The Genius Bar

Today it was almost 2 pm. I was in a coffeshop. I had bags with me and I was headed to the Beijing airport. I turned my computer off. I got a funny message, telling me to restart the computer or turn it off. I did. I turned it back on and I got the same message. I did this about 5 times, each time getting the same result. I panicked because I needed to leave for the airport right then if I wanted to make my flight. But I also thought I did not want to go back to Harbin if my computer was not working. I have a Mac and Macs are not popular in China. Not many computer technicians are familiar with Mac operating systems. But I know of a big, fancy Mac store in Beijing that has a Genius Bar which diagnoses computer problems. Harbin has no such store.

In a quick decision, I returned to my friend's apartment, risking not being able to change my flight and facing the possibility that my computer only had a minor problem. Within 5 minutes, I had re-booked my flight for the next day (without charge) and had an appointment to get my computer fixed. The first thing the guy asked when he looked at it was 'had i backed everything up?' those are the dreaded words. Of course I am good at backing documents ups, but there are other things (like pictures) I am not so on top of. Anyway, luckily, everything was saved without a problem.

Aside from how lucky I am that I made a quick decision and it turns out it was the right decision, two things come from this story. 1) BACK UP FILES. All the time. Of course, I think everyone knows to do this. I think many people think to do it again after hearing a story like this.

2) I am dependent on my computer. Not only for communicating with the outside world (email, news, and even phone) and doing my research, but I was also scared of going back to Harbin without my computer as a source of entertainment (it plays DVDs, which are widely available here). I've lived in China before for long periods of time without a personal computer and I survived. I written my ideas in notebooks and gone to internet cafes to email. I didn't watch too many movies. Now my computer is just about everything to me, so much so that I would not take the chance to go back to my city without it. And I am so happy it is working. Thanks to the Beijing Genius Bar.