Lost in Translation

I found out last night I'm going to Beijing, China, in two weeks for work. I'm representing our product group at a global strategy meeting in our Beijing office. The meeting is for only three days, but I guess they value face-to-face meetings rather than a call or webinar.


I spent three hours today trying to find out how to apply for a business visa. After calls to the US Embassy and Chinese Embassy, I finally figured out how to do it online. We outsource the process to third-party which makes it easier, but a little frightening nonetheless. I have to mail my passport to Houston for inspection/stamping.

It just so happened I went to the Austin Diagnostic Travel Clinic this morning for a flu shot (too late) and a follow-up hepatitis A/B shot from last year's Africa trip. I asked her what other shots I needed for China. I didn't want to get turned away at the airport for not having a simple rabies shot. Good news. No vaccinations are needed. I think I pretty much glow in the dark from last summer's poking and prodding. I just can't visit any pig farms or hatcheries. There go my evening plans.