Go to Cuba? Legally? How? I was fascinated when I discovered that this trip was organized by the the Austin Chamber of Commerce, and blessed by the US government. I had so many questions. As I was preparing for the trip, I was asked by many to please post a blog on my travels to Cuba. Since my mind was filled with questions, this first post will be in FAQ format. Here is the first of the series:

1. Is travel to Cuba legal? Yes, we are traveling on a People-to-People itinerary operated under a specific license granted by by the United States Dept. Of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). We have a letter of authorization stating we have permission to travel under a specific license. We keep this letter as part of our travel documents. We are not traveling as tourists, but as part of a cultural exchange.

2. What is People-to-People travel? It is an initiative allowing US citizens to Cuba on a limited basis to participate in cultural experiences. The initiative includes direct contact with Cuban people to learn more about them and their culture.

3. What is OFAC? The office of Foreign Assets Control administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions based on US foreign policy. information on OFAC and currents sanctions on Cuba can be found on the US treasury website at:

http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/pages/Cuba.aspx

4. Currency in Cuba? Currency for international travelers in Cuba is the Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC). The exchange rate can change at any time, and is available at www.xe.com. We have been advised to bring plenty of cash as we will not be able to access cash or our funds while in Cuba. Cuba operates on a dual-economy – so Cubans use Cuban pesos (CUP) and international travelers use CUC’s. CUC’s come in denominations of 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100.

5. Credit or debit cards in Cuba? Cards issued by US banks cannot be used in Cuba.

6. What about Cuban Cuisine? The food in Cuba is a fusion of African, Caribbean and Spanish flavors and spices. In Havana, the Chinese influence is supposed to be evident. We will see…

We read about opportunities to escape to detox from technology. Are  you one of those people who go to sleep with the smart phone on the nightstand, check it in the middle of the night, and first thing in the morning? Well, think about 7 days without access to your email or mobile phone? Could you handle it in a positive way without snarling at those you are with? In Cuba, we will have that experience! Stay tuned for part two…

Here it is – our unmarked “SkyKing plane to Cuba… things are already getting interesting!

One of my favorite parts about traveling the world is learning about customs that are different from our own. I’ve yet to find a culture that does not have beautiful traditions and “new” often ancient ways of celebrating or honoring those important to them. The photo above is no exception.

During the month we were in Asia, our colleagues shared many insights about Asian culture.  Holidays reflect values and beliefs, and reveal much about a country’s outlook and history. One of those days, Qingming Festival or Day of Clear Brightness or Tomb Sweeping Day is set by the solar calendar, and not the lunar calendar.

In early April a day is set aside to sweep, and otherwise maintain, the gravesites of ancestors. This day is honored in four Confucian Asian countries: China, HongKong, Macao & Taiwan. However, Tomb Sweeping Day is only a recognized holiday in Taiwan and Hong Kong, as China has traditionally tried to discourage ancestor worship.

Tomb Sweeping Festival has historically been a time when the Chinese honor their ancestors. Participants visiting their graves and sweeping or tidying the grave sites. Family members may place flowers on the graves, burn ghost money or honor money and make offerings. In the countryside, the tombs may be painted, weeds trimmed and grass cut. The area is swept clean. This holiday marks the beginning of the busy agricultural season, when the fields are tilled and seeded.

In current times, it has become popular to honor ancestors on-line with ‘Memorial Halls,’ lighting virtual candles, and joss-sticks, sending flowers and messages. The government has encouraged these newer practices as they are seen as reducing air pollution, and waste. A colleague of mine told me that one of the inscriptions on his grandfather’s grave was “eternally young.”

Truth be told, I don’t have to travel far from home to encounter countless breathtaking ways we honor our departed loved ones. From taking part in some of Austin’s colorful Dios de los Muertos celebrations, to witnessing countless rocks balanced on headstones in Jewish cemetaries, these traditions are all around us. But this month, the Oingming Festival is front-and-center. I only hope I’ll be able to witness it firsthand in my future Asian travels.

