Microsoft Excel was and still is a valuable tool for us when planning our trips.
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[Optional] Gearing up for the trip…
Packing smart and light is synonymous with independent international travel. It’s all about being able to pivot if an earlier train from Rome to Florence suddenly becomes available or to fit in an extra hour or two of sightseeing since you were luckily able to stow your baggage temporarily at the train station. We were…
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Travel Tips (Anatomy)
Before leaving on your trip to a foreign country, inform your credit card company and debit card bank that you will be traveling outside of the US. They will typically ask what countries and when. Avoid the money exchange kiosks at the airport if possible; withdraw cash at ATMs in the foreign country as they…
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Travel Tips (2012)
Withhold judgment as best as possible. Accept that some advertised tour packages have an ulterior motive (i.e. to sell you local products or optional add-ons). Memories are not the only thing you can take back home. If you find a souvenir that you like, can afford, and will fit in your suitcase, buy it with…
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F Your Diet (China)!
Say What (Chinese)?
Avoid the middleman, buy direct…
If you were to host someone from a different country, what would you highlight to show off America? Would you bring them to the Statue of Liberty and impress upon them that the US is a melting pot of many different cultures? Would you visit the Grand Canyon or the Great Lakes and regale them…
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Chinormous…
There are common everyday superlatives to describe something of considerable size. Mammoth. Gigantic. Colossal. There are even newer terms that better capture the immensity. Ginormous. Hugemongous (made this one up myself!). Some occasions, however, call for something even grander. I’ll admit that I was excited to see the Great Wall of China. We were going…
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Tasteful Chinese…
Rooms in the more modern Chinese hotels have a particular aesthetic. How does one tactfully describe them without invoking the ire of the powers that be? We are, after all, in a very, very globally-connected world. Hotel room designs paid a clear homage to the country’s long history. Guests were expected to be impressed (Bob…
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Chinese Chinese-American food…
Sometimes it is best to err on the side of familiarity. Especially if your clientele hails from different parts of North America. There were countless variations of a theme. One day the deep-fried (insert familiar protein) would be served in a sweet and sour sauce. Then caution would be thrown in the wind and the…
