Traveler tip for finding ATMs in Rome

Finding banks can be rather hard when not in touristy areas but I've learned that Italian post offices will have ATMs. So when I ran out of cash at Porta Portese, I found the first bright yellow sign and went back to my favorite sport of shopping.

The kindergarten elite

Getting your kid into kindergarten in Beijing is about as hard as getting your kid into a private kindergarten in NYC.  But keep in mind that the ones in Beijing are all public schools.  Let's first start with the cost.  Tuition ranges from 1000 RMB - 7000 RMB (approx $1000)/month.  Now let me tell you that middle-class salaries average 4000 RMB - 8000 RMB (approx $1200)/month.  But even if you have the money, there may not be space for you precious little one.  So, parents line up days before the sign-up starts at their desired kindergartens all in hopes of finding a spot for their child.  For those who snooze, they try to bribe the schools with money and/or gifts.  One of our family friends was able to get her son into a good kindergarten after bribing the school with a brand new piano.  However, for those who snooze and don't have bribe-worthy goods, are doomed to hiring a full-time baby-sitter which also range from 2000 RMB - 5000 RMB (approx $700).  Either way, having a kid is EXPENSIVE!

Meet: AC

Every once in a while, I will profile someone interesting living in Beijing. My first victim is AC. Well, his name is not really AC but he sells air conditioners so we'll just name him AC for now. I met him when we were shopping for - you guessed it, air conditioners. He is a nice looking young man who is only 20-years-old. I found him fascinating because he spoke so eloquently about air conditioners to the point where I wanted to buy 3 or 4 from him. AC told me that he didn't go to college and was a poor student in high school, so he moved from Hebei to make money in Beijing. Similar to how people go to big cities like New York to chase after money. He says he makes about $3000-$4000 RMB per month which is close to the average salary of $3500-$3900 RMB (approx $560 USD) per month. This is considerably high for someone who didn't graduate from college. *I always find it interesting that it is the norm to openly talk about each other's salaries in China. People will freely ask strangers how much they make a month.

Back to AC. He tells me he's fascinated by Americans and especially the way they speak English. It sounds like they're singing. He also asks about US air conditioners: how they're installed, what brands are popular, what Chinese brands are familiar. AC thinks we're so cool because we're from America. He got very excited when we used our VISA card and asked to see it. He held it with both hands like it was precious jewels and carefully returned it to my hands. This type of delusional admiration of Americans is not so prevalent in Beijing anymore, but definitely typifies the behavior of city implants.

AC then tells me that many of his co-workers graduated from prestigious colleges in China. This is a recent trend in Beijing, similar to the US, where many college grads are going against the norm and are either pursuing non-traditional job industries, freelancing, or just bumming around playing video games. This is in part due to the rise in unemployment as well as the new wave of the youth generation who are questioning traditional blueprints and pioneering new paths and ideals.