4 nights, 3 beds, 24 total hours of sleep and 94,000 steps later I am back in reality (aka, a different city). After three weeks of travel, Shanghai was a fun break from time solo and less western cities. Because of friends in this city who made time to host me, and a large western influence, this part of my journey felt…
Author: theyearofsarahjoy
Eating Well: Xi’an & Chengdu 8.24.16
I am a long way from planing meals each week, going to the grocery store, cooking and dividing food into red tupperware, and finally carting it all to work for consumption! I miss my healthy servings of fruit and vegetables but the chance to try new foods daily is an excellent replacement. A few observations: Food is becoming…
Beijing & Xi’an 8.22.16
The part of travel where I move between cities is underway! One of my goals for this year is to live life with less structure. Pre-departure, I planned enough to set myself up with the right gear, tools, and paperwork and I chose not to spend time planning smaller details like activities, transit, accommodations or total time in…
On the Street: Beijing 8.18.16
As a traveler, I am most excited to observe the small differences in daily life in each place I visit. Here is a peak into the streets and parks in this city. Boating in the parks is ubiquitous. The boats are all whimsical or painted exciting colors. This yogurt drink is everywhere. Buyers purchase the beverage…
Eating Well: Beijing 8.16.16
Travel without food is a terrible thought! Meals allow me to have shared experiences, try new foods, spend time with friends, and interact with local people. My first vocabulary words in Mandarin were food based. I learned water (a must in this heat!) and baozi, meaning dumplings. I am especially grateful to friends from the Carlson School and the friends…
Being in Beijing 8.14.16
I arrived in Beijing Tuesday, August 9. The flights were easy and it was smooth traveling from the airport to my hostel via bus, subway, and on foot. My first, fast observation is this city feels safe. The streets are well lit, people use their technology in public spaces more than in Minneapolis, I have not experienced…
Gear for a Year 8.1.16
I am traveling with a 40L backpack, 18L daypack, and a cross-body bag.
The 5Ps 7.22.16
They say Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance, so planning is what I’m doing. Let’s be honest though, even without that adage I’d be doing just as much planning! In my first three weeks of unemployment I checked off big items, shopping purchases, learning opportunities, and can’t avoid tasks from the spreadsheet of pre-departure to-dos. Big Items Ticket…
To Infinity & Beyond 7.1.16
This week I moved out of the apartment I lived in for more than four years;
The Act of Craigslisting 6.21.16
This is my definition of Craigslist: An online environment that connects me with strangers in the physical world who give me cash to move my things, resulting in mutual benefit. In short, Craigslist is fabulous. Armed with helpful advice from T.C., an MBA graduate filling free time flipping big ticket items on “The CL,” I am ahead $800….
Spreadsheets Upon Spreadsheets 5.22.16
As a liberal arts undergraduate, working in spreadsheets was foreign. My allegiances were to MS Word and only MS Word. After three years in an MBA program and four years advising MBA students, I admit, business folks know how to design and select their tools. For The Year of Sarah Joy I use a master…
Moving Out 4.28.16
10 months ago I signed a shorter lease in anticipation of The Year of Sarah Joy. This morning I tidied my apartment for a showing. This afternoon, I learned the new renters passed their background check and are interested in buying my furniture and builtins. After four years, my no-closet, perfect for Pride Parade parties, 350 square…
The Year of Sarah Joy 