gas mask

Mattie's mother has encouraged me not to depart for Beijing without a gas mask (sorry, "respirator"). She mailed Mattie one her freshman year, along with plastic to seal her room in the event of nuclear fallout from a dirty bomb. I would borrow Mattie's, but I'm sure it's being put to good use in New Haven.

(For more info and better stories, see The Redundant Colon by Mattie Brickman.)

my experience at The Consulate General of The People's Republic of China in Los Angeles

Last week I went to file my VISA application.  When I arrived in Chinatown, Los Angeles, at the Consulate, I took my number from the machine, which is identical to the ones they use at the deli section of busy grocery stores so that nobody gets their sliced provolone before they should.  I was a little depressed to take number 463, especially because I saw that they were on number 330, and that they closed in an hour.  Conveniently, they have hours like banks 9-3 and take both American and Chinese holidays, like all comparably bureaucratic institutions.  Anyway, I was a little worried my trip down the 101 would have to be made again on another day.  However, as I sat down one of the workers finished on her current customer and started announcing 331, 332, 333, in fairly rapid succession.  She got to about 338 before someone stepped up.  From my experience sitting there from 330 to 463, only about one in 7 or 8 numbers actually had a person linked with it.  I got through and filed my application in half an hour....

This whole "population crisis" in China?  It's really just that they can't learn to take one number apiece at the deli counter.

alternate title?

Emily CP and Urban Dictionary inform me that "trots" is slang for diarrhea. I am considering alternate titles and am certainly open to suggestions. Or considering that this regards foreign travel, perhaps it is all the more appropriate.

Speaking of, while in Panama on every street corner it seemed there was a Quaker Oats sign. I mean, anyone who knows me knows how special I find Quaker Oats, but it struck me as hilarious that it was special enough for each and every store that sold it to loudly pronounce that to the random passerby. Clare informs me that in Costa Rica, the country is full of comparable signs but for Alka Seltzer. Of course, if you were having indigestion you wouldn't want to have to go around searching for a place that sells Alka Seltzer. So this makes more sense than the signs for oatmeal. Prevents accidents. Even more useful of course for countries with questionable food sanitation would be a sign for Imodium. I'll make sure to stop by the consulate and let them know.

Training Regimen

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/26/world/asia/26china.html?em&ex=1188446400&en=b99008873b0eb94f&ei=5087%0A

I am embarking on a training regimen, in which each day I hold my breath for twice as long as the day before.  I should be up to 4 months by the time I leave.

The Best Day of My Life: August 27, 2007

Jen is coming to Beijing to visit over Thanksgiving, Saturday November 17, 2007 to Sunday, November 25, 2007.  We shall eat dog together.

what am i forgetting?

packing list:
computer, power cord
towel
money belt
guidebooks
other books
jacket
fleece
running shoes
pair of running shoes you don't run in
one pair of sandals
benadryl
tylenol
toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss
small shampoo
small conditioner
carry-on suitcase
big suitcase
work bag
bathing suit
camera with big card
camera charger
camera cord
ipod
ipod cord
spiral notebook
pens, highlighter
paper tickets
copy of itinerary
copy of passport and visa papers, driver's license, credit cards
list of wallet contents
passport
hair dryer?
cards
1 skirt
2 jeans
1 nice pants
2 gym shorts
4? t shirts (ok, fine, 4 is optimistic and impractical)
2 sweaters
small deoderant
northface shants
sweatshirt
alarm clock
my smile

credit where credit's due

"Mox Trot" originally coined and copyrighted by Adam Wible.