Not Your Average Gal

Copywriter. Content Creator. Constant Sassypants.

Archives for December 2016

Cuba: Ready Or Not, Here We Come!

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As you know, I’m a pretty good little planner. I like having my ducks in a row when I travel. Not every moment of every trip planned, just documents ready, arrangements made and bags packed in Tetris-like fashion.

Cuba is probably the one country I’ve traveled to that having that planner personality is key. Except, of course, this the one time I haven’t exactly donned my Type-A hat.

Crap.

It’s been a crazy Q4 at work, absolutely the busiest, most exhausting time I’ve had at my job in the last 4 years. Combine that with traveling to see the hubster, family, a wedding and well…Cuba took a back seat.

Xanax, now please.

The following is an except from my brain currently:

Since our American credit and debit cards will not work in Cuba, we needed to figure out just how much cash to bring in order to exchange it. It took a lot of back and forth between the 4 of us on what we felt comfortable with based on conflicting information from friends and online. We didn’t want to be without cash (duh) but too much and it we’d be left with CUCs and no place to exchange them back.

You have to remember, Cuba is a third world country that still has sanctions against it from the US. Information seemingly changes weekly.

We knew we needed a tourist card (visa) that we could get at our boarding gate, but we heard just yesterday that we also needed medical insurance. Some places said to buy it separately and some places said to check your airline. Literally within the last 3 months, airlines now include your medical insurance fee with the cost of your flight. So as long as you have your boarding pass with you in Cuba, it serves as proof of medical insurance. Phew.

I still need to buy extra travel insurance, for my electronic valuables.

Which reminds me, I need to back up all my stuff: computer, iphone, photos, etc.

Which reminds me, I need to activate my SIM card.

But shit, AT&T still hasn’t sent me confirmation they’ve unlocked my phone!

SEE! I’m leaving in 2 days and still finalizing stuff for CUBA. This would be slightly better if I were heading to Japan or even Mexico, but Cuba feels like so much more because so little is known about American tourists there.

AH.

<insert Xanax now>

Do I pack that extra dress? (NO!)

Will my SIM work, will I have service in case of an emergency?

I heard the taxi drivers were on strike. How much would a taxi even cost?

I need to pack my protein bars so I don’t get hangry in case the customs line takes 2 hours like I’ve heard. Protecting my marriage and preventing hanger, go hand-in-hand.

Feliz Año Neuvo.

Feliz Año Neuvo.

Feliz Año Neuvo.

I promise myself I’m going to say Happy New Year in Spanish to someone while I’m there. Gotta talk myself into it.

I’ve printed enough maps and restaurants and monuments and emergency phone numbers to kill at least 3 trees.

We all got upgraded on our flight to Havana, so that’s exciting. I’m sure we’ll annoy half of first class with our giddy antics, but whatever, those people need to loosen up their bluetooth ear pieces anyway.

If we get upgraded on the way back, how will I know? No wi-fi. Do I have to wait in line at the airport. THE HORROR.

Girlfriends fly in today. Hubster flies in tomorrow. Nail appts made for tomorrow. Prosecco is ready in the fridge.

I think I’m good, right?

Right.

Oh, I haven’t seen the hubster in over a month. This is the longest we’ve ever gone without seeing each other.

Must make time for major make-out session. 

Adios, mis amigos!

Surviving The Holidays Alone

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The holidays are bittersweet for me. I try desperately to enjoy them and sometimes I’m successful. But, more often than not, they tend to be an annoying pebble in my shoe, reminding me with each step of where I seemingly fall on the totem pole.

I can’t remember the last time I spent Christmas or Thanksgiving with family in my own place — it must have been before college. Each holiday brings about another round of travel; if I’m not traveling to see family at their homes, I’m alone. The choice seems to be that “simple.” And, keeping it real, it sucks.

I know I’m not alone in feeling like that, I’ve talked to friends who seem to always have to be the “flexible ones” and leave their homes to visit others.

This year, since the hubster was working every night over Christmas, there wasn’t much of a point in me flying up to see him. With us traveling more to see each other, the logistics of another quick-turnaround-and-head-back trip to travel and see my family wasn’t in the cards. I’ve invited everyone down to Florida, the US mecca of warm vacations, but for some reason or another it never seems to work out. I try not to take it personally because sometimes it’s purely situational. But sometimes I’m left wondering how many times you invite people before you stop because it must be you because you smell or something?

