Photos of Fidel Castro were published on major media outlets in Cuba on Monday night which show the aging leader having an animated conversation with Randy Perdomo Garcia, a first year student at the University of Havana. The photos were the first seen since August.

The 21 photos were in an article titled “Castro is amazing” by Perdomo about his encounter with the renowned communist figure to discuss a celebration of the leader’s 70-year-anniversary of his entry into the University of Havana.

In the images, Castro and Perdomo are seen enthusiastically looking through photos, the television, CDs, a plate which reads “Havana University,” and a newspaper reporting the release of the three Cuban intelligence agents by the United States as part of the Dec. 17 declaration to re-establish U.S.-Cuba diplomatic relations.

The Havana student reports that Castro is keeping up with current events and exercising, and he and Perdomo spoke of diverse subjects such as astronomy, international politics, agriculture, and animals which Nambia had donated to The National Zoo of Cuba.

Castro and Perdomo also spoke about the production of natural food, Cuba’s contribution in fighting Ebola, and education at the university. Throughout the article Castro is shown to be optimistic and curious.

“Castro was interested in the Aula Magna, the Frank Fernandez concert, Jose Marti, and entrance exams during his anniversary,” writes Perdomo. “I explained that students from different nationalities share the student building to learn Spanish in Cuba: Chinese, North Americans, and Vietnamese. Then Castro said, ‘You’re kidding! There are Asians too?'”

These had been the first images of the retired leader since August when photos were taken of him and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. In 2006, becoming very ill, he handed over political power to his brother Raul but continued to be an important figure in Cuban politics.

Nevertheless, Castro’s appearances in public have become more and more uncommon since he left office He had not issued a statement since the Dec. 17 declaration where he had agreed to negotiations and there had been strong speculation about the aging leader’s health.