Robs' Blog: incoherencies from an american ex-pat in exotic beijing,
  or: how i learned to stop worrying and love bureaucracy

We had Thanksgiving at my sister's house. A big mash-up of family members from her side of the family and her husband's. Wonderful time.

When I got back to the hotel, I found out that an order I'd placed on amazon for things that were hard to get in China was declined. Turns out the credit card company was being extra-cautious during the holiday season, and wanted some confirmation that it was actually me making the purchase.

After confirming to the credit card associate that I was me (?):

• Where are you out of?
• India, sir.
• I know, but where? Not Mumbai by any chace?
• Yes, Bombay.

We talked awhile about what was happening. At the end of the conversation, I told him that my heart went out to the folks there.

And, indeed it does.