Etiquette.  I think we can all agree it’s something that is a bit lacking in our society.  But it’s still a skill that is highly valued, particularly in the business world.  On Saturday, January 19th, several YWA members attended a Saturday Session with Sharon M. Schweitzer, JD, to brush up on their etiquette skills.

Now this wasn’t a ‘which fork goes with which meal’, ‘which red wine with what entrée’ event – not that I couldn’t personally use that help -  but rather we learned about those little etiquette skills that you don’t think about, like appropriate eye contact in the workplace. Do you know where and how to look at your boss during a conversation? It’s the eye triangle – from direct eye contact through the middle of the forehead. Don’t look below the nose and definitely not below the neck.

Here’s another one: handshakes. Ladies, this is where we need to beef it up. Don’t be afraid to shake the man’s hand, firmly. You rock, let him know it! Don’t crush his hand, but don’t do the limp fish either.  Web hand to web hand, shake from elbow, other arm straight to your side. Two pumps but Texans can get away with three or four, because well, we’re friendlier.

I’ll give you some more freebies.

• Handshakes are the only appropriate workplace interaction.  I know we ladies like to hug.  But let the boss go for it first.  Here’s another thing – all the power is with whoever shakes first.  So get in there!
• We’re a more casual society but avoid defaulting to first names in conversation AND in email, unless invited.
• Never hi or hey – always HELLO. As your grandma always said, ‘hay’ is for horses.
• Speaking of names – introduce yourself with your full name, not just your first.  Donald Trump doesn’t say, “Hey, how you doing? I’m Donald.” Neither should you.
• Nametags.  Always the right side.  Done.
• Eat some protein before networking event.  No one wants to talk to the woman shoving cheese bites in her mouth.
• Business cards.  Get some.  Vistaprint is easy and cheap.  Also, leopard print should be saved for your Saturday night stilettos.  Not your business card holder.  Simple and clean.

My favorite lesson was on how to break into conversations. We’ve all been in that uncomfortable situation. It’s not easy and it’s a learned skill.  But Sharon offered some great tips.  Sorry, that’s not a freebie.

We also discussed email etiquette.  I’ll give you this – avoid BCC.

Finally, the etiquette skill I think is most needed in our society – cell phone etiquette. This just takes common sense. Don’t yell, don’t leave the phone on the table, and show respect to those you are with by being present in the conversation, not checking your Facebook status. Log off and hang up.

Dress shabbily, they notice the dress. Dress impeccably, they notice the woman. – Coco Chanel

As I return from my travels in Asia, I wanted to share my eight top travel tips with you (remember, 8 is an auspicious number in China!). The more of these tips you adopt, the greater your chance of having a pleasant and satisfying trip.

1.     Travel Health. Allow plenty of time to schedule an appointment with a travel clinic doctor or nurse to assess your need for inoculations (see also the advisories issued on the US State Department and World Health Organization websites). Travel to certain areas of the globe requires knowledge, precautions and immunization. The 2012 Yellow Book is an excellent resource.

2. Global Entry. Consider applying to the Global Entry Program, which allows approved members to use automated kiosks in most major international U.S. airports to speed up the arrival process. Check their website here to see if you are eligible.

3. Luggage: Invest in the best luggage that you can afford. Check whether the wheels rotate 360 degrees and roll quietly over hard flooring, not just soft carpeting. Read Consumer Reports and check on-line reviews written by pilots and flight attendants for recommendations. Once you have purchased your new luggage, place a current business card inside each bag and fill in an external luggage tag with your contact details.

4. Travel & Other Documents: Make copies and laminate the photo and visa pages of your passport. Place a copy in your suitcase in the event it is mislaid and keep a second copy with you – separate from where you keep the passport itself. Pack twice as many business cards that you think you will need.  Bring copies of all travel confirmations. Type all your frequent flyer numbers and memberships on a small card, laminate, and keep in your wallet – and email the information to yourself as well.

