Written by: Jessica Tierney, Tierney Properties
Cuba has always been on my bucket list, so when the Chamber selected it for one of their trips, I signed up immediately. As I’m sure you know, recent global politics have put Cuba into a precarious position. Widespread fuel shortages are leading to rolling blackouts and food shortages, among other issues. I wasn’t worried about safety at all, but I was definitely concerned about eating their food and using their resources if they themselves don’t have enough! A real asset of touring with the Chamber is that they, and the travel companies they work with, stay on top of these issues and maintain ongoing contact with travelers. So I felt confident about going, knowing that the tourist dollars we were bringing in would be tremendously helpful.
The Global Familiarization Tours sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce are a simple but effective way to learn about other countries and, more importantly, the people. The news we get about world events can be incredibly polarizing and it’s easy to develop an “us versus them” mentality. I had the opportunity to visit with so many Cuban people and they were overwhelmingly – wait for it – just like us. They have a rich history and culture that they’re proud of, but they also had so many positive things to say about America. They understood clearly that even though our governments may currently be at odds, we the people are not. I was able to learn so much history that I never knew while also getting a firsthand view of the current culture and people.
One of my favorite things about the tours I go on with the Chamber are the connections I’ve made with other travelers. I went to Cuba with people that I’ve previously been on several trips with and now consider friends, and I got to meet new travelers that quickly turned into new friendships. There are full itineraries that offer a fantastic overview of the countries we visit, along with extra optional excursions, but still plenty of free time for exploration on your own. (Or shopping!) It’s so relaxing to not have to worry about planning, language barriers, or transportation. If you’re on the fence about joining the Chamber for one of their upcoming trips, I simply cannot encourage you enough. Plus, the odds are good that I’ll be there too; what better incentive could there be? All kidding aside, I know you won’t regret coming along on future trips!