February 25, 2002

School registration turned out to be just what I expected....another adventure!! I arrived at the registration building 15 minutes early and found that a line had already formed all the way up to the doors of Building #3. ( By the way, every building seems to be numbered in this fashion whether it be university or residential.) After an hour wait I arrived at the counter to present my papers. Next was line number 2 for the payment of tuition fees. As I waited there amongst the swarm of students from many different countries speaking several different tongues, it struck me that it might be a good idea to ask if I was in the right line to pay by credit card. The answer: No!! I had to leave the line and walk across campus to a bank and make payment there. I thought "Great, another bank fiasco." Well, luckily it wasn't and I was back in my original place in line number 2. This, thanks to a Filipino student who recognized me and let me back in. After about 15 minutes the woman who told me about paying at the bank walked by and started speaking to me in a very fast Mandarin. Thankfully, someone understood what she was saying and it turned out that all I need to do now was to collect my student I.D.. She grabbed my arm and led me to the desk I originally presented my papers to and I was soon handed a red Mao Quotations-looking student I.D. booklet. The process wasn't over yet. In 2 days I would need to report to a classroom to be tested for my Chinese proficiency. Ha!! What's the point? I have virtually none!

Almost forgot! The Chinese name given to me by the stressed-out girl behind the desk: Dong Lan. Ugh.

February 26, 2002

The next morning I arrived at the registration building again to find out where the classroom was that I needed to be tested at. I found my name on a board, but all I could make out was my student ID number and A20, 345. The rest was in Chinese and I had no idea what the heck it meant, and more importantly, where I was supposed to go. Outside the building, as registration still taking place, there was another long line extending oput the building just like the day beffore. There was no way I was going to wait in that line again, especially for what should be a simple question!! I went to another counter where no-one spoke English, and through the liberal use of hand signals and quick Mandarin Dictionary lookups, a campus map was produced and I was directed to go to building #2. I didn't have a lot of confidence in the answer as the people who were "helping" me seemed to be very confused even as I was leaving.

Something didn't seem right about building #2 so I thought it best to get another opinion. I remembered that the Foreign Students Enrollment office where I first gathered materials about the University had English speaking staff, so I decided to head there for help. I entered that building and a young man essentially told me that I shouldn't have to take the test if I couldn't speak any Mandarin. Well, I thought that was all fine and dandy, but I wasn't going to take any chances...not in China! I was directed back to building #3 but told to go to a different room to get help. I arrived to a closed door that had its windows taped over with paper, and nothing indicating it was a place to go for help. I knocked anyway. After a moment the door was answered by a confused and shocked -looking woman. Great, another dead-end! Again, more hand signs and references to the dictionary before she headed out of the room with my student ID in hand. Moments later she returned with an older man who told me exactly where I needed to go for the test. Woo-hoo!! FINALLY!!! Before leaving, he asked me if I would mind helping the lady, who's office we were standing in, with her English. I said it depended on what my school workload was like and that I would stop back after classes started. Little did I know that this would be the first of many requests for my assistance with teaching someone English.

February 27, 2002

The testing classroom slowly filled-up with students ready to take their proficiency tests. A short while after everyone was seated, a man entered the room smiling and motioning for us to move forward. No-one did and there was some tension in the air mainly because most everyone of us had no idea what the test consisted of. Anyway, the teacher pulled a stack of papers out of his briefcase and brought one to a student sitting closest to him. He pointed at the top corner of the paper and looking at all of us said, "Name". OK, an easy start, but I knew it was going to go downhill from there.

I received my paper and after filling in my name, I noticed that the entire paper had a couple or few columns filled with all sorts of Chinese characters. Thankfully, after a moment a young guy in front of me turned turned around and told all of us that we were supposed to circle the characters that we knew. I sat there for about 10 seconds and then brought my completely unfinished paper up to the teacher. He smiled at me and I smiled back shrugging my shoulders and giving him my best "I have no idea what any of this is!" look. He then pulled out another paper with some Pinyin words and asked me to repeat them. Because Pinyin is an Englishized form of Chinese, I did my best with the unusual combinations of letters and vowels. After trying my darndest, he scribbled something on the paper. By now other students were approaching the desk. I was a little embarrassed as it appeared as though I was the only one who didn't put a single thing down on the paper. I asked the same student who originally told us what to do if I should go or what? He said I should wait, and after a moment announced that myself and another guy who did poorly had been graded A0 and we could leave. So I left the class knowing I was the lowest of the low and would be attending the equivalent of Chinese Kindergarten!

February 28, 2002

I located my name on a board in the auditorium and with the help of nice guy named He Yi, I was able to figure out EXACTLY where I needed. What a change in circumstances!! After helping me out, He Yi told me he had a friend who needed assistance with her English. Great, another request to help someone with their English. Well, like I mentioned to the lady in the office a couple days before, it would all depend on my class-load and study schedule. He took my number, and I his for future reference.

Finally!!! The whole damn registration process was finished!!! I can't tell you just how relieved I was!!