Castro Death Coincides With High School Students' Trip To Cuba
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Some local high school students signed up for a trip to visit Cuba, but what came next was a moment in history they never could have expected.
For 19 Philadelphia high school students from Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, their 10-day trip to Cuba was supposed to cap off a year of studying the Cuban people and their culture.
The students spent the first few days picking coffee beans, salsa dancing and speaking with locals. The first seven days were exciting, but uneventful. Then, Fidel Castro died.
Local Cuban-American Reacts To Castro's Death
After learning the news from a neighbor, the students' teacher, Korinne Dionne addressed them.
"We spoke to the kids about being respectful and doing a lot of observing," Dionne said.
There was concern at first.
"There was definitely a moment of uncertainty, because we're American. You know we don't feel welcome when Fidel's name is brought up," said Annabel Grove.
"I thought there would be some kind of protest or marches. But there really wasn't," said Midora Middleton.
Instead, the country went into mourning. "It was just really solemn and respectful and how I feel that the death of any major figure should be treated," Grove said.
The students, on this once in a lifetime trip, became firsthand witnesses to world history. "The fact that I was in Cuba when Fidel died, I think I'll remember that forever," Middleton said.
