Leaderboard

In Changzhou City, Jiangsu Province, the Omicron Covid is all over the place. People here seem much more receptive to it. "You're going to get it" is the theme, then a little giggle or smile. My wife has flipped from being so paranoid mask wearing cautious traveling in the USA, to wanting me to get exposed and get over with it, the attitude I had from the beginning. I got out of quarantine just to have her pick me up with her having a fever starting. She had a miserable time for a day and a half with a high fever and a bit senseless. They have some wonder pills floating around my wife's sports office her boss sent over, that made her really feel better. Now she is better. Her Handball teams are sick or have been sick. We went to buy me a Chinese phone and the store was closed. Banks couldn't exchange currency because too many out sick. Instead of the government shutting stuff down, the people are just home sick not able to work. It's all self-quarantine and decision making. Everyone is happier. Schools are functioning the best they can instead of just forced closings. My Beijing Rep in China seems a little more cautious, and he says other customers are cautious, like over in Xian. He and his family of wife and 2 sons all got Omicron and just got over it. It hit him hard with high fever for a day, and his throat couldn't speak. He is much better now, but he says he still tests positive and can't, or won't, travel until it reads negative. So, I have no idea when we will see customers, AND, that will be privately over lunch or dinner, rather than visiting in their office. My Travel: Advice: Have WeChat app on your phone and learn how to scan a QR code coming to China. Know the complete address and Chinese phone number of a frind where you're going in China and keep it handy for all the code forms. Keep your mobile phone charged. VPN already on your laptop. If possible, a way to pay for things by scanning a QR Code, as I never would have made it through the hotels if not for my wife already in China. Bring snacks if you have this quarantine business, which is supposed to end in January. Overall everyone, especially fellow passengers really warm and friendly. No hostility toward an American. I arrived in Shanghai from the USA on Dec 13. We had to land in Soule Korea to change the crew who would take us on in. No passenger allowed off. Now all this QR Code business is ridiculous, but OK be patient... A green moving code to get on the plane from covid test center and the Chinese Embassy in D.C. approving. I arrive at DFW Airport just to get notified I need a BLACK QR Code too. OK thankfully Lele there to help, since it was in Chinese. Fly to Shanghai, where long blocked off paths weaving through the airport to an up the nose covid test taken. More paths and I got met by another black QR code needed, so I manage to fill that out on the phone low on electricity. Then bussed to a hotel where yet another QR Code awaited me. One Chinese girl passenger could speak English and was very helpful, as was everyone actually. It took 5 hours to get out of the Pudong airport and on the bus. I guess another hour on the bus. Got to hotel too late for dinner. 3 days in Shanghai, with a hotel that the heater worked all night, Wow. Bussed to a transfer station in Jiangsu Province, according to which city you were going. Took most of the day but got to Changzhou for a very upscale hotel from the 1930s or so, that was fairly wore down. Heat turned off at night and I complained and it worked all the next night. Dec 18 I was released. A security monitor was already on the door of her apartment, awaiting my arrival. It was supposed to be there for 3 days, but the rules must have changed again as it was removed the following day and I was free. 6 days, instead of the planned 8. No one here seems to care about testing or staying inside. Just go ahead and spread. Weird I meet people like myself.