5.  Hydrate: Don’t just focus on drinking water during your flight. Begin your hydration by increasing your fluid intake at least the day before. Remember that alcohol and caffeinated drinks like tea and coffee will dehydrate you. Drink plenty of bottled water throughout the flight.

6. Jet Lag Preparation:  Prepare to acclimate to your destination by setting your watch to that time zone in advance. Consider bringing noise-reducing headphones on board to get sleep on the plane. Upon arrival, plan to spend time exercising or sitting in sunlight. Download soothing music, sounds of nature or “white noise” to your iPod to facilitate sleep in your hotel. Pack melatonin or natural sleep aids, if helpful. If possible, schedule a massage to ease those stiff joints.

7. What to Wear? While traveling by plane, train or automobile, consider wearing dark, comfortable, stretchable clothing for sleeping in transit, and to avoid looking rumpled upon arrival. Wear booties inside slip-on shoes or ballet slippers to avoid having to walk barefoot through security. Remember that tie-up-shoes, hard-to-remove boots and lots of jewelry, sunglasses, hats and hair accessories slow down the security process. There is a reason why frequent flyers have a priority-lane!

8. Returning Home: Be cautious with duty free perfume and liquor on return flights. When arriving into the US, once you pass through Immigration and Customs, you must claim your bags, and then re-check them for domestic connections. Carry-on bags must be cleared again through U.S. security for connecting flights; so duty free liquor or perfume over 3-4 ounces must be placed in checked bags and cannot be carried through security.

Remember: Blessed are the flexible – for they never get bent out of shape!

The City of Beijing has changed immeasurably. The days of the bicycle are long gone, replaced by considerably more automobiles than was the case when I last visited China in 1989.

My second trip to the Great Wall was as enjoyable as the first. Construction on the 2,480-mile long fortifications began in the 5^th century BCE and was only finished in the 16^th century CE.

I also made a trip to the famous Tiananmen Square.  Known as the Gate of Heavenly Peace, it lies in the very heart of the City and is said to be one of the greatest public squares on earth. Tiananmen Square is the site of several famous uprisings in China’s history, including the eight rallies that began the Cultural Revolution in 1966 and the student uprisings in 1989. This visit is much quieter than my previous one (I was last there in August 1989), when bullet marked walls were still visible miles away from the square.

No visit to Beijing is complete without walking through the Forbidden City, the seat of power during five centuries of Chinese dynasties. This city is imperial and impressive and boasts three great ceremonial halls and three principal palaces where extravagant living quarters housed more than 34 successive emperors.

I have been in Beijing, China now for a week. After meeting my local contact, making new business contacts and traveling through the city rings, I can share these tips on meeting and greeting in this country:

1. Names are crucial to the Chinese. Be certain you understand and establish how to address your contact during the first meeting. Given names (some common ones being Hua which means “flower” or “blossom” and Liang meaning “bright” or “brilliant”) are seldom used, except by close family and extremely special friends.

2. Remember that Chinese surnames are used first, not last. When you refer to a Chinese person by their surname, be sure to include their title, such as Mr. Wang; Madame Lin; Director Chen, or Engineer Huang.

3. You may find that your Chinese friends invite you to use the term for a family relationship. For example, an elder male may be referred to as “Dàgē” (meaning “big or older brother”) and a young female may be referred to as “Xiǎo jiěmèi” (or “little sister”). In which case, you would respond by using that reference also.

4. It is an especially gracious form of business address to drop the ‘deputy’ in a Chinese official’s name. In which case you would refer to a Vice Minister simply as “Minister.”

5. Meeting and seeing off important business contacts at the airport is considered extremely courteous by the Chinese and something important to do. It is a small thing that can have considerable impact on how well you are remembered and appreciated by those you with whom you are doing business.

