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... and having StarCrack withrawals.
Now, what I really just wanted to mention, is that Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube have been BLOCKED here in China. BUT, StarCraft II, Battlenet, and TeamLiquid.net are perfectly functional! GG, China, I like where your priorities are at. It's good to know that I can actually SURVIVE out here. Heheh.
It's not that I desperately need Facebook/Twitter/YouTube, I mean I do have access to TeamLiquid.net, but it would be nice to update my friends and family on how I'm doing out here. 'Till then, you guys are just gonna have to hear about it.
Why I'm in China...
I'm currently in China working at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. I am overseeing the coverage for a H.O.N tournament that's happening here at the Expo. I've been very excited for this trip, since I've never been to China before. Another reason why this trip is very important to me is because it's the first time that I'm working under the most prestigious title of my professional career as a "Creative Consultant" in a project revolving around Video Games and Competitive Gaming. Working in the pro-gaming scene has taken me to a lot of places like Blizzcon and Dreamhack, but the World Expo is, by far, the furthest away I've gone because of competitive gaming. I'm extremely grateful for the opportunities that I've come across as well as HELLA STOKED for the other doors that have opened for me.
Anyway, just needed to blurb somewhere that I'm enjoying myself. It's hot & humid as hell out here though, and SO MANY FREAKING PEOPLE! I've met a lot of really cool H.O.N players/teams, but it seems like I'm the only one who is into StarCraft. Meh. Oh, and I also don't have a mouse for my laptop, so getting some matches in might be a little difficult. TT. Whatever, I'll just watch a helluva lot of replays.
I'm really missing home (Los Angeles, CA), though. There's a local StarCraft tourney happening in a couple of days in one of the local LAN centers back in LA, but I might not be able to go to it because I'm here. Which really sucks because I've been playing really well lately and jumping into an amateur tourney would be a really great way for me to see where I'm at. I'm going to be so busy for the rest of the week that I probably won't have time to play at a LAN center here or anything. Gah, the things you do for a job you love, right?
Thanks!
Thanks a lot for reading this random blog. I'm having trouble sleeping and couldn't bore myself on Facebook or mindlessly troll YouTube right now, so I figured this was the next best thing.
Good News: I have a couple photos to share with everyone!
Bad News: I ONLY have a couple of photos to share with everyone. I can't seem to find the cable for my camera right now, and these are the only pics I took on my phone lol. WIll edit post later and have more up, for sure.
![[image loading]](http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/camkerbellsmith/IMG00316-20100812-2025.jpg?t=1281715529)
![[image loading]](http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/camkerbellsmith/IMG00315-20100812-2025.jpg?t=1281715537)
SHANGHAI, CHINA 08.13.10 - This is the view from where I'm staying at! The 24th floor of a 25 Story building!
Gah, starting to pass out now. Jetlag is SERIOUS business right now, and I have to be fresh tomorrow morning for the Expo!
<3 Thanks, as always, TL.net for listening and being the best sleep aid ever.
*** EDIT ***
More Pictures 
![[image loading]](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4137/4890453690_576870bb75.jpg)
This is the tour bus that kept us alive! It was air-conditioned and took us everywhere hehe. There are some of the H.O.N players. We had a Swedish team, Singaporean team, and Chinese team. As well as a couple of PMS girls from Singapore (who are total sweethearts, contrary to popular belief)
![[image loading]](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/4890459142_150ea00066_z.jpg)
One of the really cool entrances to this street... we weren't allowed to go in our big fat bus
![[image loading]](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4890463650_3b64939269.jpg)
Inside the shopping district
![[image loading]](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4102/4889867787_c564ff40ed.jpg)
Inside the shopping district again! There were a lot of really cool alleys with shops and food stores
![[image loading]](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4123/4890478942_42910eb455.jpg)
The buildings lit up at night super cool!
![[image loading]](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4102/4889884657_f5d9364082.jpg)
Very pretty lights! haha
![[image loading]](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/4889886583_5ed4b9428b.jpg)
This was totally worth walking around in the 40C heat!!
That's it for now <3 ;]
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Thanks for the read - you'll be back to your SC2 gaming ways before you know it! I'm still surprised by the smoggy, dirty, industrial feel I get from looking at pics of China.. not quite like anything I've ever seen. I'll have to visit sometime.
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Everyone in China uses VPN to go to facebook and youtube. You should get one quickly on ze web.
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United States4053 Posts
Just came back from the Expo, and I have one thing to say...
I respect you SO much for working there. And the sheer number of people doesn't help the mini-desert-climate around the Expo either.
Good luck with your creative consulting!
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Hong Kong20321 Posts
lol sweet
where u staying in shanghi i was there for 2 months haha.
expo is crazy so manay people. rabid mainland chinese tourists lol
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Calgary25951 Posts
My friends were at the expo and they said it was amazing. They also said it wasn't relaxing at all because they had to be vigilant about their spot in line since Chinese people evidently don't understand / care about the concept of lining up. They said elbows out was mandatory. Sounds fun, hearing everyone's stories makes me really want to visit China now 
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Hong Kong20321 Posts
On August 14 2010 01:37 Chill wrote:My friends were at the expo and they said it was amazing. They also said it wasn't relaxing at all because they had to be vigilant about their spot in line since Chinese people evidently don't understand / care about the concept of lining up. They said elbows out was mandatory. Sounds fun, hearing everyone's stories makes me really want to visit China now
lol yeah that pissed me off so bad man wtf. haha
but yea expo was pretty cool... get so damn tired after seeing it though its so freakin huge.
