Monthly Archives: November 2007

I tried getting a Vietnam visa here in Beijing. The embassies are in walking distance from my home here, so I thought it would be convenient. I went there and filled out the form and they said I’m too early. … Continue reading →

I found out my Visa Check Card from (now out of business) Netbank is being turned off tomorrow. This is the only way I can get to my money, so I need to get a new ATM card. In the … Continue reading →

I asked about the bathing suit factory the family owns. The son said there are about 100 people that work there. It sounds like a small factory by Chinese standards. It was kind of awkward when a English tutor came … Continue reading →

I bought a coat ($13), hat ($1), and gloves ($3) today from the local supermarket today. It is getting colder and colder so I need to have something clothing to keep me alive outside, but still something I can throw … Continue reading →

I started my group Chinese classes this week. Right now group means me and a 28 year old guy from Spain. He seems a lot farther ahead than me since he had 5 weeks of classes, 5 hours per day … Continue reading →

This morning, the mother brought out some crabs for breakfast and said they cost 100 Yuan each ($13). I notice the scar on my thumb from the last time I ate one, but tried anyway. A few minutes later she … Continue reading →

Keeping up with my sightseeing marathon, I visited one of the other major attractions in China, the Forbidden City, otherwise known as The Palace Museum. This is the place where the emperors lived for a few hundred years and the … Continue reading →

I left early today to go the Badaling section of the Great Wall, which is different from the place I went before. I went to the tour bus station again and left at 8:30AM or so. First stop was a … Continue reading →

I got a mobile phone today. Well, actually I’m borrowing one of the family’s old phones, a Nokia 7260. However I did have to buy a SIM card for $20 ($15 for the card plus $5 of prepaid time). It … Continue reading →

Today I visited Yonghe Temple and the next door Confucius Temple. The Yonghe one was almost like an art museum since there was so much to see there. The Confucius one was more like a museum where I could learn … Continue reading →