6. It can seem unnecessary or tedious for us in the west to have to clarify our qualifications and status with Chinese connections up front. Just remember that position in a hierarchy is of considerable concern and interest to the Chinese. Business women, in particular, should take note of this, as I did by ensuring my Chinese connections knew in advance that I have a law degree (JD) by emailing my CV. If you want to be taken seriously, you must be willing to show your pedigree and status.

• Anhui – spicy & salty, with liberal use of local produce like bamboo and mushrooms.
• Guangdong – includes dim sum, which means “touch your heart” in Cantonese.
• Hunan – very hot and spicy dishes, even more so than its closely related style, Szechuan.
• Fujian – emphasis on seafood presented in broths and soups.
• Huai-Yang/Jiangsu – where dishes are cooked long and slow over a low fire.
• Shandong – characterized by quick frying over a hot fire.
• Szechuan – similar to Hunan, this style is hot, with liberal use of chili peppers.
• Zhejiang – here the emphasis is on elegant presentation.

Before my first trip to Hong Kong in 1989 – yes, that’s me in the bottom right hand corner of this picture, taken at a business dinner with executives from a major Chinese corporation – I was only familiar with the similar Szechuan and Hunan styles of cooking. My palate was expanded considerably as I experienced new tastes and textures.

Sharon Schweitzer in China at Business Dinner

During that trip I also learned a number of things I didn’t know about Chinese dining etiquette, including how to properly handle chopsticks. This made eating Chinese food in China a very different experience from how I did so in the US. I quickly discovered, too, that there are some specific taboos in China (and here are just a few that may surprise you – there are many more!):

1. 1.       Never mix your rice with the rest of your food.
2. 2.       Use sauces for dipping; don’t pour them over your food and rice.
3. 3.       Avoid touching food and your face with your bare hands, which the Chinese consider to be disgusting habits.
4. 4.       Food will be displayed on a Lazy Susan in the center of the table for everyone to enjoy. When filling your own bowl, avoid picking up any of the serving dishes.
5. 5.         Be sure to leave something in your bowl to indicate that you are full. Failing to do so implies that you have not had enough to eat, which could offend your Chinese host.
6. 6.         Be sensitive to the fact that some guests may adhere to food restrictions related to their religious beliefs. Avoid insisting someone try a dish that they have obviously avoided.

Depending on where in China you are visiting you could be served scorpions or grasshoppers. The tip I was given for getting the unpleasantness over with? Avoid chewing; swallow quickly!

This month I am making a return visit to China and look forward to sampling more of the delicious cuisine.

The first of many stops is Beijing – formerly known as Peking — where perhaps the most famous regional dish is the aptly named Peking Duck. This delicious blend of sweet-tasting duck with crispy skin, sliced cucumber, green onions, hoisin sauce, and thin pancakes in which to wrap everything, was first crafted for the Chinese Emperor during the 14^th century Ming Dynasty. Beijing kaoya, as Peking Duck is known in Mandarin, gets its distinctive sweet and smoky taste – at least in Beijing – from the local fruit trees that fuel the brick ovens in which the duck is baked.

Next up on my 2012 tour of China will be the city of Shanghai, where apparently people love to snack. I have been told to expect no end of tempting “mini-meals.” Many of these inexpensive and flavorful classics – like Xiaolongbao, red bean pastries and fried niurou baozi – are available from street vendors. Although I’m an adventurous world traveler, I think I will stick to sampling the local specialties in recommended restaurants!

The final leg of my tour is Hong Kong where I will be feeling right at home because many of the most popular local dishes sound similar to ones we enjoy here in Austin, Texas – but with a twist:  Honey Spare Ribs; Deep Fried Chicken and BBQ Pork, all offered “Hong Kong style,” involving the use of honey, peanut oil, plums and special sauces.

My mouth is watering already at the prospect of enjoying meals that most of us think we know, because we are familiar with them in Chinese restaurants across the US, but which offer taste experiences only possible to visitors to China itself.

