Math Lesson #2 - Shanghai

In Shanghai the currency is Chinese Yen Renminbi, and the exchange is 1 Euro to 8.3047. I used to be good at math; how much cash do I need to withdraw? Well let's see, I need 1000 CNY to pay for new pants tailored  for my boss, taxi fare, and some money for whoever does not accept my credit card. During the attempted withdrawal I discover my French debit card does not work, so I use my US debit card.


My colleague's French debit card also does not work, and he has no backup. I offer to share, but he says he will get cash at the next machine. He is equally unsuccessful at the next machine. I lend him 1000.


We arrive at the hotel, and find that my colleague's same card that did not work at the ATM works fine at the hotel. On the other hand, my French credit card does not work but my US credit card works fine. They approve some amount of money in case I drink the mini-bar dry. A very real possibility.


We go to the fake market. genuine copies of everything you can imagine. You are expected to pay one-fifth of the posted price. A good negotiator will pay one tenth. I am apparently not a good negotiator. Come on these people are professionals!

Fake market

We go to a bar with an excellent view of the city. Because we are not staying at the hotel we are charged a cover of 100 CNY which includes a drink. Seems like a wash to this tired tourist. I pay.

I have become too sleepy to go out, so I order room service including a glass of wine. By mistake they bring a bottle instead of a glass. I check the bill and see that 75 was added for the wine, so I ask them to only bring me a glass, not the whole bottle. Turns out it was 75 local currency (a bargain), so they pour me a glass and take the rest of the bottle with no impact whatsoever on the bill. They wonder why I objected. So do I.


Shanghai and I might need a re-do.

How good is your math?

I live in Paris. When I need to arrange meetings with my US colleagues in Connecticut, I subtract 6 hours from the time
15:00 - 6 = 9:00
Okay I should not call them before 3PM my local time.


When I was in Alberta last week and wanted to call the Paris office I added 8 hours
9:00 + 8 = 17:00
Got it; do not call after 10AM my local time.


Now I am in Shanghai for a week. Can someone please help me know when to call Connecticut? Paris? Alberta?
Arghh!
Oh and what time is it anyway?

Friendship: for life?

Maybe because my friends are scattered around the world I find myself thinking a lot about friendship; specifically what moves a person into or out of this category.


For me, someone moves into the friendship category if they

• Can be trusted, even if the secret they are holding is really juicy. Even if we are both crushing on the same guy (ditto for boots, hand bag, or anything else girls covet)
• Treat my friends and family like their friends and family
• Are brave enough to challenge me if I do something that risks our friendship
• Make me feel better for being around them
• Are interesting and generally positive about life
• Forgive me for my faults.

Moving from friend to non-friend? Almost never happens. It would require nothing short of a betrayal. Yes friends are for a reason but not just for a season. I believe in friends for life and am lucky enough to have several.

What do you think about friendship? How does someone move from acquaintance to friend? Have you ever moved someone out of your friendship circle? Why?

Have you ever?

Have you ever narrowly escaped a disaster?


Did you say out loud "Whew! I will know better next time!"


Think about it; you are driving down the road, sleepy as hell, and realize you have actually nodded off behind the wheel. You sit up very straight all bright and perky and say, okay now I am so wide awake I will never fall asleep at the wheel again. I may never sleep again!


Oh how about that time you had more than one drink at the bar, and realized you were about to be pulled over for a breathalyzer along with everyone else who was happening by that spot in the road. You got away with it for one reason or another, and you said, "Okay, that was close. I will never do that again!"


Or here's one: you are in a bar in Halifax and suddenly realize that the very nice naval captain has managed to surround you with his officers who are in the process of escorting you to the ship, probably never to see the light of day for the whole journey back to Norway - oh wait probably that was not quite so common.


How about locking yourself out of your car? Your home? Ever done it? Do you have a back up plan?


See, here's the thing. I live in Paris where there is no such thing as a locksmith with real lock picking tools like we see in the movies and also in the hands of every locksmith in North America. If you are in Canada for example and lock your self out, you either use the key you have hidden under the plant (yes we all know it's there) or you call your spouse. Third choice is the locksmith and it is a very good choice. Without a doubt you will be sitting pretty in your home within minutes as if nothing ever happened.


The only time that didn't work for me was the time I needed to let my dogs out of my van for a pee. It was cold, so first I changed my jacket, put the leashes on the dogs, locked the doors with my jackets and keys inside... and had absolutely no way to unlock the doors.


Yes I broke a window. Yes it would have made an interesting video, me luring the dogs away from the window I needed to break so I didn't hurt one of them in the process.


And yes I swore I would never do such a stupid thing again.


Fast forward to Paris, where I locked myself out of my apartment a few months ago, called a non-locksmith who used his radiograph to not unlock my door and then offered to replace the locking mechanism for 650 Euros.


Now I would really never do it again.


Until last night.


