect and integration. The interaction through the different social networks and the right to be recognized around the world can give people access to your culture and the real information.
What hopes do you have for the future of international education?
That students can be able to access to knowledge in the most real environment possible and the concept of traveling to different places can make learning more realistic, reachable, and accessible for all kind of persons. I hope public education can establish high quality and equal opportunities for all students from any religion, society, or culture.
What qualities in program & host community relations are important to you? (And Corazon Cuba?)
Humanism, integration, and concern are the most important to me. Along with organization and patience to show a serious responsibility at work, commitment, and teamwork. There has to be tools that are always there to ensure achieving the best results.
See the guest, not just as a guest, but as a normal person who is probably looking for the same thing you are. Be empathic at work, exceed the expectations, look forward to making things not perfect but the closest possible to perfection.
Some members of the staff and me taking a break to relax and get to know eachother.
How is Corazon Cuba handling Covid protocols? What should participants know about your Covid readiness? How are you assisting participants with navigating the new travel landscape?
Our company is always up for new information about covid protocols and how they change to ensure the safety of everyone. Taking care of the most common symptoms for this disease are some of the first steps.
We are always ready with Covid tests that can measure the presence of the disease, if that is the case. We follow the protocol for the isolation of personnel under contagious situations while attending to their needs in general and also medical needs.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
It means to just find meaning in traveling. Put to heart experiences and keep memories of things you put a purpose to. It means to travel not just to know a place following a booklet, it is really stepping on the stage and being the protagonist of the stories described in those mentioned in books for travel destinations. It means to turn into a different person in a new place and leave your mark on that travel adventure.
