CCJ in Support of the Cuban People

Since 1998, Cross Cultural Journeys has offered in depth cultural experiences in Cuba. During this time we have built meaningful relationships with local organizations, NGOs (non-governmental organizations) artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, doctors, architects and everyday citizens. This is what makes our journeys there so special.The arrests picked up both sides, and some even non-violent protesters will face as much as one year in prison. While he agrees that the Cuban governments need to change a long XX overdue dictatorship, Noguera says this is not what is affecting the country worst right now.I spoke with our man in Havana, Cuba guide Jesus Noguera this morning, and as always, while things are hard, the only way is through XXX With a delay in the Cuban vaccine distribution, things are now slowly turning around as XX program is well underway."What has hit our economy more than anything in the past month is the pandemic", he continues. When I ask him about the food situation, he says: "Black market. We get beef, pork, and bread" His corner fruit stand is selling papaya, mango and bananas". There is never a shortage of fruit in the tropics!And we do stand side by side with the Cuban people. We know them well, and we wish the best for them. Basic human rights like food on the table, and the ability to speak without getting judged, and right to peaceful demonstrations is something we take for granted in our own country XXX Cuba seems to be at a pivotal moment in its history, and hopefully it will force the hand of leaders both here in the United States, and in Cuba. It can only get better from here.I have never been particularly interested or intrigued by politics. Instead, I have spent most of my life trying to understand those who see the world differently than I do. In the polarized political discourse around the globe, I seek to understand rather than trying to be understood, find a way to make the other's joy my joy, and share in any pain that comes up. I know I have a choice in how I react to anything or anybody at any time. Learning to just be present with those aspects of me that are still shriveling up, that want to that want to judge, blame or shame and in the worst case even hurt another. As I watch the Cuban people's anger on the streets of Havana and other parts of the island, I feel them deeply. I also know from having visited Cuba over the past 25 years, that the country has unfortunately been a bit of a political football.  When I visited Cuba during the so called "special period" in 1995, about half way point between the fall of the Soviet Union and 9/11.