Believe me, there is so much to share with you about discovering and delighting in authentic Chinese cooking. Stay tuned for my upcoming reports from Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.

October is Texas Wine Month! In honor of this occasion, Drew Hendricks of the Texas Sommeliers Association shared his insight with me for my recent article in NSide Austin Magazine. The article, “Wine Whisperers,” offers Drew’s take on why it’s a good idea to get to know the sommelier at your favorite restaurant.

Read the article online at NSide Magazine or review its content below:

It’s a relationship few of us ever think of establishing, but it can transform our entire dining experience. The relationship I am urging you to develop is with those experts known as “sommeliers” (may be pronounced, “some’ll yays”), the wine stewards whose knowledge not only helps us select the right wine to drink with dinner, but can often secure for us a hard-to-get reservation.

Yes, sommeliers really can be your best friends once you are on their list! But before I outline why getting to know the sommelier at your favorite restaurant will be one of the best moves you’ll ever make, I have a confession.

Some years ago, a group of us were attending an event at a well-known Texas vineyard. As we were making preparations, one of the bottles I was opening slipped from my hand so that the base banged loudly on the table. Everyone turned to look at me.

The vineyard owner graciously explained that wine is a living thing. In her words, it should be handled with as much care as fine porcelain or a Lalique crystal. Banging it roughly as I had unwittingly done could have cracked the bottle, and was probably going to stir up sediment from the bottom of the bottle.

A sommelier knows how to treat a good wine with the respect and care it deserves. His or her role involves three key responsibilities: 1) Select the wine for the restaurant; 2) serve wine to the guests; and 3) act as an advocate for guests who need a reservation.

To better understand this important relationship (and how you might benefit from the special knowledge these experts have acquired), I interviewed Drew Hendricks, co-founder of the Texas Sommelier Association (TexSom). Of course, before sharing his tips with you, I had to try them out myself.

Hendricks told me the best way to initiate a relationship with the sommelier is to help clarify the parameters he or she will use to recommend a wine for you.

With that tip in mind, I began my conversation by discreetly advising the wine steward how much we typically were willing to spend on a bottle of wine ($80 to $120), what kinds of wines we like to drink (Pinot Noirs, Burgundy-style Rhônes, etc.) and which wines we had previously experienced and not enjoyed. The wine selected for us was out of this world, not to mention below our price point.

Here are some of the things you might like to be aware of during Texas Wine Month (October) and beyond:

1. The taste test: When the sommelier offers you the opportunity to taste the wine before pouring it for the table, it is not to check that you like it, but to ensure that the wine is in good condition and without fault. The feedback the sommelier is looking for from you is whether the wine is oxidized or has some other unpleasant taste or smell. In related news, according to an article at www.corktaint.com, leading U.S. wine expert Christian Butzke, Ph.D., says that TCA, the compound responsible for the musty flavor in some wines, “is no longer a major problem for the U.S. wine industry,” and that cork taint today occurs at levels at or below 1 percent.

2. Red with meat, white with seafood? Have we moved past the point of adhering strictly to the “red with meat and white with seafood” rule? Maybe, maybe not, in Hendricks’ view. Wine should complement the food you are eating. For example, if you select a tannic red wine to drink with shellfish, do not be surprised if you end up with an unpleasant physiological reaction. This combination of shellfish and wine may cause a metallic taste. Again, the sommelier’s expert knowledge can help you avoid such an unpleasant experience.

3. No thanks! If the sommelier is pouring wine for the table and you either do not want any alcohol or have had enough to drink, the best approach is to simply say, “No, thank you.” Avoid placing your palm over your glass or turning it upside down. Both are inappropriate gestures and can lead to broken glass or other unfortunate results. You do not tip the sommelier separately; however, you do tip on the wine, which will be 15 percent of the amount of the pretax bill, not the total check. There are no charges for the services of a sommelier.