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The expo is pretty crazy, I have quite a few friends working there translating and whatnot. What's H.O.N. though?
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Hong Kong20321 Posts
On August 14 2010 01:41 Hautamaki wrote:
The expo is pretty crazy, I have quite a few friends working there translating and whatnot. What's H.O.N. though?
im guessing heroes of newerth its a dota-like game.
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16935 Posts
It's a dota clone. There's a big thread about it in TL.
Also if you wanted to go to the expo, you should've gone to the Africa pavilion. It was considerably less packed than any of the other regions'.
Oh and definitely do the whole wandering around Shanghai/streetfood thing. :D
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Ah ok thanks. Good luck with everything TS!
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On August 14 2010 01:23 calgar wrote:
Thanks for the read - you'll be back to your SC2 gaming ways before you know it! I'm still surprised by the smoggy, dirty, industrial feel I get from looking at pics of China.. not quite like anything I've ever seen. I'll have to visit sometime.
It's incredibly smoggy and dirty. People like to talk shit about Los Angeles, but honestly, this is WAY WORSE. A lot of people have told me it was because of the major construction happening here which is why it's so hard to see. If/when the construction dies down, maybe it'll just be smog and pollution to deal with. Heh, I don't know if that's any better :/
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On August 14 2010 01:33 yejin wrote:
Everyone in China uses VPN to go to facebook and youtube. You should get one quickly on ze web.
I've only found ones that I had to pay for. I'm only here for a week, so it's not THAT important to me, haha. Plus, I haven't been able to get vtunnel.com to work, a javascript error of some sort. Meh, it's fine. I have TL.net!
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On August 14 2010 01:33 alffla wrote:
lol sweet
where u staying in shanghi i was there for 2 months haha.
expo is crazy so manay people. rabid mainland chinese tourists lol
I know! My first day at the Expo is tomorrow, but I've seen pics/videos. It's insanely epic haha. I'm not so sure where I am in Shanghai, I'm a complete TOURIST when it comes to this city/country. All I know is that I went to "The Bund" last night and a really old shopping district. Haha.
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On August 14 2010 01:33 infinitestory wrote:
Just came back from the Expo, and I have one thing to say...
I respect you SO much for working there. And the sheer number of people doesn't help the mini-desert-climate around the Expo either.
Good luck with your creative consulting!
Aww, thank you that means a lot. Luckily, I don't have to work crowd control or anything. I get to just hang out in the Swedish Pavilion, and on the last day, I get to use my shiny badge to skip lines ;P
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On August 14 2010 01:37 Chill wrote:My friends were at the expo and they said it was amazing. They also said it wasn't relaxing at all because they had to be vigilant about their spot in line since Chinese people evidently don't understand / care about the concept of lining up. They said elbows out was mandatory. Sounds fun, hearing everyone's stories makes me really want to visit China now
Haha, it's true, Chinese people seem to not really care about you, especially if you aren't Chinese. I say, if you can handle the insanely hot and humid weather, you should totally visit. It was hard to adjust, but just being in a different culture/country makes it all worth while. The Expo is going to be amazing! Sooo many people just hanging out and having a good time.
And also, babies with their little fat asses hanging out. Super funny.
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On August 14 2010 01:41 Hautamaki wrote:
The expo is pretty crazy, I have quite a few friends working there translating and whatnot. What's H.O.N. though?
See below ;]
On August 14 2010 01:51 Empyrean wrote:
It's a dota clone. There's a big thread about it in TL.
Also if you wanted to go to the expo, you should've gone to the Africa pavilion. It was considerably less packed than any of the other regions'.
Oh and definitely do the whole wandering around Shanghai/streetfood thing. :D
I'm definitely going tomorrow. The exhibition tournament happens tomorrow, so I have to be there, ahha. Unfortunately I have to stay at the Swedish Pavilion the whole time. BUT, on Sunday I get to run around all day with a special badge that lets me skip the uber long lines. I'll definitely check out the African Pavilion now that you mention it.
Oh, I'm already all over the food that's going to be there. MMMMMMMM! Nothing better than Chinese food IN CHINA!
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Haha yeah, Shanghai in the summer is pretty miserable... the humidity and heat make it feel as if you start sweating the second you open the door.
Tons of VPNs exist and are readily availiable. I think there's a site called unblockyoutube.org (not a VPN) or something like that does exactly what the name implies.
Remember to enjoy all of the good food -seriously I believe to this day that American fast food is better in China.
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On August 14 2010 03:37 Loser777 wrote:
Haha yeah, Shanghai in the summer is pretty miserable... the humidity and heat make it feel as if you start sweating the second you open the door.
Tons of VPNs exist and are readily availiable. I think there's a site called unblockyoutube.org (not a VPN) or something like that does exactly what the name implies.
Remember to enjoy all of the good food -seriously I believe to this day that American fast food is better in China.
Thanks so much, unblockyoutube.org is working, but it's asking me to verify my account since I'm logging in from a different IP. The first thing it asks me for is to type the words I see in an image, but the image never loads. Haha, it's fine though, I'm not too worried.
I've had a good share of Chinese food, and I have to say, most of it is pretty awesome. I do agree, though, KFC's menu looks WAY tastier than what we have back at home. I remember thinking how funny it is that everyone EVERYWHERE loves chicken ;D
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EPT
