This is why living or studying in #China or translating from Chinese – English. . . . Apparently this was supposed to say ‘Copy Business Hours’. Instead it says ‘Check toilet’ 😂😜 Most translators are like this! Even #Google translate sucks with Asian languages 😭 *For anyone visiting #China I recommend #HanpingLite. It’s a great dictionary. If you’re in #Korea, I recommend #codegent Korean Lite app. 😀
Using #Alipay to order #TakeOut Food in #China 😊 🍴
IMAGE 1 – Placing your order
1. Open Aliplay
2. Choose the ‘e’ that says ‘Take-Out’
3. On the next page you’ll see a longlist of restaurants offering services. #pizzahut is in my picture. But you Also have #KFC #mcdonalds #burgerking #Chinesefood and more! (YES, MCDONALD’S DELIVERS IN CHINA!).
4. Pick the place you want.
5. The next page will have a list of #food offered with pictures (THREE CHEERS FOR PICTURES!!!)😜
6. Click the + symbol next to what you want. It goes into your cart.
7. When You’re done, Click the green button on the bottom of the screen.
IMAGE 2 – Paying & Address
8. The next screen is important.
At the top you’ll see a box with the location symbol (marked 1 on the second picture I posted). CLICK this box.
9. For the first time, ask a #Chinese speaker to add the address (and other popular addresses) for you. It will save it in a list. In the future just pick the address you want it delivered to from the list.
10. Check the estimated delivery time right below the location button (Mine says 18:22 because #China uses 2400 time.)
11. If You’re Happy Click the Green button on the bottom and pay.
IMAGE 3 – Tracking Delivery
12. Go back to the home screen of Alipay – Choose ‘e’ for take-out again
13. You’re back to the List of restaurants. On the bottom toolbar, You’ll see a Square (2nd button) that I circled in pink. Click it.
14. Now you’re on a List of orders You’ve made. Choose the Chinese words next to the order.
15. Tada! Now you have the estimated delivery time and a gps map showing you where the driver is.
DELIVERY.
16. They usually call you when they arrive at your door. I Can’t speak Chinese well 😭 so I text them ‘你好.我来了’ which means basically ‘Hi, I’m on my way’. Can’t promise It’s accurate Chinese, but they always understand it. 😊
You DON’T have to pay the driver, delivery fees were in the original cost 😊
It’s several steps and tricky to figure out, but I was starving a while back and learned on my own of necessity 😜🍴
Hope it helps someone else!! ❤️
#travel #tech #Technology #foodie #hungry #fastfood #delivery #International #lifeabroad #apps
Many countries and international university may require Americans to get what is called an Apostille or Authentication of their Diplomas and other documents. If you are applying for a university abroad, a job internationally, etc. they will usually ask for your diploma and maybe a police background check as well. Initially, they will just ask you for a “photocopy” of the document, but maybe later they will want you to “authenticate the document” or include an Apostille.
What does this mean exactly? What it means is that they don’t trust your document precisely, in fact they don’t trust anyone’s documents. These countries are asking you for a “second-level” of security to make sure your document is not a fake or copy. It isn’t enough these days to just get an original copy of your document and mail that to them. Now, they want your state and federal government to also attest to their validity.
Basically, the international standard for “verifying the legality of documents” is to have the State and Federal government notarize or “certify them.” This involves sending the original and a copy to your state department, then send that to the United States federal government, and sometimes then onto that foreign nation’s embassy for a final stamp.
Obviously, such a process is long and costly in terms of time and money. So many countries got together and signed an agreement that you can instead get a document called the “APOSTILLE.” This document is given to you by your state department and does not require the federal or embassy steps. Much faster right? Sometimes — not all countries actually follow that rule, and it kind of depends on your state.
But regardless, you always have to start with this step – get the State Department to sign off on your document to prove it is legit. Below are links to the websites for each state where you can order document authentications and apostilles!
Had my annual #physical for the #Chinese residence permit & #Visa! 😷
Managed it alone without a #translator – quite a feat! Look at my bold self go 😜
For #China 🇨🇳 you need: Blood Analysis, Urinary Analysis, X-Rays, Ultrasound, ECG/EKG, and Blood Pressure.
