This travel seminar
took place March 10-17 in Cuba. The
theme was Education and Social Justice.
J. Crew. Mango. Filibuster.
Roadie. Sassy. Girl
with a magnet tattoo.
What do these things have to do with Cuba? Everything.
They are nicknames a CGE group from American University bestowed upon themselves
while spending a week in Havana. I share these seemingly inconsequential monikers
to demonstrate not only the uniqueness of the individuals, but also to
communicate the special group dynamics that make an international seminar like
this an exceedingly significant experience.
Those group dynamics do not just happen. A group becomes dynamic when people step up
to the plate, eager to engage. A group
becomes dynamic when they exhibit confidence blended with sensitivity. A group becomes dynamic when the questions do
not cease and answers from inside are not withheld. A group becomes dynamic when they grab hold
of each moment as one where learning can be had. And if not learning, then a little bit of
fun. A group becomes dynamic when they
offer one another companionship deep enough that it results in terms of
endearment. Dynamic, this group was.
And without these group dynamics, which provided support and
encouragement for each individual, Cuba wouldn’t have been Cuba for these
students. During a visit to a school, I
watched one student (at the invitation of the Cuban teacher) step to the front
of the classroom and engage each child in the room – without a second of
hesitation. At another school, I
listened to an American University student eloquently and sensitively explain U.S.
attention to the Cuban Five when a Cuban student asked her opinion. Yet another group member, who plans to teach
science in the future, utilized an early morning chat with our translator (the
fabulous Edelso Moret, professor at the University of Havana) to get his advice
on the development of a classroom activity.
They seized moments to interact with Cubans in a truly Cuban way –
through conversation, dance, and song. I
will never forget their joint rendition of “We Are the World” with Cuban
high-schoolers. It was off-key, most of
the words were missing, and I would never listen to it again by choice. But it is a beautiful memory for me.
Ultimately, as their CGE leader, when I asked them to jump,
they said, “how high?” Not really. But when I asked them to push, they said “how
hard?” And I said “hard enough to make
our bus start up again!” We had a few
bus issues, obviously. Even in those
moments, frustrated by being stuck, they showed flexibility, compassion,
understanding, and solidarity with our Cuban hosts.
On behalf of the American University group, I thank Edelso
Moret and Rita Maria Ojeda – our Cuban friends and guides – for their
invaluable contributions. Dynamic, you
are.
By Jesse Haas
