This week, fifth-grade Spanish humanities students were visited by Yeni Arguello to learn about Yeni's experience coming to the U.S. from Cuba when she was eight years old. 

Yeni is now 26 years old and is a recent graduate of Moravian University's nursing program.  She is currently working as a nurse caring for underprivileged adults and her passion is critical care. Yeni spoke to the fifth-graders, only in Spanish, and discussed her experience in both Cuba and the U.S. as a child and a student.  Students are learning about Cuban geography, and will soon explore the country's history, culture, and literature.  

Yeni's compelling story of coming here as a young girl through the Cuban lottery system with her father and brother, while they waited five years to be reunited with their mother, Ivon, a medical doctor in Cuba, gave students a unique perspective.  Yeni's courage and compassion as a motivated young woman inspired students and gave them a meaningful understanding of the Cuban-American experience from Yeni's point of view. 

Yeni and the students laughed about the challenges and blessings of speaking two languages. The students asked thoughtful and well-constructed questions about the government, the lifestyle, the food, and the educational systems in the U.S. and Cuba respectively.

Students reflected that hearing a real-life perspective was so interesting and really enhanced the way they now think of and understand Cuba as they move ahead in their studies. Yeni remarked that "they were all so sweet and smart."