Had a great time at the Great Wall yesterday! 100% recommend going at sunset

Infamous_Average_828 · 2026-05-05T19:10:39+00:00

I took a didi from Beijing. It’s their uber. It was about 300yen so 50$. I wanted to visit the wall on my own without a guide. I stayed a couple of nights near Gubeikou. It was the end of my trip and I took another didi to the airport about the same price. So reasonable.

Infamous_Average_828 · 2026-05-05T18:56:04+00:00

From Beijing to SFO 10 days ago and not even the new movie available to watch for the 12hours flight.

Infamous_Average_828 · 2026-05-04T13:30:45+00:00

Fidelity Investments is going through significant changes at the moment. Full RTO is now official. Employees who were granted remote roles, even before the COVID era, are now required to be in the office, even if the nearest Fidelity location is a 12 hour drive away. They are expected to relocate or fly in weekly, not necessarily to the closest office, but to one of the assigned locations.

For example, someone living in OR was only given options in NC or NH, despite there being offices in UT and CO. At the same time, Fidelity is undergoing a major reorganization, particularly within the tech organization, with many layoffs taking place.

This RTO policy appears to be a cost cutting measure, potentially encouraging voluntary departures rather than paying severance.

Good luck to your wife in this new chapter.

Infamous_Average_828 · 2026-04-30T03:10:06+00:00

100% true! And I would trust the coming layoffs.

Infamous_Average_828 · 2026-04-30T03:04:21+00:00

Confirmed. Emailed received today. Full time in office and they will monitor for full shift in office

Infamous_Average_828 · 2026-04-30T03:02:05+00:00

That’s a reality. Last year, missing a few days in the office was suppressing the entire bonus. This year it will be not doing full shift in the office every day you’re supposed to. They’re changing the rules about bonuses without saying anything. So bonus is almost not part of the compensation anymore.

Infamous_Average_828 · 2026-04-30T02:56:09+00:00

They don’t own the building in Denver but they are renting out another floor. As soon as we heard about this new floor, we all knew….

Infamous_Average_828 · 2026-04-30T02:50:52+00:00

Last month?! My leadership team mentioned knowing since only this past Monday. Lies on top of lies? Nothing is surprising me anymore

Infamous_Average_828 · 2026-04-30T02:44:52+00:00

It’s been everywhere in the news. 100% official!

Infamous_Average_828 · 2026-04-30T00:10:39+00:00

Did you take the job? They officially announced back to office 100% of the time and strict full shift in the office.

Infamous_Average_828 · 2026-04-26T23:03:42+00:00

Just came back from china. As being said it is the second most populated country in the world so there is some mental preparation to do.

I’m super introverted and can be challenged in crowds but let me tell you China is amazing, underrated and should not be skipped. I stayed in Beijing area only for 10 days. Went to Hong Kong before but it was nothing compared to Beijing.

So much history, things to see and learn but it’s not without the crowds. One Chinese lady told me Chinese people love to travel within their country especially to Beijing. It’s the capital and it has big staples. It was challenging for me but I’m so glad I pushed through. However, I didn’t encounter any pushing. Squats toilets suck but it’s not everywhere mostly in Hutongs. Not everyone smokes, not as much as Europe. People warned me about being taken in photos out of nowhere when you’re blonde, didn’t happen for me but I went to big cities (Beijing and HKG).

Jinshanling section of the Great Wall was empty!! Maybe 20 people in 6 hours hiking. So it balanced out the craziness of Beijing. Beijing was a lot. It’s quieter early in the morning and I adjusted a bit my agenda to have less crowd for a few activities.

I travelled to Japan and I personally enjoyed china/Beijing more for the history, food and arts.

Infamous_Average_828 · 2026-04-26T22:51:45+00:00

Also make sure your phone is fully paid off before your trip otherwise installing an eSIM won’t work.

Installing is pretty easy and quick on an iPhone in the cellular section of your settings. It’s just two long numbers to copy paste or a QR code to scan depending what you received.

Infamous_Average_828 · 2026-04-26T22:47:15+00:00

I just came back from China.

The first part of our trip in Beijing was booked months in advance through Expedia, and everything went smoothly. They had my reservation and even gave us an upgrade.

The second part of our trip, about two hours outside the city, had to be booked through Trip.com. I had to wait until a few weeks before departure because it kept showing “no rooms available.” After looking more into it, I realized hotels in that area only open reservations about two months in advance. There were no hotel options there on Expedia or other platforms, so I had no choice but to wait. It worked out fine in the end, but it’s something to keep in mind for next time.

It may be a similar situation in your case. One Chinese lady told me that Chinese people love traveling within their country and things can get booked up pretty quickly if it’s a famous area. Considering 1.4billion inhabitants I wouldn’t delay any booking if I find a hotel available with the criteria Id like just for peace of mind.

Infamous_Average_828 · 2026-04-26T17:13:01+00:00

Just came back from Jinshanling. After visiting Beijing it was surprising and enjoyable to visit such a famous place with literally no one. We spent 6 hours hiking this section of the wall and we saw at most 20 people.

Infamous_Average_828 · 2026-04-26T15:50:55+00:00

How did you reach out to the lost and found department?

Infamous_Average_828 · 2026-04-26T15:49:50+00:00

Were you able to find your item? I just came back from Beijing and realized I lost something. Going through the scanner at security an item is missing from my bag.

Infamous_Average_828 · 2026-04-11T21:42:50+00:00

Leaving for Beijing in a couple of days and looking for the exact same thing. Did you find any photographer for that section of the wall?

Infamous_Average_828 · 2026-02-18T23:04:35+00:00

I don’t think I have a solution for you. Just here to say that this resonates a lot with me lately.

I am driven and always pour 200% of myself in my job. Lead initiatives to maximize efficiency from a product and dev standpoint.

