They bought an authentic cake (that is, not an American-style birthday cake) for the equivalent of about $5, went back to one of the boys' homes and sang "Happy Birthday" to Karin in Spanish. The Los Gatos students experienced firsthand native living conditions and learned that Cubans love Americans.

"They want more of us to come to Cuba, and the only reason there is any hesitation as to that matter is because of our governments, not in any way because of the people," said senior Laura King, another student involved in the celebration.

This is just one of many stories students will remember from the March 6­13 trip to Cuba. Comparative government teacher Kevin Rogers and economics teacher David Homa took the group of 20 seniors to Cuba, acting as chaperones.

Laura said the trip was simply amazing—learning about Cuba's past, present and future. She added interacting and talking to people there gave her a new perspective on the country. It's a perspective Los Gatos students may never experience again, because Cuba is ruled by a communist government that will not continue much longer than dictator Fidel Castro's life and reign, Laura said.

Erin observed communist regulations such as how Cubans—other than tour guides—were not allowed into hotels and certain restaurants frequented by tourists.

"It was so odd for us, because liberals in our community may gripe about how President Bush is taking away our rights, but he doesn't control where we eat every day," Erin said.

Rogers said he was amazed by the surreal economic conditions. Most Cubans make the equivalent of $20 a month in Cuban pesos, he said, and have limited access to the American dollar market. Native tour guides that accompanied the Los Gatos group made as much on the tour in tips over eight days as they could earn in more than two years working as professors in Cuba.

"The dual economy is starting to cause a riff between access and nonaccess Cubans to the dollar market," Rogers said.

The group of students was from a mix of Rogers' and Homa's classes, from different circles of friends at the school. Erin said bonding occurred between students in Cuba that might not have taken place on the Los Gatos campus.

"The most unforgettable part of the experience was being in Havana and seeing lost opportunity," Rogers said. "You see these amazing facades of buildings that have dilapidated over time that reflect the lost promise of the Revolution."

Homa said he believes in his students going places and not just reading about them in books, even though the trip was about $3,000 per student. Homa was the only person in the group who had been to Cuba previously, but said 17 of the students already owned passports and had traveled overseas. Therefore, Homa wanted to pick a less frequently traveled country than those in Europe. The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued the group licenses to fly directly from the United States to Cuba.

Highlights of the trip included seeing a performance by the Havana National Ballet Company, a tour of the "Bocoy" rum factory and lunch at Hotel Nacional, all on the group's first day in Havana. The group's members also saw the Revolutionary museum (the former Presidental Palace) and square where Castro gives speeches, visited Ernest Hemingway's home, swam in the Bay of Pigs, explored Trinidad and Cienfuegos and experienced art shows, folk music and cultural dancing.