*sniffs armpits*

The holidays have a way of doing that, you know? Problems are a bit magnified. Being alone or left out, you begin to question your own place in your family, your job, your life goals, your burrito from last night, your current choice in fuzzy socks; it can certainly suck you into the vortex of self-pity and doubt. It could have been you with your family, but it’s not, so you better suck it up and deal, chickadee.

So, for anyone else that finds themselves alone on the holidays, this is how I dealt with it.

Plan it all out. What you’re doing each day or what you’d like to accomplish, even if that is going to pick up a cornish hen, since that’s the only bird that’s just the right amount for a dinner for one. This was my day-by-day.

Christmas Eve Eve

Start the time off right — with a good, long walk.

Join the masses at the grocery store to buy your meal-for-one. Laugh with another lady who is deeply annoyed she’s cooking for 11 and show empathy by waving your cornish hen leg at her as you part ways.

Christmas Eve

Go to your friends’ house while they are away visiting family to take care of their kitties and then freak out because you can’t find the one cat that needs to get a pill. Then find her and laugh with her then realize you’re laughing with a cat and cry a little inside.

Go on a virtual date with the hubster and see the movie Passengers.

Spend Christmas Eve with your friend’s family. If you’re lucky, they’ll be Colombian and show you new (awesome) traditions.

Christmas Day

Head to kitty place again and decide that pussy can’t hide from you – success!

Workout on your new exercise bike and do crunches to prepare for the imminent dinner course.

Talk to your dad and step mom while they’re currently trying to get up an icy hill in Minnesota.

Open up the 2 gifts under your tree, one from your dad and one from your sister. Laugh at your husband who accidentally sent your gift to his current address, so you open up your (upcoming) birthday gift that he already sent instead.

New Tieks!!

 

Go to the pool in a Santa hat drinking a Bloody Mary.

FaceTime with your hubster and then the BFFs.

Then FaceTime your brother, sister-in-law and adorable niece who needed to show you all her (naked) Barbies. They were taking a bath, duh.

Call your sister who is also on her way to work in the ICU. (I can’t get away from you healthcare people!)

Make Buffalo Chicken Tater Tots, watch Bridget Jones’ Baby and hit the hay — Christmas is just another day.

Tots and prosecco.

 

Christmas Day (observed)

If you’re lucky, you get one more day off alone.

You crushed half those tots the night before, so hop on the bike again and do some more crunches.

The pool and Bloody Mary are calling your name again, this time lacking a typical Floridian afternoon downpour. Score!

Have kitty parents come over to pick up their house keys and spend some time laughing about how ridiculous med school and doctors are over a bottle o’ wine.

Clean.

Cornish Hen time! Whip up some mashed potatoes and broccoli too for good measure.

Print more shit out for your Cuban adventure and hit the hay — Christmas Day (observed) is just another day.

 

 

Basically, keep busy. I tried to just take care of myself and not let my mind wander. I’ll admit – there were some tears. It would have been great to have been around family, but I got through it and think I tried to make the best of it.

I also know the nay-sayers will wag their judging and unsupportive fingers saying things like, “This is what you signed up for being a doctor’s spouse.” or “I’d love to have a few days off on my own! Sheesh!” Thanks for your unhelpful input, I’ll be sure to write it down and burn it later.

And if that’s not inspiring, perhaps some kind words from JK Rowling will be. She shares many of the same sentiments about the holidays, but expresses it more eloquently than I can:

JK Rowling Christmas Message

Have you spent a holiday totally alone?

A Wedding & A Reminder

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I’m on my way home to Fort Lauderdale, sitting in the Sky Club on a layover in Atlanta. Heart happy. Belly sore from laughter. Tired as a shit, but full of appreciation.

My lounge game is strong lately. #skyclub

A photo posted by Caroline, Not Your Average Gal (@notaveragegal) on

My dear friend, whom I’ve known since middle school days, got married this weekend in Houston. We affectionally call him “Texas” because on his first day in middle school, he wore a cowboy hat. May I remind you I went to school in Michigan. Ah, that (now married to a gorgeous lady) guy.

It was a reunion of sorts with people flying in from all over.

I’ve known some of these guys since elementary school.

Went to high school and college with a bunch of these gals.

