[clay dube]

Hi Folks, The current though still tentative version of the itinerary is attached.

[clay dube]

Linda -- I would avoid bringing a laptop. In China we'll be using trains and buses and there's considerable risk of damage or losing the beast. I think that it's a better idea to bring memory cards and, as needed, to have shops make cds for you.

Ana and others, on the megapixel front, I think you can get great shots without the latest gear. All the photography shops suggest 6 mp is enough for sharp 8x10 prints. Some cameras come with a nice variety of preset modes (one Sony I've seen had one for "food") that automatically adjust a number of settings.

One feature my camera (a large Olympus beast) has that I find essential is a viewfinder. In bright light, I find it difficult to use most of the video screens now found on digital cameras. We will often be taking photos outdoors and in bright light (using sweaty palms....). I wish my camera had a stronger optical zoom like those I've seen on some Kodaks (10 times). And image stabilization seems like a feature worth having (it wasn't common when I bought my camera two years ago). Business Week's 3/27 issue has a comparison of cameras with image stabilization.

I think the future belongs to digital cameras, but it isn't necessary to buy one for this trip. If you've got a film camera that you know how to use, it will do just fine. Virtually all photo services will scan your images on to a disk for you, so you needn't suffer from email or web displayed photo-envy. It's the eye of the photographer that ultimately matters most.

We shouldn't let taking pictures get in the way of SEEING. A friend of mine said the best thing about a 6 month trip he made to Africa was having his camera fall under a truck tire after the first month. "It was liberating," he said, explaining that instead of taking pictures to show others, he concentrated on really looking at things, trying to imprint them deep into his mind. I'd have bought another camera, but I take him at his word. He was liberated to concentrate on the experience of being there rather than thinking about how he would show the experience to his friends.

Having written all this, I know that most of us intend to take photos and perhaps video to use with our students. And I can attest to the power of being able to say to students, "when I took this..."[Edit by="Clay Dube on Mar 22, 6:29:33 AM"][/Edit]

[clay dube]

Hi Folks,
Yes -- I've been told repeated that no seats will be assigned until we show up at the ticket counter. This is lunacy, but I was told that the airlines only assign 40% of the seats prior to the day of the flight. It may be worth trying again on Tuesday, March 28, but my guess is that they'll be seating 19 of us at the gate. Rosemary and Barbara are leaving today.

Just to emphasize that I've gotten the same story everywhere:
-- our local travel agent
-- United
-- United Mileage Plus
-- LAX United ticket counter
-- Oakland United ticket counter

Let's all plan to show up at the United counter early. I'll be there at 7:45 with everyone's passports.

[clay dube]

Here are Weather Underground updates for our destinations:

Beijing

Xi'an

Shanghai

Weather Channel
Luoyang

[clay dube]

Many of us will stay in touch with others from China and Japan via email. It's cheaper and , given the time difference and phone card hassles, much easier. Most internet cafes are cheap and they are readily located. In some cases, bargains exist right within our hotels.

Please be sure that you set up at least one email account using a free service. This will enable you to easily communicate with family and friends from the road. Many of these will permit you to read your pop3 mail (e.g., your district or other account) as well (you'll need to set this up in advance as you'll need to know your server address).

I have used Yahoo mail for years and find that it works quite well. Features include spell checking, effective spam filtering, and automatic virus scanning.

http://www.my.yahoo.com

Google mail is also excellent (click here), but you may need someone who already has it to "invite" you to sign up.

Hotmail is Microsoft's offering (http://www.hotmail.com).

Others:
Excite

FastMail

Advanced

If you are setting up a Yahoo or Google account, you can also add UCLA Asia Institute and other news to your My Yahoo or Google homepage.

For Yahoo here's what you add under "rss feed": http://add.my.yahoo.com/rss?url=http://www.international.ucla.edu/asia/rss/rss.asp

For Google here's the rss feed: http://international.ucla.edu/asia/rss/rss.asp

[clay dube]

Many of us will stay in touch with others during the trip via email. It's cheaper and , given the time difference and phone card hassles, much easier. Most internet cafes are cheap and they are readily located. In some cases, bargains exist right within our hotels.

Please be sure that you set up at least one email account using a free service. This will enable you to easily communicate with family and friends from the road. Many of these will permit you to read your pop3 mail (e.g., your district or other account) as well (you'll need to set this up in advance as you'll need to know your server address).

I have used Yahoo mail for years and find that it works quite well. Features include spell checking, effective spam filtering, and automatic virus scanning.

http://www.my.yahoo.com

Google mail is also excellent (click here), but you may need someone who already has it to "invite" you to sign up.