Before Your Guests Arrive

1. 1. Email your future guests with a helpful weather report in advance of their arrival, if you can. Austin temperatures can shift so drastically that those who simply review “averages” as they pack may be woefully underprepared.
2. 2. To make your welcome even more memorable and appreciated, search for a photo of your future guest (Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn Profile photos are a great source) so you can recognize him or her upon arrival.  
3. 3. Stock up on a variety of English breakfast teas and plenty of coffee. For many of our visitors from other cultures, coffee is king and will be enjoyed with every meal.
4. 4. Consider adding international channels and publications to your menu of media offerings. Your overseas guests may feel more welcome with a copy of the International Herald Tribune or access to the BBC.
5. 5. Brush up on your foreign language and multicultural skills or find those with linguistic talent to join your concierge desk for Formula One week. Even a polite phrase or two in the visitor’s language will be much appreciated. Which countries should you focus on? Circuit of the Americas has let us know that top international ticket sales have come from the following countries and territories in this order: (1) Mexico (2) Canada (3) Great Britain (4) Australia (5) Puerto Rico (6) Guatemala (7) El Salvador (8) Denmark (9) Netherlands (10) Costa Rica.

Throughout the Weekend

1. 1. Expect your guests to be fighting off the effects of jet lag! Help ease their pain with plenty of bottled water and perhaps melatonin supplements, available from People’s Pharmacy or Whole Foods.
2. 2. Visitors may be a thousands of miles away but their stomachs will still be operating on “home time” – at least for the first day or so. Expect your guests to be looking for food at unusual times and be prepared for that with 24-hour room service.
3. 3. Avoid uncomfortable situations by gently educating your guests on local laws and ordinances. Many of them won’t have heard of a “clean air city” and may not be happy about smoking laws. Open container laws may also take them by surprise.
4. 4. Update your information on restaurant options and store hours throughout the weekend as these may be different than on regular weekends. 

Austinites are warm and welcoming individuals who will undoubtedly go out of their way to help make international visitors feel at home in Austin. Each of us has a part to play in gathering information on what was successful and what may need improvement for future visits. Remember, we have a ten year contract to host Formula One and an amazing opportunity to improve our ability to embrace international tourists into our community, even for just a short time.

To put things in perspective, Formula 1 weekend is beyond just a large local event. 300,000 visitors are expected to come to Austin from Friday November 16 to Sunday November 18 – more than our ACL Music Festival and South by Southwest guests combined! And it makes sense – with the exception of the Olympics and World Cup, there is no sporting event with more viewers. Think the Superbowl is a big deal? Formula 1 weekend  is viewed by over 600 million people — more than five times the most watched Superbowl of all time.

So now that we’ve talked etiquette, how do we mentally prepare for such an event? For one thing, those who do not like crowds should leave town by the Wednesday before the race at the absolute latest. And those who do stay in town should not plan on going anywhere quickly throughout the event days. Move your appointments and add hours of extra time to pick your kids up from school – traffic will likely be at a standstill for much of our fair city, most of the time.

Of course, if you are planning on attending like I am, get ready for a great weekend! And learn all you can beforehand regarding transportation, parking and logistics.  Here are a few helpful websites with more information regarding the race weekend:

Official City of Austin F1 Website:
ATXGrandPrix.org

Official Grand Prix website:
Formula1.com

The Circuit of the Americas website, where event packages are still available:
CircuitoftheAmericas.com

Some incredible City of Austin public servants, such as Economic Growth Deputy Director Rodney Gonzales, have been working tirelessly to prepare us for mid-November. And while we will surely learn from our first year “with the gig,” I know that they will have us well on our way to a truly one-of-a-kind Austin experience.

Sharon with Rodney Gonzales

While Formula 1 is new to Austin, it is far from a new event. And with 65 years of experience under its belt. the Grand Prix made a very thoughtful decision to build its newest, specially designed course here. As these 200+ mph vehicles descend on Austin in November, I for one am bursting with pride for our “small town” – a city that never falls short when it comes to finding new fans.