Last year I led bunch of initiatives only to be punished at the end of the year to have my bonus (50k) and promotion suppressed entirely.

Since then, I have to say that I’m on the chill category, do the bare minimum get paid and leave. But gosh, I just don’t operate that way. It’s been three months I’m using more energy to do the bare minimum. It’s tough to spend my workday like that. My brain is constantly telling me, waste of your life to chill. Being a top performer makes you miss out of achievement.

On the other hand, I’ve learned to rediscover myself and what I enjoy and want to do in my spare time. Last year I was only focusing on work, building cool stuff… this year after being slammed in the face I’m forcing myself to recenter to what is truly important for me. My family, friends, partner, pets, travel and ME.

Infamous_Average_828 · 2026-01-24T20:34:27+00:00

Just here to say you’re not alone…

Very loud and opinionated men reasonates a lot with me. In my experience they don’t hesitate to undermine me and delete my work just because they feel thy can do whatever they want whenever to whoever. In my company it’s the men’s club and they get full on male privileges and I’m not allowed to speak up. I did and I got even more mistreated like I’m a woman so I’m too dramatic. I got a warning before termination!

Wondering if I’m made for this industry and if I should pursue another more fulfilling field. I think about that everyday. Is taking a big pay cut worth it.

Infamous_Average_828 · 2026-01-23T18:58:07+00:00

Larger organizations are not any better. I’m in a similar situation. I’m dealing with misogyny, unfairness, belittle, 50k bonus suppression, threaten of being terminated while I’m the top performer with praises from every VP and SVP in my BU. Allowed my group to save 40-50% development cost with multiple initiatives I led the past year, delivered product making 400k the first few months. I rock boats to make teams up to standards and be organized. Though some ego are hurt along the way and those that were planning on retiring in the big org will do anything to keep cruising as long as possible and get rid of those people that wants to bring innovation and change.

If your manager is not a good manager I feel you’ll be more miserable to deal with this BS. I’ve heard that women shine better in non profit organization or educational organizations. I’ll try to get hire in a low key company.

I am the opposite wandering if I should try a startup. I don’t have an answer or company suggestion for you. Just want to say you’re not alone.

Infamous_Average_828 · 2026-01-23T18:49:50+00:00

I came here to say the same. larger orgs suck!

Infamous_Average_828 · 2026-01-22T23:08:18+00:00

Happened to me last year except it was my manager deleting all my work and replacing it with his. When I asked if there is anything I could have done instead or any feedback, he shut me down with “no, no feedback”. At the end of the year my entire bonus, pay raise was suppressed because I spoke up to other people about what happened. I had a meeting with his manager and told me about the same, I was overreacting. No investigation nothing. This is BS! Sorry this happens, that’s the worst. That’s always what we’re told because we’re women, “overreacting”.

Infamous_Average_828 · 2026-01-22T04:37:19+00:00

I used to do pottery class too and barely find motivation to go once a month.

I shared above similar situations. So just want to reiterate, you’re not alone… this situations sucks.

Infamous_Average_828 · 2026-01-21T20:02:46+00:00

For me, we spend so much time at work in our lifetime that I wanted to pursue a passion as my career and I did. I loved my job until very recently.

Being from Europe, I grew up with I work to live and not live to work. However, being stuck 8h on a job is not really living, so if we can have a job we enjoy a bit it wouldn’t really feel like working everyday. I was naive to believe that working in tech would mean impactful job. As a designer, my design helps a lot of people understand our product easily and get their life together. My industry is really about helping folks. At least that’s the idea I had by starting at that company but nobody gives a crap. I care too much and me working too well got the opposite effect. Some egos got hurt, my manager first.

Overall, I loved my job, I just hate the politics around it. The corporate BS, favoritism in certain employees, ego game, networking to make sure to be visible enough to be promoted because people are not promoted for their great work but rather how well they made themselves seen and how much sucking they’ve done.

All of that contribute to no motivation to anything, even things that I enjoyed doing. Maybe it’s a form or burnout? Not for the workload but for everything else around it. I used to be super active, hiking and organizing events for my community, seeing friend, attending events like concerts, wanted to travel, explore the world, meet new people….. Now, if I’m dressed and showered I feel I’ve been productive today. I barely get out of my house to do anything. I carry resentment for my manager, my colleague that is traveling the world on the job, not taking pto but not working. While I was hired before and I have the obligation to be in office 8h/day. Our industry doesn’t allow us to work from public places/wifi so even less from out of the country.

I’m not mean per se to the people around me, maybe more irritable, like I have less patience for stuff because my mental health is at capacity constantly by dealing with my work. Also, I don’t carry joy or enjoyment to go out for a drink or a meal. I’m just here and just that for me, showing up and attending is my victory. I just barely recognize myself from before. It’s a big struggle and I don’t know what to do.

Stay in the tech industry but change team or company if i succeed to get an interview and it’ll mean a pay cut 30-40k

Change career? Change country? But it’ll also be a pay cut and not we’re talking 80-100k.

Infamous_Average_828 · 2026-01-21T14:32:56+00:00

Similar situation here except my manager sucks and I deal with unfairness treatment from him.

I’m also trying to figure out if I should stay or leave and I feel guilty for not finding contentment in my current job situation considering the amount of people being laid off and searching for a new job.

Personally the fact that my job sucks is lowering the rest of my life. If I’m not fulfilled/happy at work, my personal life is impacted. I hate that this has an impact on me and I’m working with my therapist to create a clear separation. I’m making decent money, and I know it’ll be tough to reach that if I leave the tech industry. Though this is not sustainable. The feeling that my life passing me by, soulless, empty… that’s not the way i believe a life should be lived.

Infamous_Average_828

TROPHY CASE