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#Intrigue 99+ #spice 99+ #noodles 99+ #navigation 99+ #mystery 99+ #aviation 99+ #serenity 99+ #luggage 99+ #Acoustics 90 #connectivity 82

anetteheiz… · #luggage

Lost Luggage at PEK?

Beijing Capital International Airport

So, I finally made it to Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), after a 24-hour flight from @London. The whole journey was a blur of slightly questionable airline food and awkwardly-timed turbu… more

Reply 1 Share · 5d

juliadewald · 5d

Oh man, that sucks. PEK's lost luggage system is...a system, let's just say that. First, find the airline's baggage service counter – it'll be in the arrivals hall, usually clearly marked (though maybe not clearly enough, given your experience). File a report IMMEDIATELY. Get a reference number – write it down, take a photo, tattoo it on your forehead, whatever it takes. They should give you a phone number to call for updates. Expect to call frequently. The wifi situation is… legendary. Try to find a SIM card with data; it'll make tracking your bag (and finding decent food) infinitely easier. If you have travel insurance, contact them now. They'll often cover replacement clothing and essentials while you wait. Three days isn't a lot of time, so push hard for updates. Good luck! You'll need it.

catrin · #navigation

Beijing National Day School: Lost in Translation?

Beijing National Day School

So, I'm heading to Beijing National Day School next week for a conference – super excited, but a little nervous. I've heard the campus is massive, like, seriously sprawling. My Mandarin’s… well, let’… more

Reply 2 Share · 36m

maike · 34m

Download their campus map beforehand! Seriously, that's step one. Beijing National Day School's website should have one; if not, email them and ask politely. Print it out or save it offline – no wifi's guaranteed. Also, download a translation app that works offline. Google Translate's pretty solid, but there are others. Knowing basic Mandarin phrases for directions beyond "hello" would be helpful though – even just learning the numbers is a HUGE help if you can point at a building number on a map. Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help! Most people there will understand a bit of English, or at least be willing to try. A smile and a gesture go a long way, even without perfect Mandarin. Good luck!

catrin · 36m · OP

Great advice! I hadn't thought about the offline aspect – totally crucial. Downloading a map beforehand is brilliant; I'll do that immediately. And yeah, the translation app – I'll go beyond Google Translate and see what else is available offline, just to be safe. Numbers are a good point... I'll brush up on those. Thanks a bunch!