Update- So many people messaging me about the 10 year visa renewal – I had to link to it here – https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/electronic-visa-update-system-evus/frequently-asked-questions Here’s the gist: What is the Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS)? EVUS is the online system used by nationals of China holding a 10-year B1/B2, B1 or B2 (visitor) visa periodically to update basic biographic information to facilitate …
Good to Be Back With the Fam in China, Preparing for USA Trip
Good to Be Back With The Fam in China, Preparing for USA Trip Sometimes you need to be away a while to realize what you have. Mike’s Blog 160 Back in Shenzhen! Over a week on the road, a bit of Hong Kong and then Philippines. Meeting a ton of people, seeing a ton of different environments yet it …
Sometimes Doing Things You Don’t Like to Do
Sometimes Doing Things You Don’t Like to Do Woke up at 4:30am today – which is early even for me (I’m a 5:30am riser). Set the alarm on my watch (still using a Pebble!) as well as asked the hotel receptionist to call me. A bit nervous. Mike’s Blog 158 You know that feeling, when you wake up and the …
Being a Foreign Dad in China
Being a Foreign Dad in China A foreigner in China is one thing, a foreign dad is a whole new level Mike’s Blog 159 Happy birthday to my sweet baby girl, Maggie. Just turning 2 years old now. Had the pleasure to share it with my friend Meir – who is also a father of 2. The crazy and amazing …
Team Development
Team Development It is all about the team. Mike’s Blog 157 Damon commented on a recent video blog (the stress vlog) that it is all about collaboration. I totally agree there – and community – and team. Today, while here in Cebu, I spent time with team development. Making sure people have the tools and knowledge is critical, and a …
Back in Good Ol’ Philippines
Back in Good Ol’ Philippines Mike’s Blog 156 Welcome back (insert sound clip of the Welcome back pop song). Philippines is always a nice place to come back to. Well – I think most would agree the traffic is not the best part – and unfortunately something you need to accept and deal with as soon as you leave the …
Is Stress Management a Key To Success?
Dealing with Stress To Succeed Is Stress Management a Key To Success? Take It To The Limit Mike’s Blog 155 Makes me think of the Tom Cruise movie Top Gun – “take it to the limit” but that is just it – life is short and we need to get outside of our comfort zone as much as we can. …
Building a Skill – Adapting To Cultures
This is a skill definitely worth developing – being able to respect and adapt to various cultures around you. Mike’s Blog 154 Thought of this topic as I was walking around a kid’s rainforest park with dinosaurs eating each other. Makes me think of humans and the reptile brain that we still have programmed deep in our mind. The threat …
Dealing with FOMO
Dealing with FOMO Mike’s blog 153 How are you dealing with FOMO? It is often an internet meme – but it is real! FOMO, for those not up on the internet slang, stands for “Fear of Missing Out” and I would say has been in existence since the stone ages. All this bitcoin and ICO insanity has been nuts the …
It’s A New Year? Start A Vlog?
It’s A New Year? Start A Vlog? Mike’s Blog 152 Happy New Year! What is your new year resolution? For me back in the year end of 2015 one was to start this video blog in the new year. Well, technically started just before 2016. Don’t wait until Jan 1 to start your new year’s resolution! So I wonder- what …
Business Brand or Personal Brand?
Pulling Yourself Off The Face Of a Website Mike’s Blog 151 In Mike’s blog I talk a bit about personal brand and using your own name website and brand to build up a business. It isn’t how I originally started with doing online businesses, I was like so many – I had a name for my business and on the …
Does Santa Claus Exist?
Does Santa Claus Exist? Mike’s Blog 150 As a father, it is a new set of questions and decisions. Miles has been coming back from school talking about Christmas and Santa Claus (Lao Ren in Chinese – which literally means old man!) I’ve had some discussions about this with other fathers over the years and wanted to chat about it …
Are You Where You’d Thought You’d Be 1 Year Ago?
Are You Where You’d Thought You’d Be 1 Year Ago? Doing What You Love Are you doing what you love? Mike’s Blog 149 Year end is approaching. We are all probably thinking about what we are doing with our lives. This comes up naturally during holidays, birthdays, and of course year end / year renewal. I was able to ask …
Let’s Rock 2018
Let’s Rock 2018 Mike’s Blog 148 Are you excited? New Year is always an exciting time for us as it is a clean slate. Start fresh, put behind us all the things that didn’t go well for us in the previous year. Here at Global From Asia, we have accomplished quite a bit so it hasn’t been such a bad …
Becoming Chinese
Becoming Chinese Mike’s Blog 147 For those who have followed the blog over the years – they will know what I need to do in the last month of December. It’s a special time, that all foreigners in China who are here for long term need to do. Renewing my work permit and residence visa. It doesn’t have to fall …