First Meal Alone
It’s strange, but the first meal I had to order alone was on the fourth day in China. I don’t know how I avoided it so long. Having had a few catastrophes interacting with people at the supermarket, I was …
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The Internet here is AWFUL
When planning a trip to China, be aware that the internet is ridiculously slow. Generally, I get dialup speeds. That is, when I have internet. Often it will just die entirely. This is a common problem that everyone I’ve talked …
First Night
After arriving in Shenzhen and meeting Sammi in front of the apartment, I now had someone I could trust who spoke English, and things were a lot more comfortable. We went upstairs to the apartment, which looked like it was …
In Transit
Madison After a difficult goodbye, I went to the ticket counter and checked in and dropped off my checked bag. I was worried that my prototype inside the bag would be examined and blown up as a potential bomb, but …
The Pre-Flight Checklist
In retrospect, I should have been much better about my checklist. I had forgotten some things which would have made my life significantly more comfortable. Having a printed checklist, and laying out all of my things before packing them into …
Getting robbed by Chase Bank
In the final stretch towards leaving, I needed to make sure I’d have enough foreign currency to get by. I was looking for the cheapest ways to change money, and I knew that Chase was going to charge 3% on …
Computer Security
There has been a lot of publicity recently about electronic security when working in China. There are horror stories of infected computers that come back and infiltrate corporate networks, of eavesdropped cell phones, and of IP theft. A NY Times …
Getting a visa at the China Consulate
This isn’t the China Consulate. This is a new (and somewhat controversial) statue of Marilyn Monroe on Michigan Ave. in Chicago. The China Consulate is a few blocks away, but they don’t want you taking pictures, and this is much …
Getting a Visa
Once travel dates have been made, you need to get a Visa from the China Consulate. There are only a few in the U.S., and some of them don’t accept applications by mail, so it’s a pain. In order to …
Shooting through the prep checklist
It seems that preparation for travel has to happen in a specific order because the paperwork requires progressive detail. For example, the first thing on the list is to determine when and exactly where you are going. With the dates …