Throughout my time as a student at FIU, I always enjoyed activities that fostered global awareness, offered new global perspectives and engagement. I attended a plethora of lectures, discussions and film screenings.
Here are some of my most memorable activities:
InterAmerican Institute for Democracy Conference
This was a two-day conference I attended during my study abroad program in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Two of my professors, Dr. Gabriela Hoberman and Dr. Eduardo Gamarra, were panel speakers and it felt surreal to see how far my education at FIU had brought me. The conference included many influential Latin American politicians, including former Presidents and Vice Presidents who I was able to meet. The topic of discussion was on the difficulty of preserving democracy in the region, ringing close to home as Cuba was mentioned several times.
Brazil and U.S. Relations: Challenges and Perspectives
This lecture was led by Dr. Guilherme Casarões in co-sponsorship with the Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center at the Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs. The presentation offered an overview of Brazil-U.S. relations, marked by strategic cooperation and cultural ties. I attended this event with the intention of expanding my knowledge on Brazil, a country in which my previous courses had not emphasized enough. This activity exceeded my expectations, teaching me that Brazil's politics mirrors that of the U.S. and how this time period marks the return of great power politics.
The Creole Pig: Haiti's Great Loss
The documentary screening of "The Creole Pig: Haiti's Great Loss" hosted by the Public Humanities Lab at the Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs was another event I attended to learn more about a country my studies had neglected. The film was very touching and educational, allowing me to learn about the vast similarities between Haiti and my Cuba. Additionally, I learned of Haiti's history of imperialism and how that has contributed to its current conditions.