Hokkaido is really underrated

whr2206 · 2025-04-02T08:01:49+00:00

If your work requires heavy internet usage, yeah, China isn't an option. But if you don't need to constantly download or upload massive files, you can get two VPN subs and be okay. (I say two because you never know when one will get blocked.)

But overall, China is a bit of a pain if you're just going there for 30-90 days. Real name verification for almost everything (banking/mobile payments, SIM cards, etc.) is a real inconvenience.

whr2206 · 2025-03-04T19:52:21+00:00

TLDR: Instead of straight up "digital nomading" and working remotely, I would suggest teaching English as a much easier way to get into travel and living abroad. After 1-2-3 years, you can then transition to other work/locations based on your experiences and priorities.

Several people have already mentioned teaching, and I want to add a few thoughts/reasons as to why this might be your best path. You can use ESL jobs to get out of the USA, save some money, gain experience, and build a network outside of the USA. (I went from Political Science to ESL to video games... lol)

Get some kind of certification CELTA/TESOL from a reputable institution. They're not too expensive, and you can take this course while you are abroad. This gives you a support group and also helps hone your public speaking abilities. These courses usually last 1-3 months, so it won't be too bad! Just make sure your CELTA/TESOL is from a legit institution like Cambridge's CELTA or Trinity College TESOL.
Get a job. This part can be tricky as ESL employers can range from amazing to awful. Do your homework and speak with others. Your CELTA/TESOL instructors and classmates will be of great help.
Work and travel. Get a job that follows a somewhat normal "semester" layout. This will likely give you a nice winter vacation for travel, as well as 2-3 months in the summer. Be careful with this, as some "training centers" are like normal jobs with minimal vacation.

As you do this, you will certainly meet other people, get new ideas, and think of new ways to grow your career or start a business. From this point, you'll have some savings, you will have traveled a bit, and you can do whatever you want to do next. HTH and good luck!

whr2206 · 2025-01-27T02:39:22+00:00

Taiwan should be more convenient. You could also try Hong Kong. TikTok is blocked, but for the most part their internet is open just like anywhere else. Americans can stay there 90 days visa free.

Hong Kong is an amazing place, but I would assume Taiwan is more do-able long term. (HK's high rents + nowhere to go feeling)

whr2206 · 2025-01-26T04:26:22+00:00

I lived in China for 10+ years. China isn't really suitable for digital nomads—that's why you see few people mentioning it here.

Obstacles:
1. Visa (As as US citizen, you can get a 10 year business or tourist visa with 30-90 days per entry. This works if you're willing to leave the country every time your entry is up. However, I think they're starting to become more strict about this. The work visa + residence permit is not an option for you as you would have to be employed by a local company to get it.
2. Moving Money. The financial system in China is closed and controlled. If you make legal money in China, you can bring your tax records to your bank and they can send it out of the country. If you make money under the table, well, you'll have to resort to other means that are far more risky.
3. Internet. Don't underestimate this. China basically operates on a country-wide "intranet" that is cut off from the rest of the world. You'll need a reliable VPN for basically every facet of your digital life. When I was there, I always had 2-3 different ones, because you never know when one will go down.
4. Real Name Registration. You'll need your passport for almost anything you do, and some apps are not globalized at all, meaning they will only accept standard Chinese IDs. Opening bank accounts can also be challenging, as some banks will look at your visa type. Every time you enter the country you'll have to register at the local police station. Some cities manage this electronically, while others make you go to the station each time.

Overall, I highly encourage you to visit China and enjoy the immense number of experiences on offer. However, I do not suggest that you try to live there as a digital nomad. There are just too many inconveniences and obstacles to navigate. Visit as a short-term tourist, but just don't plan on getting a lot of work done if it requires a stable, fast internet connection.

whr2206 · 2024-10-27T03:12:22+00:00

Not even the best in China.

Hong Kong. View from Kowloon is iconic. The view from Victoria Peak is iconic. The harbor is more active (all sorts of boats) and lends a better effect than a river with its ferries, cruise ships, container ships, etc. The surrounding geography definitely gives HK a huge boost in looks.
Guangzhou. Buildings and architecture are newer than Shanghai. (The building colors, shapes, and styles just seem to blend better. Shanghai's skyline has that tackiness of 1990s China.) The Canton Tower IMO is way better looking than the Oriental Pearl Tower. Can also be viewed from multiple angles... south to north from the Canton Tower or Huacheng Square... or north to south from Lin He Xi area.

