Whether working, studying, or just plain living abroad, it’s the type of experience I think everyone should try at least once. I’ve done them all, like visiting family in China for summer break (and going to school for that year when I was 9), doing an exchange program in England, and working overseas in Singapore. This was from my last night in Singapore, as I packed up my desk and bid farewell to my coworkers. It had been quite an immersion into their culture, completely unlike anything I was used to yet familiar in many areas. It’s amazing what you learn in a few weeks of entering a different society. It’s easy to stay closed-mind in a bubble if you never leave your home country, but normal travel doesn’t quite change you the way living abroad does (even if it’s only for a few months). I really value all of my time abroad in the various capacities that I was there for. Spending extended time in any other country opens your eyes to other ways to view the world and it’s a great learning opportunity for all.
Posts Tagged ‘travel’
365great Day 363: living abroad
365great Day 358: hotels
After a long day out, my weary legs were so happy to arrive at the hotel. A nice hotel is wonderful to stay in, with comfy beds, lush towels, and all sorts of amenities. Hotels generally mean you’ve been traveling, so a hot shower and clean sheets are probably the best thing to happen for you at the end of the day. I enjoy staying at hotels because I don’t have to worry about cleaning and I get to stay in a city I normally wouldn’t. If I have more time, I like to make use of their pool, spa, or other amenities. Why not take advantage of all those features, right? It’s certainly a welcome reprieve from a tiring day out, where I can get a little peace and rest up. Waking up the next day feeling refreshed can’t be beat! Hotels are a great place to stay away from home.
Chinese stroller
Who needs a stroller when you’ve got a suitcase and a kid who can balance a bit? Haha, I love the random things you’ll see Chinese people doing. Creative or practical?
suitcase stroller from Mary Qin on Vimeo.
365great Day 351: vacations
It’s always nice to get some time off to go enjoy something outside of work, school, or your general obligations. Taking a vacation changes up a routine, offers a reprieve from any buildup of stress, and encourages people to explore a different environment. Sometimes it’s as simple as a day trip to a point of interest. Or, maybe you go all out and plan an intensive couple of weeks getting totally out of your comfort zone. Maybe you’re the type to revisit a favorite spot time and time again. If you’re like me, you revel in trying out a new city or country. Whatever the case may be, vacations are a chance to have some fun, relax, and step out of your “regular” life. When I was in China a few years back, I saw this group of Buddhist nuns – even they take vacations! No matter who you are, a vacation is a great break to work into your life.
How to Apply for a Chinese Visa
What a ride it’s been applying for my visa to go to China! I watched as time after time, people were turned away because they didn’t have everything they needed for the application. It seems that the law changed in the past couple of years, so those who had been getting visas to China for over 20 years suddenly found themselves no longer meeting the requirements for the application (on their first try anyway). I don’t think a single person who was there for the first time had a successful experience. So, to help you avoid a similar fate, here’s what I learned to make your visa application process as painless as possible.
Short on time? Skip right to the tips list.
First and foremost, PREPARE thoroughly.
When I first saw the extensive forms of visas, I had no clue which one I wanted and I didn’t pay much attention to the requirements. After all, I’d done it plenty of times before so how hard could it be? Oh no, how naive I was. First of all, you have to fill out the form ahead of time. There are no longer forms at the embassy – my first big mistake. Luckily, there is a well-situated travel agency upstairs from the visa office in DC (what a smart move on their part), so I went there and paid $10 to fill out my form on a computer and print it out. Avoid those mistakes and download a copy and print it yourself.
All applicants are going to want to have a photo copy of their passport ID pages (for the office to keep once they return your passport to you), previous visa(s) to China if this is not your first, and a copy of your itinerary (proof that you will leave the country within an appropriate time period). If you’re like me and just got a new passport, you’ll want to bring copies of your old passport and visas that you had in there. If you’re getting a special visa that lasts beyond the typical maximum of 12 months, there are other documents to provide. This usually includes a signed letter from a Chinese native/resident or company, inviting you to the country and explaining the purpose of your visit.
