A new perspective
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For most, the holiday season is spent for reflection of the past 12 months and a look towards the next dozen.
Madi Bennett, a Fort Dodge Senior High graduate and current member of the Simpson College softball team, was able to see the world from a completely different vantage point during a recent trip to Cuba with her teammates.
Bennett, a junior, spent almost an entire week in a new country, diving head-first into their way of living. The trip also included softball games against natives and several other adventures that will stay with her for a lifetime.
"This trip was interesting, but it really opened my eyes to a lot of aspects of my life. We got the best Cuba had to offer, and although it was different for us, I am so glad I went. It made me realize how much we have here in the United States and how lucky we truly are," Bennett said. "The people here were so friendly, and everyone treated us so well. The best part about the trip, though, was being able to bond with my teammates; I got to know a lot of them really well, something that I would not have gotten to do without this trip.
"The biggest struggle was adapting to the lifestyles here including no phones, chicken/pork, rice, and beans for every meal, and the bugs. All of these differences put my life into perspective, and it gave me a new outlook this holiday season."
"For example, the people of Cuba were lucky to even have a Christmas tree, and I came back knowing I have several presents under my tree. Now looking back, I would not change a thing about this trip except for having my family there to experience it with me. I went with the best coaches and teammates that I could have asked for all while getting to play the sport I love."
Bennett provided The Messenger with a daily diary of her activities while in Cuba.
Saturday
December 15, 2018
We left Chicago bright and early to head to our international flight in Miami, Fla. We left Miami and got to Havana, Cuba in the evening. We were greeted by our tour guides and taken to a fancy dinner. We (myself and three of my teammates) checked into our houses later, and my house had a scorpion in it. We got to spend our first night in the same houses as our coaches.
Sunday
December 16, 2018
We get up early to go to the Martin Luther King Center for a background of Cuban history and a welcoming. We then head to play our first softball game, and I thought we were going to a college stadium type of field. We showed up, and it looked similar to the sandlot field. The grass was extremely bumpy, and uneven along with pieces of trash (pieces of sunglasses, wrappers, etc.). The dugouts were made of concrete with no protective fence, so we all sat on the edge with our feet on the field. Everyone got to play with at least one start throughout the week (total of four games). We won both games today!
Monday
December 17, 2018
We left early to go do our community service at an organic farm. We pulled weeds for about an hour, and then we got to tour the farm. After the farm and lunch, we go to the Ernest Hemingway museum. Then, we head back to our houses to finally enjoy the beautiful beach!
Tuesday
December 18, 2018
In the morning, we head to the same field as the other day to play one softball game. This was the only game we lost throughout the week, so at this point, we are 2-1 for our record. We played Cuba's National Team pitcher, who has previously clocked at 73 mph and is 25 years old and stands well over 6-foot tall. After our game, we head to Pinar del Rio to a tobacco plantation. We eat a late lunch, then we get a tour of the plantation. We are shown how to roll cigars and how they are made. The mountains around us are amazing!
Wednesday
December 19, 2018
Today is our last game day, and it was by far the best experience I had here. Again, we face the Cuban National Team's pitcher, and we also face a 17 year-old who is known as "the best pitcher in Havana".
We ended up winning this game ending our final record of 3-1. In the last few innings, we combined our two teams. I got to play next to the Cuban shortstop, which was awesome. At the end of the game, they gave us a homemade vase which was awesome.
We give them four bats, a few gloves, our team family shirts, all of our helmets, and every player took the cleats off our feet to give to the Cuban players. We tried to make a pile of our shoes in the middle, but we couldn't because they attacked them so fast.
It was one of the coolest things I have ever seen; girls putting their shirts on right away with a few even crying. Coach Brent Matthias is one of the most giving people I have ever met, and he was going to make sure these girls were going to play the sport with all of the necessary equipment.
After this, we go to an art museum type of place; they turned a water tower into a place of art. We even got Cuban dance lessons! We ate supper here while a band played music for us.
Thursday
December 20, 2018
Today was our last full day in Cuba. We spent the morning at the beach, and we left for Havana around lunch time. By this point, I was craving pizza! We got free time in Old Town Havana to shop and eat. We then headed to the market of San Jose which were several little "stores"– with homemade, crafts by the people of Cuba.
Friday
December 21, 2018
We spent the morning at the beach, and then headed to the airport to head back to the United States!