The Steussy Ranch

Some notes on what to expect here over the coming weeks. Unlike my sister, Helen, who is starting on her epic bicycle trip across the US, I don’t intend to blog my trip to China.

“Why not?”, you ask. “It’s so easy, and you have all the equipment. Server, laptop, smartphone … it would be really, really great.”

The reason lies in the primary purpose of the first part of my trip: re-establishing my ability to use the spoken language. This means avoiding English as much as possible, placing myself in the here-and-now of China for ten days. Running back on the internet, with English language websites and contacts, puts me back in my comfort zone—not where I want to be. I need to be uncomfortable; forced to use some long-dormant language skills. The second part of the trip will be multiple meetings, speeches and my chance to see Shanghai as a tourist—I’m going to be busy!

The one place I may allow myself to cheat is with Twitter updates. You can follow me here, or come back to the Steussy Ranch and check out the column on the right (“Twittering Steussy”). There is a minor technical issue – surmounting the Great Firewall of China – which I will have to solve to Twitter. Blogging should pop up again after July 4, when I’m back with lots of photos and reports.

I won’t be a hermit, however. The business phone number (+1 323 963 3270) will always reach me, as will email. I can’t run a business and ignore these, after all.

I have three Chinese textbooks with CD’s that I am listening to before heading to China. For the most part, the sounds and cadences come back to me naturally. There are a series of words, however, that simply don’t register for me. They sound like more-or-less random noise. In English, they are the words for: email, web site, web page, computer crash, computer virus, download, software, cellphone, ringtone and the like.

Just a hint that things have changed rather a lot since 1990. I’m working on getting myself up-to-date.

Most of today was spent getting my electronics ready to travel. Since I need to be continually in contact with my business, this takes some forethought.

I’ve mentioned before that the need for voice communication is far less today than it was even five years ago. Almost everything happens by email. So, one key is to ensure cellphone email access. That can be done easily (international data roaming through AT&T) or I can work through a Chinese SIM card. I think I will opt for the later.

I’ve relearned how to SSH tunnel into my server. I last did this while traveling in Budapest two years ago. It allows me to email, surf the web and download files over a secure, encrypted line at all times. It’s rather like a VPN (Virtual Private Network), but with less overhead.

I’ve also ordered plug adapters and laptop locks. I think I may be about ready to go …