Plan for at least 40-60 minutes at the visa office
Don’t forget to bring all your documentation! When you arrive, you’ll almost always find a dozen or more people in line to submit their application and it’s a painfully slow process. After all, they have to be thorough in reviewing your application. They also often have to explain exactly what is missing from an application so people can get it right the second time. And inevitably, there are those frustrated people who spent hours getting to the office only to find out they have to make another trek, so they vent and sometimes demand managers.
Wait patiently for 3-4 business days, then pick up your visa
When you leave after submitting your application, you’ll get a receipt – hang on to it! It lists the date your visa will be ready and if you don’t get a call by that time, it means your visa should be ready with no issues. Picking up the visa is pretty quick, thankfully. Go first to the payment window and they’ll process your payment. All visas cost the same, no matter the length of validity and they’re currently at $140 for US citizens. I paid by credit card and then took my receipts over the to pick up window when the lady returned. She located my passport and showed me the page with the visa on it. I checked to make sure it was accurate – correct personal information, appropriate expiration date (two years from now, woo hoo!), and actually in my passport.
Payment time.
Boxes of passports.
So here’s a recap of the main points:
Download the application and bring it filled out along with a 2×2 photo attached (no more copies offered at the visa office)
Bring
-photo copy of passport
-copy of old passport (if recently outdated)
-copies of previous visas (if you’ve had any before)
-copy of travel itinerary (if already booked)
-invitation letter with name, ID number, and address of inviter (Chinese citizen or resident) – also include your name and passport number as invitee
-copy of front and back of ID of inviter
Apply at least 5 business days prior to intended travel (but preferably closer to 8-10 days in case there are issues)
When picking up your visa, bring form of payment (credit card is fine) and receipt slip
Did I forget anything? Do you have any lessons learned to share?
Gogobot duffel bag
I received a package from Gogobot today and opened it to find the duffel bag I’d recently earned for writing 250 reviews! It turned out to be way larger than I expected, which makes for an awesome travel bag but I don’t know if I want to use it for the gym. I was hoping to start bringing it to work so my workout clothes don’t get stuffed in my purse doubling as a laptop bag. Not sure if I want to have such a large bag sitting around, though perhaps if I put my purse in it that could work. I’ll have to try it out and see what feels best. It could turn out to be very convenient, or it could turn out to be too much work. Either way I’m excited to use this bag for my future travel needs!
The next tier is at 500 reviews and earns me a toiletry kit. I’m super curious what that might contain! Eventually I’m totally going to earn that luggage at 2500 reviews. Can’t wait. In the mean time, I’m also looking forward to the Gogobot Pro 2014 gear, which should be arriving soon. Last year we got the fabulous tote bag that I’ve used on every trip since, ad adorable beach towel, and cool flip flops. Very beach themed! Who knows what they have in store this year. I just know it’ll be amazing. I love free swag!! I’m also more than happy to show off their brand and tell people about it. What a win-win. 🙂
365great Day 326: travel buddies
I really enjoy traveling solo. You get to experience things in ways that nobody else would. It makes you more open to what will happen. And funny enough, it makes you more likely to find travel buddies to spend your time with. When you travel with someone (or a group), it’s too easy to stay within the safe confines of those social interactions. While you may speak to strangers in passing, you rarely strike up an in-depth conversation the way you could if you were alone. It’s like bringing a bubble with you when you travel, always keeping things at arms-length. Whenever I travel alone, however, the barriers break down far easier and I find myself suddenly having dinner with three guys I met the day before, or being followed around a castle by a couple of locals, or on a moped with some random stranger. It makes things infinitely more fun when I can explore a city with my new travel buddies, whether it’s just for a few hours or for a few days. It’s a great way to enjoy a new city.
