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We have to go back to Beijing.
Yes, you read that correctly. Apparently, an idiot named Richard forgot to mention that we needed a new health inspection. The original one that we got in Hangzhou doesn’t seem to have done the job. So, in three hours we have to get on the 8 hour train and go back just to have someone draw our blood, take our pulse, and make sure we aren’t dying or have any infectious diseases.
I’m am so pissed off.
Richard had a month to remember that we needed to get this done. I can’t believe that he waited until we got here to realize that this needed to be done.
Well, in the middle of writing this we have gotten word that there are no train tickets available to Beijing tonight, and there won’t be until Sunday. On top of all this, we are technically illegal. We entered the country on the 13th of February and we had 30 days to get all of our paper work in order. Today is the 15th. You do the math.
Anyone have a safe house we could stay in if things turn real ugly?
And the craziest thing is that we don’t have our passports in our possessions because they needed them to get our resident permits. Because we don’t have our passports, we are forced to take the train when the plane is the most obvious choice to get back to Beijing. I just can’t believe this. I really can’t.
poor you! i’ll be watching the news for stories about Americans breaking Chinese laws. don’t go to jail or anything!
~kristen
March 15, 2007 @ 8:58 PM
Hi Gabby,
First thing I’d do is contact the U.S. Embassy in Beijing NOW and speak to an American Representative so that the issue of over-staying can be handled without too much fuss. The fine is 500 RMB per day if you overstay a visa, and they are rather rigid on this unless you have extenuating and provable circumstances (which you do).
Who is doing the admin stuff for you ? Are you going to teach in Beijing or Hangzhou ? I would demand to know who was responsible for this F**k-up and hammer a stake through his heart.
They should have been made aware of your 30 day visa situation and they should have done their job properly. You are now allowed to yell at the school staff in China. This is not normal for foreigners, but it’s the only way you’ll get s**t happening in the correct manner. NEVER yell at Government people or anyone in a uniform.
I hope it all turns out OK.
Jamieson
http://www.20six.co.uk/jamiesons-luck-new
March 18, 2007 @ 1:03 PM
Damn, that is f*cked up! (I’m just now getting around to reading your blogs a bit more often than I’ve been able too.) You’re blogging up a storm in here!
March 23, 2007 @ 9:46 PM