We danced to pop songs from the early 2000’s and sang I Want You Back by *NSync at the tops of our lungs. We talked about the funny things their children are saying and doing now. We shared heartache over aging parents and family health problems. We talked about how we’re going to head back to England for my 10-year wedding anniversary and effectively set the 7-year countdown. We talked about how difficult and lonely being a doctor’s wife can be. I really missed the hubster, who was stuck in the ICU working, this weekend.

We relived a bit of our once-carefree life, even if only for an evening. It was epically wonderful. I would never want to go back to those awkward middle school years, even college days, if I were being honest. But, man, being with people who know you, truly know you (and still keep you around) filled my heart with contentment.

I’m not sure I realized quite how much I needed that reminder. The reminder that I have good friends. That I am a good friend. That we have shared wonderful (and sometimes shitty) moments together. That no matter the time or distance, some things will never change and in my ever-changing world…it’s exactly what I needed.

There is a line in a graduation speech Baz Lurman gave  (Yes, the one that was made into a tacky 90’s-pop song) that still sticks with me to this day:

“Understand that friends come and go
But a precious few, who should hold on.
Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle
For as the older you get, the more you need the people
You knew when you were young.”

I’m so grateful to have that.

 

 

Pardon the lack of usually spectacular images; I wanted to spend my time making memories instead of lugging my digital camera around capturing them. I know you understand. :)

I’m Going To Cuba!

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You may remember, I contemplated going to Cuba last year on my first solo trip. While the US-Cuba traveling restrictions certainly improved, things were still a bit too unpredictable at that point with getting into Cuba that I didn’t feel confident in it. I knew it would ease up soon, but not soon enough for that trip.

So when we saw the regulations essentially lifted and US carriers now have the ability to fly to Cuba, I jumped at the chance to go with my two numbnut-travel gal pals AND the hubster. Yes, this timed perfectly with one of his few weeks off of work as a first year ER resident. Boo-yah.

So what do we do in the land of mojitos?

I have no idea.

Lies.

Travel Docs

Prior to boarding our flight, we must obtain a tourist card (should cost $25-50USD) which will specify what our itinerary is for the length of the stay and allow us to choose one of 12 reasons why we’re going. While I hear it’s not totally stringent, authority scares me, soooo I’ll be abiding by the rules. I need to carry my passport and tourist card with me at all times. The tourist card also serves as proof we have medical insurance too, since it is included in the fee to get one. We have a tour planned for nearly every day and an idea of what were doing for the days we’re not. This sort of stipulation doesn’t intimidate me much. When I traveled on a student visa while interning in the UK, there were similar obligations that needed to be met so I could stay longer than the normal 30-day tourist visa.

Accommodations

It’s a quick trip—5 days, 4 nights. I booked our flights through Delta. Yup, again, American carriers can now fly there. It’s a quick flight from where I live—1.5 hours to Cuban cigars and classic cars. We’re staying in Havana the whole time and doing a day trip to Las Terrazas for one morning and afternoon. I booked our stay through AirBnb because all decent hotels were already booked for New Years.

Oh yeah.

Minor detail. I’m going over New Years! We’ll say PISS OFF to 2016 and wholeheartedly welcome in 2017 on an island we were forbidden to be on as Americans a little less than 2 years ago.

Money

American credit cards still won’t work there, so you need to exchange money on arrival and pay for everything in Cuban Convertible Peso or CUC. Exchanging US Dollars incurs a lot more fees than other currencies, so we’ll be exchanging Euros to avoid those penalties. Ah, the benefits of having friends who travel for work all the time and are currently in Czech Republic.

Internet

From what I hear, there is very little internet, let alone Wi-Fi. So while the hubster is looking forward to disconnecting, I’m having a minor panic attack.

But how do I prove I’m in Cuba if I can’t check-in on Facebook!?

We actually need to print out maps or use that funny service we pay for called AAA and get maps! I need to make sure I have all the phone numbers I need because I can’t Google on the spot. My phone will be on roaming, so I’ll try to avoid it.

Actually, I’m sure it will be refreshing. I want to share with you how we booked our flights and landed our sweet AirBnb penthouse, but I’d like to actually get there and explore our laid-out itinerary before I offer it up as the best advice.

Can you pick up what I’m throwing down?

 

What are you most interested in seeing from a land that has not been overrun by American tourists yet?