Hotmail is Microsoft's offering (http://www.hotmail.com).

Others:
Excite

FastMail

Advanced

If you are setting up a Yahoo or Google account, you can also add UCLA Asia Institute and other news to your My Yahoo or Google homepage.

For Yahoo here's what you add under "rss feed": http://add.my.yahoo.com/rss?url=http://www.international.ucla.edu/asia/rss/rss.asp

For Google here's the rss feed: http://international.ucla.edu/asia/rss/rss.asp

[clay dube]

It's probably a good idea to stock up on film prior to heading to China (if you use a film camera). Piracy is a huge problem in China and it's possible that you'd be getting fake Kodak or Fuji film, even if you are purchasing it in a large hotel or shop. On the other hand, it is readily available, so don't fret too much about running out.

Digital photographers should take advantage of sales to get memory cards to take along. Pick up a Sunday paper (3/19) for the CompUSA ad and you can get PNY 512 mb Compact Flash or Secure Digital cards for $10 (after the usual instant savings and mail-in rebate). This is a terrific deal. Memory cards tend to be cheaper here than in China or Japan.

In China and Japan, many photo shops can copy your photos from your cards to cd-roms. You can get your photos printed out cheaply in China.

[clay dube]

Hi Folks,
Courtney is correct - don't set the clock ticking just yet. They'll give you a visa valid to enter China within the next three months. Please wait until after the orientation to get the visa. It is a two day operation, but individuals don't need to be present to request or receive the visa.

What we'll do is have everyone bring the following to the orientation:

-- valid passport (must be valid through September and must have at least 2 blank pages for the visa and endorsements)
-- the completed form,
-- one visa photo,
-- $50 cash for the fee

We'll take the materials to the consulate after the orientation and pick them up a week later. For the Northern CA folks, we'll mail you the passport; for the Southern CA folks, we'll return yours to you at the airport prior to departure.

Of course, you are welcome to handle this on your own by going to the consulate. You'll certainly enjoy the look of the visa, complete with the Tiananmen seal.

[clay dube]

This repeats what we've said several times over the past weeks. Please note, however, that the website does offer excellent ideas on staying healthy while traveling.

The US Centers for Disease Control maintains websites with recommendations for travelers. The East Asia page is at (and you can make your own links "hot" as well by clicking on the "link" image in the editing bar and typing the link in there):

http://www.cdc.gov/travel/eastasia.htm

CDC offers the following recommended vaccinations:
Hepatitis A (immune globulin)
This is the only vaccination I routinely get.

As warranted:
Hepatitis B
Japanese encephalitis
Malaria
Rabies
Typhoid
Tetanus-diptheria and measles booster

Given our itinerary, I think that you may wish to get a typhoid shot and to check on your tetanus-diptheria/measles status. If we were to stay longer and spend a lot of time in rural areas, I might also recommend Hepatitis B and encephalitis vaccinations, but we'll be on a fairly well-beaten path.

The page gives information on many other issues. Please visit it.

[clay dube]

It wasn't long ago that getting photos for passports and visas took time and about $15/two prints. Now Costco offers them for $5.40. I'm sure other retailers are doing the same. Go get that passport!

[clay dube]

Hi Folks,
Our friends at the Korean Cultural Center are offering a weeklong seminar this July 24-28. I'd seize on the opportunity. Mary Conner, author of one of the units in your binder, is the coordinator. In applying, please be sure to tell her you've worked with us and are participating at our recommendation. I'll post the sign-up info tomorrow.

[clay dube]

Lara's point about music is a great one. I don't teach music, but like others I frequently use it to try to create a particular atmosphere. We're not certain what much early Chinese music sounded like, but we have plenty of music from the last century that can be utilized to shake things up a bit. Like putting characters up on the board or on handouts, it reminds our students that there are many ways to write, to express, and to entertain.

[clay dube]

The article mentioned above can be read (for a little while, anyway) at the LA Times website --

click here

[clay dube]

The Chinese consulate in LA has information on tourist visas to China:
http://losangeles.china-consulate.org/eng/visa/chinavisa/t27605.htm

I have attached (as a pdf) a copy of the visa form. Please complete it and bring it to the next session (March 11) along with the required photo.

Notes for questions:
12 - tourist visit
13 - Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, Luoyang, Suzhou
16 - 14 days (under 1st entry)
17 - regular
18 - various tourist sites

[clay dube]

Liza Dalby, the American who became a geisha as part of her doctoral dissertation fieldwork, published Geisha in 1998. It is currently on sale for $10 at the UC Press website. Check out the site for reviews.

http://www.ucpress.edu/books/sale/pages/8427.html

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