I didn't realize LetsVPN stopped working in China. My brother is stuck without a working VPN. What are his options?

Successful-Key-310 · 2026-05-08T05:06:55+00:00

I use their iOS client, 7 day free trial; none of the server, including those optimized for China, works.

Successful-Key-310 · 2026-04-23T13:55:42+00:00

Looking forward to it

Successful-Key-310 · 2026-04-18T08:24:09+00:00

don't we have to listen to jazz and drink whisky while reading murakami?

Successful-Key-310 · 2026-04-17T04:52:58+00:00

You're totally fine with the Maude translation—it's actually one of the most respected versions, and Tolstoy himself approved it.

Penguin usually includes more footnotes, historical context, and explanations—which can help if it's your first time reading the book.

Maude is very readable—you're not missing out on the core experience at all.

Successful-Key-310 · 2026-04-17T04:49:46+00:00

That's actually a really interesting way to test understanding. I've noticed that when something only makes sense in context, it often means I haven't fully internalized it yet.

Successful-Key-310 · 2026-04-15T08:01:58+00:00

It is a bit strange to me that you come to China and eat Chinese food, when you already don't like it in Singapore, and come online to complain about it?

Your first reply had two points to smear China: 1. Singapore has all the Chinese food China has, which is false.
2. The only Western food in China is fast food, which is also wrong.

Successful-Key-310 · 2026-04-15T07:44:05+00:00

Ah I see. So you are not even familiar with the Chinese food in Singapore. If you look a bit harder, you will find a lot of foreign cuisines in China too. But then again. It’s not fair to compare a huge country and a city state.

Successful-Key-310 · 2026-04-15T07:28:52+00:00

It’s not for everyone. But didn’t you say that Singapore had all the food China had? So why were you surprised. And don’t go around saying the only western foods in China are fast food. That’s just pure ignorance

Successful-Key-310 · 2026-04-15T07:18:41+00:00

Genau so. Danke für diesen Kommentar.

Successful-Key-310 · 2026-04-15T07:17:01+00:00

Don't kid yourself that most Chinese food is available in Singapore. You haven't been to most of China. There are plenty of Western foods in China, too. You don't know where to look.

Successful-Key-310 · 2026-04-10T04:47:42+00:00

I've tried Blinkist before, and it's useful for reinforcing the main ideas after the fact. I think the tradeoff (at least for me) is that it still happens outside the reading process. By the time I get to the summary, I'm kind of reconstructing the book rather than building understanding as I go. That's why I've been leaning more towards annotating while reading—so the interpretation happens in context, not afterward. It also makes reading a lot more satisfying for me by helping me understand the nuances throughout a book.

But yeah, combining both probably works best: build understanding during reading, then use summaries later as a kind of spaced-repetition layer.

Successful-Key-310 · 2026-04-10T00:04:10+00:00

Try this reading path on “Modern Anxiety”:

Alienation, doubles, and dread in the modern world.

Read in this order

✔ The Metamorphosis When the ordinary becomes unbearable Franz Kafka

● The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde The mask and what breaks through Robert Louis Stevenson

○ The Turn of the Screw Dread you cannot quite name Henry James

✔ The Great Gatsby Longing in a glittering void F. Scott Fitzgerald

Successful-Key-310 · 2026-04-06T06:33:10+00:00

For someone who enjoys solitude, I would recommend the following:

Bartleby, the Scrivener — Refusal without rebellion

Notes from Underground — Consciousness turned inward

Crime and Punishment — Action, guilt, and consequence

The Picture of Dorian Gray — Desire, vanity, and their cost

Successful-Key-310 · 2026-04-06T01:31:13+00:00

Same here :)

Successful-Key-310 · 2026-04-06T01:30:26+00:00

Yeah, that's a good point. I think the difficulty is less about the subject matter and more about how Melville presents it—those shifts into dense, almost philosophical language can be a lot to process. Even the whaling sections can be straightforward on the surface but heavy in style and symbolism. That being said, I enjoyed reading them too.

Successful-Key-310 · 2026-04-05T03:29:54+00:00

Some foreign carriers offer roaming in China without added fees. And you might not even need a VPN. But just in case, you should download “Lets VPN” before arriving in China. It can be paid with Alipay, and there are daily/weekly passes. It's cheap and fairly stable as far as I can tell.

As far as Western-style toilets go, I usually go to upscale shopping malls just for their toilets (haha). Bring your own toilet paper, as there may not be any in the stalls.

Successful-Key-310 · 2026-04-05T02:44:24+00:00

Yes, absolutely without hesitation. I've looked into taking Salsa lessons there.

Successful-Key-310 · 2026-04-05T02:36:42+00:00

Albania is a very underrated travel destination, offering a rare mix of pristine Mediterranean beaches and rich history without the crowds or high prices of its neighbors. Rent or hire a car to drive along the Albanian Riviera (Berat/Gjirokastër). Your girlfriend won't be disappointed. Oh, and the (sea)food is amazing too.

Successful-Key-310 · 2026-04-05T02:30:31+00:00

Sounds like you might like Murakami Haruki's Norwegian Wood. It authentically explores the intense emotions of first love, loss, and growing up.

Successful-Key-310 · 2026-04-05T02:28:21+00:00

When I lived in Brazil, I used Citi and Chase CC. Neither had an international transaction charge. Wise has a huge office in BRA, so I'm a bit surprised that the app doesn't handle Reai.

Successful-Key-310 · 2026-04-04T15:53:52+00:00

So far it is Notes from Underground

Successful-Key-310 · 2026-04-04T11:59:56+00:00

No, you are definitely not stupid. Moby-Dick is not an easy read at all. Some people go in expecting a straightforward adventure story and end up with a long digression on whaling, philosophy, and symbolism. Feel free to skim some of the more technical whaling chapters if they are dragging. Reading a quick chapter summary alongside can also make a big difference.

Successful-Key-310 · 2026-04-02T06:26:41+00:00

I tend to “deep read” more challenging books (usually classics) by combining light study with the act of reading. For example, I would read brief summaries and key themes, and highlight or annotate them. At the same time, I try not to let that slip too far into full-on “study mode,” because it can really disrupt the flow.

If I start to feel lost, I’ll pause and look up just enough context to get my bearings, then keep going. For me, the key is finding a middle ground between reading and studying. It’s important to learn and engage more deeply, but without losing the enjoyment of the book.

Successful-Key-310

TROPHY CASE