The X-Rays 📷 are competely #Topless with other people (men included) waiting in the room 😱 for their turn – no protection. 😓 The ECG requires baring it all in front of a major, street level window with no curtain and a ferris wheel🎡 right outside❗ Goodbye dignity, hello #crosscultural oversharing! 😂
What’s Your International Hospital Story?!?
Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s time ⌚to make the official blog 🖋announcement📣 – I’m moving again! I’ll be staying abroad in China🗺, but after 3 years in central Henan I’m going North. Way north. As in Arctic Circle ❄ level north!
We will be moving to a city called Changchun in the province of Jilin. For those of you familiar with China, it’s up by Harbin – land of the ice sculptures. For those of you who have no idea what those words even mean – it’s up in the arm of China that is surrounded by Mongolia (great! Horses 🐴!), Siberia (Brrrrrr💂), and North Korea (0_0)❌❗.
See the blue circle in the map up there? That’s Changchun. I’m moving clear up to the land of Winter Olympics⛷🏂⛸, Forests with wild Bears 🐻 and Tigers, and Deer Antler soup. 😵 Craziness I tell you!
No, actually it looks like it will be really nice. 😀 The university 🏫 is called NorthEast Normal (NENU) and I will be working with the joint program with Rutgers University 🏫. I will be teaching Economics 💹 and International Business 📈 this semester. Economics and maybe some other classes next semester. The hours are a bit more than at my current university, but the pay is better, the students are of a higher academic quality (1st tier univ. instead of 4th tier univ.), I get most of the same benefits🚪, and it’s a new adventure 📷 awaiting me!
I was delighted to find out that one of my students and good friends 👭(Simon and his girlfriend Alice) live about 15 minutes away from my school. They are moving home and already invited me to BBQ. Such a relief to have someone in the area! I have two students👩👩 from Mongolia that I am hoping to get a chance to visit, and the train goes from Changchun directly to Moscow💂! 🚉 Course it takes a week one way, but still – I think I can get up to see Russia. Not taking time to see North Korea ❌ – I’m sure it’s lovely, but not my cup of tea. Still, that’s a lot of new open doors 🚪 waiting to be checked out! 😀
I’ll keep you up to date on the details as I go. My schedule 🕔 this week is insane. Tomorrow I leave at 7:30 for the city (one hour) to get a Physical 😷done (surprise! wasn’t expecting this – just found out this afternoon). Then on from there a 3 hour trip to Beijing 🚝 (+ 1.5 hour subway ride to my stop) for some government paperwork on Wednesday. Then back to school 🏫so I can give Final Exams on Thursday. Friday, back to the city to pick up my physical 🏥results. Back to school 🏫to grade and get signatures. Then on Saturday, entering grades into the computer. Sunday off to Changchun ✈to get all my paperwork complete. Monday back to school 🏫to pack and get ready. It’s a wild ride, but I am so excited to welcome the new year!
Here are the 100 best things to do in Germany that will show you the charm, beauty and cultural diversity of this country.
Germany is rich with surprises and contrasts just waiting to be discovered by the discerning tourist. A country of enchanting little villages nestling between lofty and imposing mountains, fairytale castles and churches and lush vineyards rolling down towards the banks of the Rhine or the Mosel, Germany also boasts of the more rumbustious Munich Beer Festival and the Cologne Carnival, a very fine choice of gateaux, sausages and beer and a powerful and somewhat spooky folkloric tradition.
Located in the Garmisch-Partenkirchen region of Upper Bavaria, the Zugspitze can be accessed by cable car from the Eibsee lake (around ten minutes) or by cogwheel train from Greinau followed by a cable car from the Zugspitzplatt to the summit. There are also five hiking routes for the more intrepid and guided tours with overnight stops are a popular tourist attraction for avid hikers.
