And So It Begins, from Narita

I’m in Tokyo, on my way to Shanghai, this time for good. The reality of it all is settling in, slowly for sure, but settling all the same. I was thumbing through my passport (which now boasts 24 additional pages) and recounted each visit out. What a wild ride. I love this airport. It’s amazing, as you look out the windows of all the big-tops that come in and go out every minute, as wall as the sheer number that are parked at the gates. From my viewing angle, I can see no fewer than five.

My flight from here to Shanghai is on a 747. My last time out, on the return flight to the states, I had the luxury to fly on the upper deck of a 747-200. It’s something else, it’s really as if you’re the only one up there, in a lounge of your own. I arrive in Shanghai Saturday night (China time) and hopefully will have DSL setup on Sunday. The installer is supposed to arrive between 8AM and 11AM and hopefully I’ll be able to communicate enough to get myself setup!

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Going Away Events

It’s been a busy last couple of days with departure events. On Friday was my going away party in the City at my favorite bar, Mr. Smiths. It was an epic night, full of all kinds of mayhem. I had a great turnout with friends from all parts of my life making it, from preschool, elementry, high school, college and work. It was a great send off by a great group of friends.

Yesterday we had my going away lunch at Amrin (sic) Thai in Mountain View. A bunch of my coworkers made it out and we had a good time eating and laughing. It’s been touching to have everybody make it to these events and it makes the move feel even more real.

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My Address in Shanghai

Here is my address in Shanghai along with my phone number. I’m not certain I’ve written it in Chinese correctly, but it should be close enough.

我的住址
宛平南路255弄31号702室
上海, 中国 200032

My Home Address
Room 702, Block 31, Lane 255 Wanpin Road (S).
Shanghai, China 200032

公寓电话号码 / Home Phone
+86 21 64260625
移动电话数字 / Mobile Phone
+86 135 64741440

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New Apartment in the Sunset

As my last post mentioned, I’ve moved to a new apartment and new neighborhood in San Francisco, from Soma to the Sunset. I’m right in the middle of the Sunset (on 21st Ave), cradling the Inner and the Outer halves of it. It’s a drastic and incredibly different San Francisco than Soma. Missing are the crack addicts, the crack dealers, the wife beaters and the insane. They’ve been replaced by families and kids on bicycles and very long Muni rides. On the plus side, it’s an easy neighborhood to get around on, I’m fronting the park (and only a 15 minute walk to the de Young or the Botanical Gardens) and there are quite a few Muni lines (metro and bus) available. Given all that, it still doesn’t feel like my San Francisco.

Speaking of Muni rides, I gave my car to my sister about a month ago and have been totally reliant on public transportation to get to and from work. It’s quite a commute, about 2h15m each way. I leave the house around 8am, catch either the 16AX or 16BX on Lincoln and wind down across the park, past the panhandle, thru the city’s core. If I was unlucky (which I normally am) and got on a 16AX, I get off at 4th and Market and wait (a very random amount of time) to catch a 30 or a 45 to the CalTrain station. If I happened upon a 16BX, it goes all the way (except for today, where I got on a 16BX and it stopped at 4th and Market). Then it’s another hour by train, and then from the Mountain View train station, a shuttle ride to work. Door to door? A little over two hours.

My move to Shanghai is right around the corner, it’s this Friday. I’ll soon write a little more on my apartment I have rented in Shanghai and just some more on all that.

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Back Online

I’ve finally got internet access back up and running so my blog and RedYawning are both back up at my new apartment in San Francisco. Lots to update about, but I’ll save that for tomorrow.

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