How-To's for the Expat-Local Living in Beijing, China
How To: Navigate Safe Sex Overseas
From how to get around, to how to find basic necessities, living abroad can be a struggle, albeit a delightful one. When it comes to intimacy, though, it can even be intimidating. How can I find reliable protection? What do I do if it fails? How can I approach sex and intimacy safely when I can't even speak the language? Whether single and dating, in a relationship or happily married, expat-locals are faced with the same challenges anyone faces with sex. Here's a basic outline of how to tackle some of these issues, tips for where to buy what, and what your options are for some of those trickier situations.
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How To: Get Your Public Transportation Card
It became clear, after my first solo trip in a Beijing taxi, I would need to find an alternative for cross-city transportation. Without at least a basic foundation of Chinese language, it's nearly impossible to get from Point A to Point B in a cab. Often, you are not trying to get to a major landmark, requiring any passenger to know the directions and be able to communicate them. ... Luckily, what the taxi services lack in convenience, the subway system more than makes up for. If you can work your way through basic pinyin, you'll have no problem navigating this efficient transportation option. Especially helpful for the frequent subway rider will be the public transportation card.
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How To: Get New Glasses
When taking the plunge to move overseas, many an expat will need to face the challenge of downsizing and packing the “essentials”. For me, I made sure to have a year supply of contacts and a good pair of glasses ready. I knew it wouldn't be easy to secure new eye wear, nor did I want the hassle. But when a friend asked if I'd like to join him on his trip to the glasses mart, I reasoned it wouldn't hurt to have an extra pair or two around. As it turns out, purchasing new glasses is surprisingly easy and affordable.
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