Harriet R. Lewis, Chairman of Grand Circle Foundation, is pleased to announce “Cuba: A Bridge Between Cultures”, a 12-day People-to-People program designed to foster meaningful cultural exchange between Americans and Cubans. The program, which operates in small groups of just 12-20 participants, begins at $3,995 with 75 departures currently scheduled between January-June and, subject to the renewal of OFAC License #CT-17899, from September-December 2012.

“Americans have long been curious about the mystique surrounding Cuba, especially those of us who grew up during the Castro years,” said Lewis.  “We are honored to have the opportunity to bring Americans to Cuba and view our program as part of an important step toward a new beginning between our two countries.”

Grand Circle Foundation launched its People-to-People program last November after receiving license to do so from the Office of Foreign Assets Control.  The Foundation initially limited participation to its top donors and supporters and ran four departures that garnered a 97 percent excellence rating from 80 participants.

Following the success of the launch, Grand Circle Foundation now opens the program to all Americans, although the program is geared to and paced for the 50-plus market.  The program’s focus is on close cultural exchange between American participants and Cuban residents.

The itinerary includes five nights in Havana, Cuba’s capital city; two nights in Cienfuegos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is also known as La Perla del Sud (the Pearl of the South) for its gleaming harbor area and dignified ambience; and three nights in Trinidad, another UNESCO World Heritage Site and a colonial gem that recalls life in Cuba’s 19th-century glory days.

The program begins at $3,995 per person and includes a full schedule of People-to-People exchange meetings; roundtrip airfare from Miami; all accommodations; 24 meals; services of an English-speaking Cuban guide and a Grand Circle Foundation representative from the U.S.; transportation aboard a private, air-conditioned motor coach; and cultural diversities that include discussions with locals, museum visits, musical performances, and more.

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We all born into a society, a specific way of life,  namely into a bunch of traditions. We are used to a specific cuisine, places, people, basically a specific culture. We just live and exist but do we actually see ourselves or our own culture truly unless we experience something else other than ours? Multiculturalism opens this inner possibility to chase the meaning of our own existence. The 20th century French philosopher Emmanuel Levinas indicates that the “face-to-face” relation is the basis of ethics which is prior to all philosophy, and that means the “face of the other” comes first and the “I” is responsible for the “other”. When we only live by our own, isolated and closed, disregarding other existences just because we believe that our truth is the only truth, when we avoid encountering the “face of the other” and not admitting that we are responsible of them, we don’t have the chance to pursue the true essence of being a human. So the question is, how can one truly experience another culture by encountering the others? Fortunately, with the outcome of globalization, many young people now have the chance to study and live abroad and get into a multicultural life.

Nowadays there are many exchange programs, probably the most popular one is the Erasmus program. The website of European Commission indicates that “by mid-2010, 2.2 million students experienced Erasmus and currently 33 countries are participating this program”. The main aim of Erasmus is to let young people experience different cultures beside all the other benefits of studying and living abroad. So at least students get to know the culture, the system, the people of their host country.  But not only that! The most amazing thing about Erasmus, is that there is the chance to meet people who are literally from every part of the world and surprisingly you find out that you really get along with them! You truly experience a multicultural life style despite all the cultural differences and even political issues between your home countries. So you find the possibility of transcending your own being and your own culture which helps you to expand your horizon. “Others” interfere to your existence and you as an “other” interfere theirs, but only in a positive manner! You share everything, your culture, your cuisine, your experiences, ideas and thoughts and dreams, basically you truly open up yourself to others. Cultural, religious, ethnic differences, historical grounds, political tendencies and all the prejudices that you have been told throughout your life seem to dissapear or lose their meaning when you genuinely let yourself to get into the multicultural life. That does not mean that you “lose” or forget yourself, but it only helps you to realise that differences can not be a barrier between people. The point of views of many Erasmus people show that, the main aim of this program actually works, and many Erasmus people are truly satisfied of gaining unforgettable memories.

Encountering the face of the other shows us that eventually we are all human beings no matter how different we are, and it gives an opportunity for us to build an extraordinary relation between each other. Maybe, an Erasmus experience is one of the essential solutions that may give us hope and power to “fix” this world, no matter who we are by letting people to see other faces. So if you feel young and eager to live through cultural exchange, simply take part in this program and just see what it brings to your life!

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