China Trip with Monique Sept 15-Oct 11, 2008

Map of China

This year I head to China with a good friend Monique.  China was her idea and she kindly asked if I’d like to join her.  During the past few years, I have traveled mostly alone so it’s great to have someone else to get excited with.  She and I will meet in Shanghai and join up with GAP Adventures and do the Highlights of China tour.  I worked with GAP before on my trip to Peru back in 2002 and really liked how they did things.  Small groups (this time I think we have 7 people including us), local guides and the freedom to explore on our own.

Before Monique mentioned it, I honestly had no interest in going to China.  I guess Asia has always been a little further on my list but I have no particular reason why.  Maybe gorillas and jungles seem more appealing at this point.  But after some research and reading, I am now quite excited about seeing China, her culture and her people in the country of origin and not just Chinatown in San Francisco. 

Chinese Visa

China is very particular about their visas as I have found.  As I was between statuses of an H1-B and a Green Card, I wasn’t sure of the paperwork I needed to bring to the Visa office in San Francisco.  Also I was warned/advised to have all my accommodations determined before hand.  Since my first couple days were in flux as to where I was going to stay, I didn’t have anything booked for that period.  However I did bring my passport, my tour confirmation, my flight confirmation, a passport photo and my application form.  I got up at 6am to hop aboard Caltrain for a 40 minute ride north to the city.  From there I walked another 40 minutes to the Chinese embassy.   Here I waited another 40 minutes in line before the doors opened to allow people inside.  There were about 30 people ahead of me already.  Once inside I received a number and waited.  This part was easy.   I just watched a scrolling screen in English and Chinese characters notifying people things they probably already should have known before they had gotten there.  Within minutes, it was my turn.  It was only 9.15 but the lady behind the glass seemed to already have had a long day.  Her microphone kept cutting out so I couldn’t understand what she was saying, as was mine and she was not happy at all about the paperwork I provided.  Eventually with much reluctance and arguing, she turned me away.  I needed more paperwork.

My second visit to the consulate was less dramatic.  Again the train ride and walk but I dropped off my paperwork relatively easier than last time.  I had booked a hotel so that was covered and I brought my Adjustment of Status paperwork which after some coddling, they allowed.

Four days later, I picked up my visa.  While waiting in line there was a man directly in front of me who seemed to think there were imaginary ducks overhead.  He would fart loudly to the left of me and wander to the right looking in the sky and around, possibly thinking this distraction would cover up the fact he farted quite loudly.  Luckily it didn’t smell.  But he did do this 2-3 times.  I would have waited a day line with this guy compared to the next companion I had in my line inside to pick up the visa and passport.  This “amazing guy” often said amazing… to the point it could be a drinking game.  He was nice, but I felt like he had just been released from jail and hadn’t been around people in a long long time.  He was teaching in Korea for two years (maybe North from his exclamations of how amazing our country is with our freedom and choices) and was planning on teaching in China next.  I told him I was an Engineer and he proceeded to go off about how Engineers are closed minded people who cannot change.  His father was an Engineer.  I see daddy issues.  He eventually chilled out on another topic talking about how important it was to be positive and not hold grudges to then go off again about Engineers and how they are necessary for running shoes, because he likes his running shoes, but he wished they would loosen up.  He was actually swearing at this point.  It was a little awkward and I had momentary lost the humour of the situation, so I told him to not worry and that I wouldn’t take what he was saying personally.  After all I work with computers and not actually engineer real things. ….. Then we talked about computers and how he doesn’t get them but he uses them.  Once that window opened up for me to get my paperwork and run, I thanked him quickly for something then rushed to the window, almost reaching through to hug the lady on the other side.

So that’s the start to my China trip.  Oh, I am bringing US Dollars to China, so I shouldn’t have the same start as I did in Egypt where I was waiting for money from my friend.

I’ll try to keep in contact via Multiply and Facebook but I heard these might be blocked in China so I’ll see what I can do.  If you sign up as my friend on Multiply, you’ll get automatically notified when I do a blog post.  Otherwise you can wait until I get back.

再见    –  zài jiàn    –   Goodbye!