Why are you going to Cuba?

"Why are you going to Cuba?" I seem to be getting asked this a lot lately. Yes, Cuba is a beautiful country and a popular vacation destination for the non American. But that is not why I am going. As in previous post, I mentioned some of the questions that I would like to seek answers to. These questions are the driving force behind the information that I will be collecting. Most of my research in the past, has centered around readings written by scholars. I have spent endless hours reading academic journals and books. I ponder the author's ideas and analyze their outcomes. 
This time, my research will be different. Information will not be filtered through the words of another researcher. This time, I will have the opportunity to learn and ask my questions while looking into the eyes of the source. I will get to touch, smell and see, the historic city of Havana and surrounding areas. Research will be an experience encompassing my five senses. I will embed the images, sounds, tastes, textures and ambiance into what I refer to as my "mental file cabinet."  

So, why am I going to Cuba? I believe, by conducting my own research, I will gain a more personal and meaningful understanding of the culture and art education in Cuba. 

4 More Days -Until Take off

Photograph: The Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.