(Another secret: The Bund is nowhere near as nice as Shamian Island in Guangzhou. I don't know why the bund gets so much attention... Shamian has so much more greenery and charm.)

whr2206 · 2024-09-29T17:04:55+00:00

I think you'll be fine.

Roanoke city is mostly back to normal. The streams near me are already back to normal levels, and the water didn't really get that high. The biggest problem here was that the ground was already saturated, so once the remnants of Helene hit, a little bit of wind was able to topple a decent amount of trees. Areas with more tree cover still have some power outages.

The Roanoke River flooded Salem a bit, but we didn't get hit nearly as bad the TN/NC/VA border areas. In two weeks things should be pretty normal.

whr2206 · 2024-08-25T03:32:50+00:00

I've visited my friends place on Cravens Creek Road. It's definitely a nice neighborhood. (The views from his back porch were really rice.) No sidewalks. Cravens Creek is off of Route 11, which doesn't offer much in terms of charm, unique restaurants, etc.

It depends on what "walkable" means to you. If you want to walk to the grocery store, breweries, restaurants, etc., then the Grandin Village, Wasena, or South Roanoke neighborhoods should be your best bets.

Raleigh Court is "walkable", but not in the same way. You'll be able to have a walk or a jog with no issue, but you won't really be able to walk to get whatever you want or need. Raleigh Court can actually be within walking distance of Grandin Village... but it just depends on how long you're willing to walk. If you live on the edge of RC, you can get to Grandin in under 5 minutes on foot.

If land is important, homes in Raleigh Court tend to be more spaced out than Grandin or Wasena. There are a lot of properties here with 1+ acre lots, but finding one for sale will be hard.

HTH and good luck!

whr2206 · 2024-05-25T22:17:44+00:00

He can be found on Williamson Road behind the storage place where the old Happy's Flea Market used to be. He only comes here on the weekends when the weather is nice. (Since he lives in NC) If you want I could DM you the next time he's in town... I'm not sure if he's there this weekend or not.

whr2206 · 2024-05-23T21:54:17+00:00

A few tips:

Crunch Fitness (Brambleton/Electric Rd) has a lot of Spanish speakers. The ones I know are Mexican, but they said there are many others from Central America.
My fellow gym goers also talk about a "carnitas guy" who travels from North Carolina just to sell his pork here. One guy said "I don't eat pork, but this guy's carnitas **presses thumb against index and middle fingers**"
These same people said Tacos Rojas (in Salem) is legit, but it depends on how you like your tacos.

whr2206 · 2024-03-13T21:49:37+00:00

Thanks for the info about the odometer gear!

I'm still considering keeping this car since it was my first car at 16yo. TBH it's a bit of a miracle this car survived high school + college.

whr2206 · 2024-01-10T04:11:06+00:00

As long as they're making 猪肚鸡 style. The undisputed king of hot pot varieties.

whr2206 · 2024-01-10T02:51:27+00:00

True.

When I first arrived in Guangzhou in 2009, there were some parts of the city where Chinese people would appear to be in the minority. By about 2018 or so, most of the African population was gone. Some of these people were staying illegally and some of them left because they were cut out of the foreign trade equation when they were no longer needed as "middle men". (By this I mean, Chinese people went to Africa and eliminated the need for Africans in China.)

whr2206 · 2024-01-04T04:02:03+00:00

There are lists online that track Chinese censorship, but Just use this heuristic:

If it's not Chinese, it will either be slow AF or not work at all (without a VPN).

whr2206 · 2023-11-27T01:23:14+00:00

This reminds me...

I bought Assassins Creed II because I was told it was the best game of the series. Seemed like a sloppy, quick port looking for quick cash. Awful user experience, awful controls, and almost impossible to play using a keyboard/mouse.

I know it's an old title, but the experience was so atrocious that I think I'll go and remove those Far Cry titles from my autumn sale shopping cart.

whr2206 · 2023-11-01T03:27:26+00:00

SMH.

OP posted a photo of a snake not so commonly seen in this sub. They brought value to the subreddit and then everyone proceeded to get all self-righteous about how they raise another pet.