At 2.962 metres above sea level, the Zugspitze is not only the highest mountain peak in the Wetterstein mountains, it is the highest peak in Germany. On a clear day, the breathtakingly lovely panorama of the mountain ranges of four neighboring countries – Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland – is clearly visible from its summit. For those who love hiking and/or winter sports, the Zugspitze is definitely a number 1 choice when visiting Germany!
In 1868, four years after acceding to the throne, the shy and reclusive King Ludwig II commissioned his architects Eduard Riedel and Georg von Dollmann to build him a mediaeval castle where he could hide from his people. Paradoxically, Ludwig himself only lived a few months in the castle before his death in 1886; 7 weeks later the castle was opened to the public and it has been one of Germany’s most popular tourist attractions ever since.
Located in Hohenschwangau in the rolling green hills of southern Bavaria, surrounded by blue lakes, Neuschwanstein appears to float in the clouds like some magical castle in a fairytale. From Munich, it can easily be visited as a day trip. Tickets should be booked in advance!
North of Freiburg in Baden-Württemberg in the little village of Rust is the biggest amusement park in the whole of the German-speaking world. In 2015 alone, it boasted 5,5 million visitors and is among the top 5 tourist attractions in Germany worldwide. In 2016, it won the “Golden Ticket Award” as the best amusement park in the world for the third year running. As an additional bonus, it is also open in winter!
With more shows, rides and attractions than one could ever imagine, including the biggest roller coaster in Europe, the Europa Park offers unlimited fun, excitement and entertainment to young and old alike. The Europa Parkc can be accessed from Freiburg by car in around 30 minutes and the closest railway station is Freiburg. Additionally there are a number of airports close by which offer shuttle-bus transport directly to the Europa Park.
Munich`s flamboyant Oktoberfest is famous the whole world over. Since its inception in 1810 in celebration of the wedding between Ludwig of Bavaria and his bride Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen, the Oktoberfest has grown continuously in size and popularity. With its dirndls and its lederhosen, its stalls and diners offering a multitude of German and Bavarian specialties and – of course – its fourteen beer tents offering beer for every taste (and wine, too!), the Oktoberfest is a must for anyone seeking the fun side of Germany.
The Oktoberfest takes place once a year, beginning in September and ending in October, on the famous “Theresienwiese”, otherwise known as “Festwiese”. Travel by public transport from München is recommended owing to lack of parking.
Traditionally, Cologne carnival begins whimsically at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, although the serious partying does not begin until Shrove Thursday. However, when it does, it goes with a bang! Cologne carnival is a celebration, above all, of fancy dress: streets, pubs and restaurants are full of exotic and bizarre costumes, streamers, balloons, practical jokes and laughter. The highlight is a 6 kilometre-long parade through the streets of Cologne on shrove Monday. A colorful, unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Though Cologne carnival is predominantly a street festival, there are plenty of carnival dances, dinners, parties and other indoor events running at the same time to choose from. Street activity during carnival time is at its height in the city center and the old parts of the city, which are accessible by bus or train from Cologne airport within 20 to 25 minutes.
At the time of its completion in 1880, Cologne Cathedral, with its awe-inspiring twin spires, was the highest building in the world. Even now, at 157m, it dominates the surrounding architecture with ease. Building commenced in 1248 but was halted during the Middle Ages and recommenced in the 19th century. Cologne cathedral reputedly houses the remains of the Three Biblical Magi- which were given to the Archbishop of Cologne by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa in 1164 – and is an important destination for modern-day pilgrims to this day. For this reason, but also because of its being “an exceptional work of human creative genius”, Cologne Cathedral was dubbed an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.
Cologne cathedral is situated very close to Cologne railway station and is impossible to miss! It is around 25 minutes from Cologne airport by bus or rail.
So I got an email a while back about this scholarship, and I somehow missed it when I was going through the mail. But Best Mattress asked me to pass the information on to you all in case you’re interested! It’s a scholarship for $1,000 (good start on a study abroad plan!) and the deadline is May 19, 2017 so you need to jump on it fast! I’ve posted the information below. Scholarships don’t have to cover the entire cost of your trip if you can add them together. So here’s a great place to begin planning for your dream trip to study! The website is here.
Student Ramblings 