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Jian Shuo Visits San Jose (Again) Dec 1, 2006
Hope this is not too surprising. I am visiting San Jose again from Dec 3 to Dec 10. This time, I transit in Tokyo. In the last few weeks, I went to U.S., stayed for 10 days, went back, and stayed for 2 weeks, and then will visit U.S. again, and will stay for one week, and then fly back to Shanghai. I am just like a clock... Ding dong, Ding dong ~~~ Jet lag can be tough for me....
Three Services I don't Use in China Nov 13, 2006
There are several services that I very seldom use in China, but I use it frequently in the bay area. 1. Google Map and Driving Direction I don't use map as frequently as here. I need to check Google Map once or twice every single day to get driving directions. In Shanghai or even in other cities in China, to check an online map is just for fun - to checkout something I am so familiar and see what the...
University Ave Day Nov 12, 2006
Buck's Restaurant Buck's Restaurant seems really popular. We went there for lunch, saw many people waited in line and it would take 40 more minutes to get a seat. Finally gave up. I saw the Google Plate Tina talked about, with a tag line: "We are too dumb to buy Google stock, but we bought the plate". University Cafe at University Ave Stayed for the whole afternoon in the university cafe. It is not bad. The next time, I can...
Missed the Lecture on Stanford Nov 11, 2006
On eBay Park The eBay Park on Hamilton Ave is a great place. I had full day meeting with buddies here, and it was nice. I found out some good food in the cafeteria - chicken with steamed rice. It is so nice to finally find some food I enjoy. Meeting with Friend at Night I managed to drive from Hamilton Ave up to Sushitomi Restaurant in Mountain View. Silicon Valley has so many small cities like Mountain View, which...
Jet Lag? Finally Found Out the Cure Nov 11, 2006
This is the second day of my trip. Just some random note about this long day, in several different entries. Jet Lag? Finally Found Out the Cure I am a typical jet lag person. Every time I fly west bound from Shanghai, I experienced serious jet lag. Jet Lag Patterns My Most Serious Jet Lag Ever I followed the advice from my friends and books not to sleep at day time no matter how sleepy I am, and wait until...
My Lifeline on the Little Plastic Card Nov 10, 2006
My first visit to U.S. was around the year of2000. I prepared for the trip for almost 1 month - from visa, to map, to research, to exchange money, and to create plan... The excitement and curiosity made going aboard very different from going to other city to me. However, after visiting U.S. for more than 10 times, to visit a U.S. city is not a big deal any more. It is just like a Beijing trip (and a Beijing...
Getting U.S. Visa in China May 19, 2006
This is part of a series article: From Shanghai to US - A Handbook. These articles are to help my friends (obviously in Shanghai) to plan their first time visit to U.S. To be concise, I only outline information that I think helpful for this group of people. So don't be surprised if it left some important information outside the scope. The most critical, and troublesome step to go to the States is the Visa application and interview process. Let...
Renting a Car in U.S. May 5, 2006
This is part of a series article: From Shanghai to US - A Handbook. These articles are to help my friends (obviously in Shanghai) to plan their first time visit to U.S. To be concise, I only outline information that I think helpful for this group of people. So don't be surprised if it left some important information outside the scope. I will cover about grand transportation about people from China arrives in U.S. later, but this time, I will...
Flight From Shanghai to U.S. May 4, 2006
This is part of a series article: From Shanghai to US - A Handbook. These articles are to help my friends (obviously in Shanghai) to plan their first time visit to U.S. To be concise, I only outline information that I think helpful for this group of people. So don't be surprised if it left some important information outside the scope. To go to U.S. from Shanghai, there are not too much choices of flight. If you visit San Francisco,...
From Shanghai to US - A Handbook Apr 30, 2006
I am writing this short guide to friends who are going to U.S. for the first time. What I did in the last few years is a little bit different. I used to introduce Shanghai to first time visitors from foreign countries. To be honest, most of the articles answer questions I received from email, from my foriegn friends. For other topics, I just imagine what people may encounter, since I don't have first hand experience about how the life...
I Feel Like a Rabbit when I Eat Salad Apr 22, 2005
The stay in San Jose is great and food is generally good at large and beauniful cafetera at the community building. There are several different counters for food and they offer many options of daily special. For me, as for many Chinese visitors to the State, to order food is not easy. I like to order food with "this" or "that". The name of Chinese food and western food is different. The name of the Chinese food tent to very...
