So I have a new laptop. I feel like I have part of my life back. I’m thankful that I could use my newer Samsung phone to continue updating. I think I have quite a decent streak going for my blog.
Using my Samsung phone to update my blog meant I could take pictures and upload them to the blog super easy. Normally, any photos I take via phone would have to be Bluetoothed to the computer, then uploaded. With the phone, it’s a lot easier. So I may consider using both the new computer and my Samsung to upload, especially when there’s a photo that is unusual. Like the bull grazing in a vacant lot on the side of a busy street. It was even more of a thrill to initially think the bull wasn’t tied up. But on closer (not much closer) inspection, I saw a thin rope attached to him, the other end around a tree.
It’s funny; I see a lot of things here that could lead to lawsuits. I don’t know if they do actually, but it’s just an interesting mindset knowing how the government is run, with what people do in actual life. The U.S. is a lot “freer”, yet go inside your local mall and you’ll probably see a list of “DON’TS”. In China, it’s okay to take your dog, allow kids to ride their little scooters in the mall, and also play badminton.
There are also little motorized ride-on toys you can rent, and the other day at an outdoor plaza in a mall, saw two kids, unsupervised, driving around the plaza. A lawsuit waiting to happen, but then maybe Chinese people are a little smarter than Americans. You see things happen, or you are aware of the situation, and keep out of the way. On the other hand, suing people in China is catching on, which means you have to be careful if someone falls down in front of you.
Computer took a dump on me today. Not sure whats going on. But there was a burning smell. When I took the bottom panel off, there was a bunch of dust and fuzzies on the fan. So I cleaned that up, but when i put everything back together, the fan wouldn’t stop running. So i unplugged the battery. Hopefully I can get to the bottom of this, and it will be a quick, inexpensive fix.
So I got paid—it was rather anti-climactic, probably because I was thinking of other things at the time.
My computer’s internet crapped out on Friday, October 13. It was working fine that morning, then of course, right before class, it stopped working. I could show the all-important powerpoints, but it meant I couldn’t do my review the way I had planned it.
Powerpoint!
So I gave the students some time to review the powerpoint slides while I came up with the totally non-electronic review bingo activity. Then, we took the quiz on good old-fashioned paper. Problem is, the students are used to a paper-free classroom.
I’ve told them on day one to have a notebook and something to write with. Computers and the internet being the way they are, sometimes it’s good to have backup.
So I got through the class. I was rattled, so I went swimming at the uni pool. It’s bigger and colder than what I am used to. But it was nice to swim off the week, so to speak, and relax a bit from the afternoon’s panic.
A Weekend Without Internet on My Computer
That night, I contacted my computer guy and explained the problem. He said he wasn’t going to be in on Saturday, because his daughter was sick.
So, no internet that weekend. Or rather, no internet on my computer. I could access the internet via my newer Samsung phone, but try reading a textbook on that. However, that’s just what I did. I had access via the web, but the book hadn’t been officially given to me yet. As long as I had internet access, I was fine… but…
A co-worker helped me get back online the following week. I was hoping it would be a small glitch, like something related to the university, but after coming home and trying, the internet was still not working. It wasn’t a matter of the wifi being down or anything like that. I suspected a driver issue.
A Computer Shop on Campus to the Rescue!
The following week a co-worker showed me to a computer shop on campus, provided translation, and problem solved. Seems I could either leave the computer there for a few days, or for 39 rmb (less than $5.60) I could plug a little doohickey into the side of my computer and I’d be back online. So I paid, and BOOM! Thank you, Jesus. When I finally DID get back online, I downloaded the driver the program said I needed. The doohickey is still plugged in, however.
Tuesday I was exhausted, as that is my longest day, at 13 hours start to finish. Having a nap helps, but it’s rough going. I can’t even go to sleep when I come home, as I signed up for a writing course that meets at midnight my time, noon their time. Sometimes, I try to sneak a little nap in before class starts.
Wednesday, I did my banking. Withdrew most of my paycheck and then deposited it into my other account (don’t ask) and today I did a wire transfer home.
So yeah, very happy that money dropped, but also a bit distracted.
Going For Broke: Living on the Edge in the World’s Richest Country
Did I mention that Going for Broke dropped? I’m sure I did. I had my complimentary copies forwarded, and that’s another story too. I have my mail back home sent to Traveling Mailbox. It’s a nifty service that is for digital nomads, or people who travel a lot. Your mail is sent to a location of your choice. Then, whenever you get mail, you get an email sent to you. You log on and can see what mail you’ve received and what to do with it.
So I got notified of my books. I set them up to be forwarded, but the payment wouldn’t go through. This baffled me, as I’d paid for the writing course with the card, and THAT went through. I tried using my debit card through my credit union, and that didn’t work either. Turns out there was a block on it because they thought something fraudulent was happening, but I assured them there wasn’t.
So my card was unblocked, and the payment for the forwarding STILL wouldn’t go through. I contacted Traveling Mailbox again only to be told it was a ME problem, not a THEM problem
It’s Not Me, It’s Ups
But because I’m brilliant, I thought, “Maybe the delivery method I’ve chosen doesn’t go to China.”
I chose another delivery method, and it went through.
Now I’m waiting for the book to show up. I already have the e-copy, but to be honest, I’m really tired of reading books on the computer. I feel like I’m staring into a computer 20 hours a day as it is. The e-reader I downloaded isn’t reader friendly, so reading the book on this thing isn’t very pleasant.
But still—this is my proudest writing achievement to date. Even more than when I won an award for my research paper on Karla Homolka. Probably because not only was I paid more, but I ALSO RECEIVED THE MONEY AND I’LL HAVE A HUGE AUDIENCE FOR THIS.\
Thanks, Karla Homolka
Here’s another story (told you this would be a big ass post!): my last year of grad school, I entered my Karla Homolka research paper into a contest. I ended up winning $1000, but because I was receiving financial aid, the school took all the prize money, and left me with a $10 check.
So much for that vacation at Cedar Point.
It’s ironic that the best times spent in grad school were outside the classroom. I had enough to go to California a few times, and had some nice things said to me by agents. Doing research was also spent outside the classroom. And I also did some of my best studying not at school.
What a weird time that was. Some of it was great, like my writing workshops with a certain group of students, but most of the time I spent mentally rolling my eyes.
Mr. Honky Gets Annoyed
And on the way home last night on the bus, the driver wouldn’t stop honking the horn. Then, to add some drama, he yelled at the bus driver ahead of us. The other driver was blocking an intersection and was actually backing up.
Anyway, here are some links to things I’ve written. Hope you enjoy them!
No Way! Laowai! 