Now that President Obama has announced plans to normalize relations with Cuba, some people are planning a trip, and students from the University of Virginia could be among the first to visit since the White House announcement. A look at what they’ll be doing and why.
Even before the administration said it would end a trade embargo on Cuba, 26 students from the Darden School of Business were packing their bags for a week of sun and research. They leave from Miami early next year on board a charter flight.
Professor Greg Fairchild says they hope to learn more about island economies and how things are done in a socialist country. They’ll visit a farm to learn about a popular concept back home - eating locally grown and raised foods.
“It’s something they’ve been doing in a very, very long time, and so we’ll be spending some time with one of these farm to table operations.”
They’ll also have a meeting at the ministry of health.
“It surprises many to learn that a nation that has relatively low incomes and GDP actually has a very good health care system.”
And, finally, Fairchild says they will visit a tobacco company to observe the rolling of Cuba’s famous cigars.