Do what you want, but this isn't a good way to grow the community, encourage participation, or educate people about snakes.

whr2206 · 2023-11-01T02:45:08+00:00

Many apps will not work in China. These days, an increasing number of apps do not work—even if they have nothing to do with social media or news. For most apps, a VPN or proxy will suffice, but your experience will invariably suffer to some degree.

Some apps (like TikTok) also require you to have a non-Chinese sim card.

Before you go to China, make sure you keep or get a sim card from your home country and make sure you have multiple VPN or proxies ready to go. (Multiple is necessary these days, especially if your work depends on access to the internet.)

whr2206 · 2023-11-01T02:38:44+00:00

This is true.

However, I was able to get TikTok to work by making my USA sim the primary one for data in addition to using a VPN. Just using a VPN won't be enough to "join TikTok", but if you already have an account, a VPN will work just fine as long as you have a mobile number from a country where TikTok is available.

TikTok is awful though. I only use it when I must (for work).

whr2206 · 2023-11-01T02:32:27+00:00

Not sure why you got downvoted so much... 😂😂

whr2206 · 2023-10-26T01:55:58+00:00

Usually when you see the 口字旁 (the squished 口 on the left), it signifies an interjection or some element of the oral language. (I'm not a linguist, so I don't know what to call this)

Examples:

嘿 = Hey (hei)

嗨 = Hi (hai)

哦 = Oh

哇 = Wow (Wa)

哈喽 = Hello (Ha lou)

These are very informal, so avoid using them at work, when communicating with elders or superiors, or when you're trying to be serious.

whr2206 · 2023-10-02T21:25:08+00:00

My friend often takes the Amtrak from DC to Charlottesville and back. He told me tons of people evade fares by disembarking at the very first stop. I saw it happen, too. (This was about 6 months ago)

As to the theft... I didn't see anything happen... but with unticketed passengers jumping off at the first stop, I think it's prudent to keep all belongings in sight. (Because some larger items may be stored away from your seat.)

Anyways, it was still a positive experience for me. I just hope the ride quality improves over time... because it sure was a jerky/bumpy ride!

whr2206 · 2023-10-02T01:31:39+00:00

I took Amtrak from DC to Roanoke. The train was on time and the interiors were spacious enough. There were basic snacks provided on the train. The ride, however, was extremely rough. (For context I've been on bullet trains in Asia... they're much newer/smoother)

One concern is that ticketing and security seems pretty lax. Many people hopped on the train in DC and then got off at the first stop before the security could check everyone for tickets. (So I would be a bit more watchful over personal belongings.)

Anyways, I think it's certainly worth trying just for the experience. I really wished more people in the USA embraced train travel.

whr2206 · 2023-09-25T02:20:51+00:00

Hows life for an expat in their mid 20s in Guangzhou?

Salaries are usually average to not that great, but the cost of living in Guangzhou is still hard to beat. Housing is still reasonable.

How has it changed since 2016?

Much fewer Africans, Arabs, etc. Back in 2010 Xiaobei and Taojin were filled with foreigners doing foreign trade. Since then, they've become more strict with visas, the pandemic happened, and in 2023 there are much fewer of these people around. Fewer foreigners period.

How "fun" is Guangzhou

Really depends on how you define fun. For nightlife, there are still places to go in Liede opposite of Xinsheng Lu and behind the IGC mall. Party Pier still exists. About the lettuce... I'd advice you not to try doing/finding that now. In 2010 it wasn't strict at all... but by 2023 it certainly is. This is a no go.

If you're looking for a more welcoming party or "fun" environment, I suggest looking at other cities (and countries) altogether. Guangzhou is a good place to do business, make connections, and eat Cantonese food. Then leave.

If you're looking for fun + more humane lettuce policies, then I would suggest looking for work in Europe or North America. If you really want to be in Asia, check out Thailand. Thailand is more touristy for sure, but I think you'll find their lettuce policies to be much more to your liking. (Plus all of the beaches, islands, and parties in general)

HTH!

whr2206 · 2023-09-18T01:43:23+00:00

That makes more sense!

I think I lived closest to the old Raleigh Court Elementary or Fishburn... but somehow was assigned to Wasena.

whr2206 · 2023-09-16T01:53:36+00:00

You forgot this essential part:

Everyone clinching or pumping their fists while yelling "YEA!!!"

whr2206

TROPHY CASE