In preparation for the quickly approaching summer when I will finally leave for China, I decided to change InChina’s look. Notably, I wanted to integrate some pictures into the template and include a simple gallery. For reasons of practicality (mobile blogging, posting from web café’s etc) I am going to be relying on Flickr to host my blog photos.

I have therefore adopted the TypoXP Wordpress theme but have made changes to it, narrowing the sidebar and integrating a Flickr “badge” which shows the last 8 photos I have. For the time being, as I am not yet in China, I have simply uploaded 8 random pictures of Chinese tourist attractions just to make things pretty. I have also integrated a gallery, powered by FlickrViewer, which shows you the latest photos from China.

All in all, I’m pleased with the new look and don’t currently plan to make further changes. I may well use the same template on my other Wordpress blogs to remain consistent. The only thing that remains on the agenda is to do some test posts via email and mobile phone. I would love to hear what you think of the new design, your comments are appreciated!

Jono

As I am planning on traveling around China for a while before I settle down as a student at Capital Normal University in Beijing, I am faced with a problem. Whilst I will want my Computer, Books and some other hefty belongings with me for my year abroad, I certainly don’t intend to travel around with them in my rucksack. Furthermore, with some rather heavy Spanish and French dictionaries in my bag, I’ll almost certainly be over the weight limit at the airport. A solution is required (and quickly!).

It so happens that at our most recent year abroad meeting, some students brought to my attention the Worldwide Shipping and Storage company, Seven Seas Worldwide. This company provides door-to-port or door-to-door shipping internationally, both by air and by sea. Furthermore, the company also offers storage services. This looks like it could be just my thing. My intention is to send a shipment of my non-essential belongings to China before I leave. By sea, this will take about 8 weeks, by which time I will have settled into my student-accommodation and will be ready for the academic year. If the shipment arrives early, I can request for it to be put into storage until I need it. Problem Solved!

Its now official! My application to Beijing Capital Normal University has been filled in and is soon to be (or maybe already) sent off in the post. There’s no backing out. Despite original indecision between going to Taipei in Taiwan or Beijing/Tianjin in China, the decision has now been made.

This means that I can now start getting on with making some travel arrangements and booking accommodation. As I intend to leave for China in early July, I will need to sort out visas, book flights and find some accommodation. My current plan is to get over there, settle in in a hostel for a couple of weeks then join my family who are coming over to travel for a while. After the traveling is over, it will almost be time for the university semester to begin, at which point I will move into student residences, at least for the first month.

There are still some minor headaches; for example I am not yet sure how I will shift all my stuff over there (books, computer, etc) and have no idea what to do with it while I am traveling, putting it in airport storage could be an option. Visa’s could also be troublesome as I am going to be both traveling and studying; I have heard it is possible to set off from Britain on a tourist visa and later convert to a student visa whilst in Beijing, I need to check whether or not this is possible.

As for the moment, I am starting to look around for flights and of course, I’m reading my travel guide to give me some ideas. Most important of all, I’m working hard at my Chinese so that I can communicate when I get over there!

More updates soon!

Jono