365great Day 321: strength
I love feeling strong (and being strong). It’s rewarding when I can surprise people with how strong I am and what I’m capable of. Growing up, I was pretty good at picking up athletic skills. I sprinted well, climbed most things, and learned to swim with little effort. I remember back in 8th or 9th grade when I could do the flexed arm hang for ages. One of my favorite parts of track practice was when we did weights. Cardio has never been my thing. As a voracious reader, I learned to carry 30+ books to the car on a weekly basis. As a good Chinese kid, I always helped my mom carry most of the groceries in the house. My personal challenge was to do it all in one trip, which usually meant a good 5 bags per hand. When I went back to China for a year in 3rd grade, I was able to outrun even the 6th graders. In more recent years I just like the confidence I get when I can do something that people doubt my body is capable of, like carrying my 6-foot something friend pictured here. I’d rather be able to do that than run a marathon, personally. I think it also gives me more confidence to travel alone, since people never think I can hit/punch/kick as hard as I can, so I can surprise them if I needed to defend myself. One thing I love about yoga is that it builds my strength. My favorite pose? Plank! And overall I think your body just feels better when you’re strong, which is a great way to live.
UK Vacation Day 10 recap
Alright, finally wrapping up the UK vacation from this fall. Our last day there was just to pack and get ready to go. I managed to wake up before the alarm, shower, and get breakfast. We finished packing and then went off to Pizza Express so I could get a pizza to bring home. I was too freakin’ yummy to pass up. We showed up a little before they opened and I got to watch them bring up some dough they were going to make the pizzas with. On our walk back to the hotel, I decided I had to try the Malteser McFlurry and the Sweet Chilli Wrap, which are unique to the region. I didn’t know they had onion rings too! Why don’t they offer those in the US? Then it was off to the airport via the tube. We got a chance to hang out at the Star Alliance lounge for a bit before boarding our plane and heading back stateside.
[See all the rest: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8 and Day 9 recaps.]
From staying at hotels, I’ve learned that I definitely want a king-sized bed.
US outlets should have switches too.
Love these kinds of sinks on the counter.
I need one of these showerheads at home!
Wow, they may not have much space but they sure have giant towels.
Cool flushing buttons for the toilet.
Of course, those eye-catching phone booths.
Deeelicious.
Bringing up the dough!
Yes, I brought it on the plane. No it did not smell up the place (was cold by then).
Lovely brickwork.
Ooo, malty goodness.
Such a pretty fruit stand!
Pigging out even as I prepare to leave the country.
McOnion Rings!
Returning our Oyster cards for a refund on the balance.
When the escalators become stairs, he becomes super strong.
Oops, went to the wrong floor.
It’s so fancy I got distracted/confused and did it wrong. :-/
Wow, who needs TSA when you can just use these cool machines to check IDs and boarding passes?
The waiting game.
Wandering around looking for where to request a VAT refund.
Mailing off our VAT refund form! Never got it repaid, oh well.
One of the few times we get to use the lounge, might as well take advantage!
British candy.
Entering the more casual part of the lounge.
Loading up on hot food.
Had some chilled options too.
Ooo, soup!
I’m sure if we drank alcohol we’d be happy.
A really nice seating area where we snagged a table.
Hmm… not sure if I like bitter lemon.
Stocking up on snacks for the road.
Many farewell messages along the long walk to the gate.
Here we go!
Propping our feet up for the ride.
So bright and beautiful up here.
Meal time!
Panda of course gets beef.
A snack to tide us over.
Hey, we’re almost over my old town of Brewster, not far from Danbury!
The sun shining furiously.
Staring out, I noticed the reflection of the front of the plane in the engine.
Hello, Dulles.
Not quite time to disembark.
On our taxi ride home.
365great Day 317: Escape Monthly
I’ve been with Escape Monthly since they started with their first box in August 2013 and it’s been a fun ride so far! Each month, they’ve carefully chosen products that reflect the spirit of a certain region and almost every single product is actually made there (if not all of them). Products include a bit of personal care, a bit of food or snacks, a bit of home goods, a bit of random items, and always a guide book for that area. The vibe of each box has been different based on the theme of the month and it’s been lovely trying products from all over the place. So far it’s mostly been US cities and states, with one international box focused on Italy. I hope they mix in more international destinations as time goes on! I also love their referral program, which has earned me quite a bit of money back. 🙂 Awesome tours of cool destinations AND recurring commission for referrals? That’s great!!