Yup. I loaned my set of keys to my colleague at work so he could get back in the office building. That was around noon. The day progressed in its usual way, work, drinks after work, dinner after drinks, until at 11PM I reached into my purse to reassure myself that the keys I would never again leave behind were in fact where they belonged. Oops - guess I didn't get them back. Yes I was royally screwed.


As luck would have it, my friend Janice has a key to my place.But she wasn't answering her phone. Lucky again that we live in such a fab neighborhood I was able to track her down in our friendly bar up the street. One celebratory drink later I was safe and sound in my home.


And Boy, I will never - oh never mind...

The hunt for technology leads to rewards of a different kind

All checked in at Edmonton Airport I decided to search for a few last minute items. 
First a cover for my Kindle. 

At this store the sales person repeated "Kindle?" several times with a puzzled look on her face until I left. I bet if she is still saying "Kindle?" even now. 
I was left with the understanding that even this technology whiz is not familiar with Kindle. Thus no Kindle cover was obtained.


At the next stop I was reminded that Indigo supports Kobo, not Kindle. 
No Kindle cover for me in Edmonton.

At the same time although  I was motivated to pick up my emails on the advertised free Wi-Fi my iPhone simply would not cooperate.  So I stopped by the iStore to see if some smart kid working there could give me some useful advice.

To my surprise the salesperson was not using an iPhone in the iStore, but a Samsung Galaxy. 
In the iStore. 
In fact the iStore sells other brands. 


Am I the only one who didn't know this?


Anyway she recommended I consult my local provider in Paris.  
I am sure Bouygues Telecom is familiar with Edmonton International's Wi-Fi access issues.


Based on my lack of success with shopping I chose a Plan B.
 
The bartender promised and delivered a very good Bloody Caesar. 
Then I flew to Calgary.


Upon arrival at Calgary Airport, I skipped the shopping 
and went directly for the Caesar.
Don't mind the blurriness. I am sure it had nothing to do with the photographer or the Caesar.


There was technology galore even at the bar.




Oh I also flew to London Heathrow and Charles de Gaulle. No pics though. Not that you can make out anyway.




All this to say - airport shopping looks good on the surface, all shiny and bright, but be prepared to lower your expectations on expertise.  (Does not apply to bartenders.)

A to Z

Two Adults One Brown Baby  invited others to steal this. So I did.


Feel free to do the same.


A to Z


A. Age: Really really young. You would not believe me if I told you.

B. Bed size: King preferred. Double provided.

C. Chore that you hate: All of them. Come on who likes chores?

D. Dogs: Love them. Will have one again when I am home more than I am away.

E. Essential start to your day: Coffee. Don't even bother talking to me until I have had one. Oh and also a shower. But first things first.

F. Favorite color: Color in general. The more the merrier. Love red and fuchsia and purple and blue.

G. Gold or silver: Do I have to choose? Who's buying?

H. Height: Mine? 5'4". The height I can climb before I become pitifully fearful - about half that.

I. Instruments that you play: It is a short list. Very short.

J. Job title: Officially Director Account Management. Unofficially Second to the Chief Cook and Bottle Washer.

K. Kids: I once was one.

L. Live: Yes. I do. In Paris.

M. Mother's name: Leona Darlene Louise.

N. Nicknames: Nope. None that I know of anyway.

O. Overnight hospital stays: Yes. But who wants to reveal the details?

P. Pet peeves: Complainers. Oh and people who walk slower than me. Wait I think I am complaining.

Q. Quote from a movie: You can't stand the truth!

R: Right or left handed: Right

S: Siblings: Lots.

T. There was no T on the original list. I will add Travel. Lots for business and pleasure. Most recent was Alberta. Next is Shanghai. Most exotic so far Sri Lanka.

U. Underwear:  Always wear clean (sexy) underwear according to my mother in case you are in a car accident. (Okay I added the sexy.)

V. Vegetable(s) you hate: Onions. Do not try to convince me that you can hide them. You can't.

W. What makes you run late: Looking for my metro pass, my keys, my passport.

X. X-rays you've had: Goes with those hospital visits I am not writing about.

Y. Yummy food that you make: Coffee. Oh you mean meals? Nope.
Z. Zoo animal: I never want to see an animal in a zoo. Why would you?

Street Stories #3: Cowboy in Paris

I am having a very nice conversation with a local restaurant owner. Of the many people I have met in Paris he is one of the nicest, most interesting, well spoken, gentlemen. He tells me how much he likes Canada. I assume he has visited Montreal or maybe Vancouver, something I hear often from people I meet in Paris. 


I am wrong. 


He traveled across Canada from Ontario to Alberta looking for a ranch to purchase.


I am delighted to imagine him not in his beautiful French cafe greeting patrons, but instead riding his horse out to check the cattle. Maybe he would even learn a cowboy song.


People will surprise you if you let them.