June 12, 2002

The Chinese red-tape monster has reared it's ugly head again, and I can only hope I become used to these sometimes confusing and frustrating processes. Actually, I really think I am already starting to because during this latest "adventure" I am feeling a milder amount of irritation than in times past. Unfortunately, things aint over yet, so the worst of it may be just around the corner. Wondering what it is this time? OK, I'll break the suspense, if there even was any (!), and tell you that it concerns my extending my current visa so I can stay in China through the summer and up until the beginning of the next school semester. It really should be a pretty simple matter, but you just can't seem to count on that out here!

To start things off, I filled out application forms for the next semester and gathered the required accompanying documents. A quick run down of what I had to do goes like this: Got letter of recommendation from current professor and had it stamped and authorized at office A. Proceeded to office B and obtained enrollment application forms. Returned to office A and inquired as to how I can extend my Chinese visa so I can stay in-country through the summer. They had me fill out another form, and told me they couldn't stamp it until I got a receipt from office B for my enrollment application. Went back to office B, completed the application forms and paid $50 application fee. Received receipt, and was informed to return 2 weeks later to pickup acceptance letter. Back again to office A to present my receipt, had it stamped, and was told to bring it, along with my residency permit, to a PSB (Public Security Bureau) office in another part of the city. Whew!! Now, did you get all that? The worst part is that these offices aren't even in the same building! At this point I still have to go to the faraway PSB with some of these stamped papers and request a visa extension along with an additional entry into China so I could go home for a short vacation. Not too bad except for the fact that I will have to get yet another visa once the new semester starts that will allow me to stay here until the end of school. What joy that's gonna be!!!

Before I could get to the PSB I was visited by my landlord and we signed a new lease agreement. Was able to knock off 800 RMB a month through some shrewd dealing, so I'm pretty pleased with that. During the visit, I, in my crude Chinese, told him about going to the PSB for a visa extension. He told me that I would first need to go with him to the more local PSB and get my residency permit updated for a longer stay. Sheesh! OK, so off we went to the local PSB and after waiting a while for someone to show up in the office, we spoke with a female officer about what we needed to do. Well, this kicked off a long and confusing back-and forth that ultimately ended in her telling me that they couldn't extend my residency permit until I had my visa extended! Now, I hate to keep asking all of you this question, but did you get that? I have been informed that I need to have a current residency permit to extend my visa, yet I can't extend my residency permit until I get a new visa!!! Chinese loony-bin here I come!! Woo-hoo, ha-ha, Hee-hee!!! Bottom line is that someone's mistaken here and it's gonna take some more legwork to figure all this out.

"It's a China-Thing" Note: Having things stamped is a big deal out here. It makes official even the most ordinary of paperwork and ensures you can proceed the next step in your path to things getting completed. Oftentimes one stamp just doesn't cut it and you are treated to the sounds of repeated poundings with a variety of different sized rubber stamps. You can get your daily fix of stamping at a variety of places. Just head on over to any store or business of your choosing and receive a 3-copy receipt for the item you want to buy and bring it to the appropriate payment booth several aisles away. Be sure you don't choose one of the payment booths located closer to where you made your selection of what to buy!! They might be for other sub-departments, and may just turn you away after you've waited in line behind a handful of people. Once you locate the correct booth, you can get your receipts stamped to the ultimate state of officialness. Now, don't forget to return to the original counter where you purchased the item because they are holding it for you to make sure they get their copy of the receipt before its release! You can get stamps for the most simple of purchases like a pen, or a pack of batteries. Like Dong laoshi says, "It's eeeaassyy!" Sometimes you'll be amazed at how such an insignificant item merits a stamped receipt. These little mom and pop shops had better get their act together cuz I'm sure people are simply avoiding their establishments and going out of their way for this kind of treat!!

On the lighter side, I am still one helluva happy guy out here! It's beyond the scope of this meager journal for me to properly express it in all it's forms. Simply put, I am truly lucky! One of the several positive outcomes of my decision to come here would be that, despite the polluted skies of this city, my health seems to have improved quite a bit. I ride my bike a lot, which is a huge improvement in exercise over the occasional extended walk from the company offices to my parked car!! Ha-ha! I also no longer pop Tylenol like candy, and I haven't had to use but one antacid pill since arriving. The antacid thing is pretty amazing cuz I eat hot and spicy foods all the time here. Much more than I did back home. Anyway, I am really pleased about not having to rely so much on those kinda things. Another good and healthy thing is that I have dramatically increased the amount of vegetables I eat. I love em, and my favorite here is something called "suanrong bocai", which is basically Chinese spinach in a light garlic sauce. Damn-fine eating let me tell ya!! Bet my mother's amazed that I eat spinach....always hated the stuff back home. I'll have to tell y'all more about the food in a future journal entry.

Still continuing the positive themes, I'd like to briefly describe the student show held in the university auditorium. It was pretty cool! There, now was that brief enough? Allright, I know I can be a pain in the ass about things, but really there's not too much to say except that it was an entirely student driven event and was participated in by most foreign student classes......except ours. I heard that, for one reason or another, Dong laoshi didn't feel this sort of thing was in our class' best interests. Oh well, not like I wanted to get up there and sing or dance anyway! Those classes that did make up the event did a pretty good job keeping the audience entertained, and the time seemed to really fly. I probably would have enjoyed it even more had I been able to understand more of what was being said in the skits etc. Everything was in Chinese and it's encouraging hearing other foreigners speaking the language so well.

Just last night we had yet another performance at the school auditorium. This time we were professionally entertained by a group of acrobats, a magician, a couple very entertaining guys doing shadow scenes with their hands, a contortionist, and others. The guys making shadows with their hands were incredible, and the contortionist had me in disbelief that someone could do all those things with their body. I wouldn't have even gone had it not been for the "little" lie my friends Su yao, Oilan, and Sharon told me. They had me believing that the show would be another student production and they would be in it. Let's see, Sharon said she was going to spin plates, and Su Yao was going to jump through hoops. Anyway, as soon as the curtain opened I knew I had been duped! If it wasn't for the fact that these same three girls made me a wonderful impromptu dinner at my place recently, I would be seeking revenge in a swift and effective manner!! Revenge may still be forthcoming.

One bit of sad news. My language partner Karen has returned home to stay with her family before going to college in Australia. I'm really going to miss her, and am very happy when I think that maybe I played a small part in her passing the required tests to be allowed to study overseas. I know she has helped me a lot with my own studies and am very thankful to have been able to work with her. Karen, if you read this, GOOD LUCK AND GOOD FORTUNE!!!

I think I'm gonna pass on the Chinese television thing until the next entry. Too many performance pics and this entry's already a bit too lengthy. Sorry 'bout dat! You'll get it next time....PROMISE!