Spain/China 2023, continuing (24)

[aadler]

Tenth day in China – July 21 Friday

Up 8:00PM, showered and shaved. I let Susan sleep until just before 10:00, then told her the woman from the office was supposed to come by today. I helped her get her breakfast together, then started noodles for mine.

The woman from the rental office arrived. We were able to do one payment through Alipay, then the remainder by direct charge on my debit card. That’s it, we’re paid up till departure.

On the other hand, when I went out to get lunch for us, Alipay was non-working again. I went through almost all our remaining Chinese cash, with only ¥13 left over (around $1.80). If we’re lucky, another day or so should clear Alipay for normal small purchases, and we can proceed from there.

I offered, and got approval for, early submission of my summer_of_giles story; I’ll be putting it up on the 25th, plenty of time for whatever draft editing is needed.

Susan was having more issues with the inner-ear problem, and chose to skip our normal visit to the Yins’ for dinner. I likewise chose to stay with her. Kevin called to make sure we were okay; he ordered a couple of wraps delivered to us for our dinner, then came over about the time Susan was finishing hers. We talked about various things; he tried to set up a virtual bank card for us, which could then be added to Susan’s Alipay (as an alternative to our debit cards), but couldn’t get that through because it required her to answer a confirmatory text, and she hasn’t been receiving texts since we left the U.S. He also indicated that a trip to Hong Kong would take too long, as the Bank of America locations listed there were too far distant. He had found, however, that in China, Bank of America is partnered with another bank, and one of their locations shows as 700 meters from the apartment (less than half a mile, mild walking distance), so we may try that out tomorrow or he may determine their hours and see about doing something there first thing Monday.

At his invitation, he and I went out for a beer at a local establishment, of which (this time) I didn’t get the name. We talked about all kinds of things, some sports, some politics, and clarified some of the places where we differed in opinions. Each of was trying more to clarify where we stood than to convince the other: as in, not to change minds but to make it clear what were the bases of our beliefs. That kind of thing works out a lot better.

Back at the apartment. Susan was already in bed but not asleep yet; little more talking, then Kevin left for home.

I stayed up reading for a few hours, then eventually to bed.