My Cuban friend is a lovely person, full of personality and energy, an artist, a scientist, a teacher and a cyclist. She was working on her PhD in agriculture at the Swift Current Research Station when we met in 2010. Her English was perfect and she helped me with my struggles in Spanish.

In February 2012, a vintage taxi dropped Dave and I off at her childhood home in a tree-lined residential neighbourhood of Havana. We were delivering an envelope of much-needed cash to her mother, Kika, who lived in a modest house with two other relatives. No international money laundering involved, just a little gift from a daughter in another land.

The women welcomed us with shy smiles and a wonderful lunch. We felt lucky to be there, it's not often that tourists have the opportunity to see the inside of private homes in a foreign country, and get a glimpse of domestic day-to-day lives. Life is hard in Cuba and the money from Adriana would be used for repairs on their little house.

It was an honour to meet 99-year-old Marta Villa Villa, smiling and motionless, watching TV the whole time we were there. "Se sienta todo el dia y mira el televisor, silenciosa como una planta" said Adriana. The old lady's husband was from Spain and returned to his country after the Revolution in 1959, she refused to leave Cuba and has lived with relatives ever since.

I liked the photo I took of Marta that day, and when we returned home, made a pastel artwork which I was also happy with, sort of a Cuban "Whistler's Mother".

Kika came to Swift Current several times after that to visit her daughter. On July 1, 2012 we returned the favour of a lunch invitation, and had a little spanish-speaking fiesta in our backyard with live music and and a few games of dominoes with our Colombian friends.

Adriana and her Canadian partner Chase were able to visit the family in Havana, bringing some joy to Marta before she died at age 105.

Adriana teaches in the Agriculture Science Program at Lethbridge College. Chase's middle name is Adventure, such a great name for him!

Thanks you two, for letting me share your story and for these last few photos, one in front of a beautiful painting by Adriana.

Good luck with those oyster mushrooms you're growing in the backyard.