When Jian Shuo Leaves his Car (in CA) Apr 22, 2005
It is not a big deal in Shanghai when I don't have a car. The life is the same, and sometimes, I have even more freedom than having a car if the destination is in downtown Shanghai. In San Jose, I missed Goudaner so much. The problem is, my driver's license is with it. The morning for my flight to SFO, I wake up, packed everything and walked to my car to get my driver's license (the secret is, I...
A Chinese Blogger in America Feb 18, 2005
I was called a Chinese Blogger in America. :-D The third installment of my audio blog in America was on air at KQED and other radio stations in U.S. Click the audio archive and click the a Chinese blogger in America (Part 3) to listen. BTW, I have started to write on my Chinese blog. I suggested Christina not to write on two blogs, since I rarely see someone who successfully manage more than one blog. There will be a...
Things to Prepare for Visiting U.S. Jan 5, 2005
For people to visit U.S. from China, I guess the following items are necessary to survive. I am trying to keep this list as short as possible and only list the most important stuff. I will ignore obvious things like cloth and passport... This list applies to those who travel from U.S. or Europe to China as well since the difference is in two directions. Travel Plug Converter Not only the voltage differs between China (220 Volt) and U.S.(110 Volt)....
Chinatowns in U.S. Dec 24, 2004
The travel is perfect, except the food. I am sorry but I still cannot enjoy the food in America. I tried different types of foods according to the recommendation from local listing, but I cannot find a good one for me. After eating American food for two days, I am feeling like I eat the food on the airplane everyday. You may imagine the feeling – hungry but don’t want to eat, eat but still feel hungry. I tried to...
U.S. Trip Update Dec 1, 2004
Wendy got her U.S. visa smoothly. Not many questions were asked at the visa office. The only exception is, the printer to print the U.S. visa broke down again so she needs to get her visa the next day. We also booked flight tickets. Both of us fly with United Airlines. It seems Northwest is better but there are no seats available on the date we fly. Although we fly to U.S. on different date and different flight, we go...
UA858 PVG - SFO Nov 29, 2004
UA858 United Airlines UA858 is a symbol. It connects two important cities (Shanghai and San Fransisco) in China and the States. Millions of passengers visit U.S. via this flight. All of my previous trip to the States was via UA858. It is often the starting point of many stories. If I were an artist or novelist, I will definite create something around this flight. I didn't see arts or literature for this flight. At least I didn't see one in...
I Got my U.S. Visa Nov 15, 2004
I went to American Consulate for Visa interview and (I hate it) leave my fingerprint there. I waited four hours to get my visa, among which, one hour was spent outside the building, in the cold winter wind. I arrived at the gate of the Westgate Building, 1038 Nanjing West Road at around 1:00 PM, waited there in a long line (about 100 people) for one hour. The afternoon session mainly opens to American Chamber of Commerce Corporate Member employees....
Jian Shuo Wang is Going to U.S. Nov 12, 2004
Breaking news! Jian Shuo Wang is going to U.S. I will attend a business meeting in Seattle from Dec 7 to Dec 9, 2004. After that, I will start my vacation, the longest vacation since I graduated. I will be in America for two more weeks and get back to Shanghai after X’mas. My vacation will expire by the end of this year so I have to use it up quickly. My current project happens to end by the end...
U.S. Paused All Visa Application in China Apr 29, 2004
My friend is in bad mood these days. His visa application to U.S. was rejected so he cannot attend TechEd 2004 in San Diego. This is the second time he missed the chance due to Visa problems. Visa is one of the biggest barriers for people to go out of the country. I heard it is due to SARS, but it is not confirmed. There is no report on this on major international media, but many of them reported "Illegal...
Flying over the Pacific Nov 11, 2002
I saw more and more island about 2 hours after the plan took off in Shanghai I thought "It should be a good place to travel when I have time. It may be cheap. :-)" Later, when we went more and more closer, I saw buildings, ports, and highways. "Why are there so modem architectures on these island? It is already far from the mainland." Finally, I realized these island are not normal island in the East China sea....
Applying a U.S. Visia Oct 31, 2002
U.S. Non-Immigrant Visa fee rises and form format changed after 9-11. I can feel it when I fill in the visa application form today.

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