My to-do list is getting shorter and shorter, I like it. I have just spoken to the bank, and while I'm not the most impressed with what they've said, I now know how to send myself money in China. I have to phone the telephone banking service (which is fine, I'll be buying an international calling card ANYWAY), and they'll do it. Unlike 熙涵 who is supposed to go into the branch. And the bank couldn't see why that would be a problem.
Also, on Friday morning, at 8am, I went for my medical. I still have to get my results from the AIDS test and the Chest X-ray, and get the ECG done, and give him some pee (yum), but apart from that, it's all done. It sounds like a lot still to do, but considering how much was already done, it's nothing. So then it's just visa on Thursday and then ordering more money and packing. AAAAAAARGH! Scary. Really, really scary.
But also a little bit exciting.
Today's Fearometer Rating:8
Monday, 30 July 2007
Wednesday, 25 July 2007
t-27 days: Still No Medical
So, 26 days 'til I leave Costa Del Inverness behind, and only 9 days 'til I'm in Edinburgh applying for my visa. For which I need a medical (which you should all know by now). Thing is, I haven't actually had this medical yet, and the GP STILL hasn't got back to me about it. We gave up and phoned a secret department of the hospital that noone is meant to know about, but they can't do anything for the next two to three weeks. Fat lot of good that is.
And despite the GP getting the form over a week ago, he STILL hasn't got back to me, so I phoned AGAIN this morning, and am now sitting waiting for the return phone call. If it hasn't come in the next few hours, I'll start phoning hourly. I'm seriously hacked off. He got the forms last Wednesday, although the first phone call was made on the Monday. And yet STILL nothing, even about cost, how many appointments I need, absolutely nothing. For all I know, he might not have even looked at the forms.
But something good did happen. I got a lovely letter from SAAS informing me that yes, I can have more money. Now I just need Dr Smith Finley to send on my travel expenses claim and I'm laughing.
Today's Fearometer Rating:8
And despite the GP getting the form over a week ago, he STILL hasn't got back to me, so I phoned AGAIN this morning, and am now sitting waiting for the return phone call. If it hasn't come in the next few hours, I'll start phoning hourly. I'm seriously hacked off. He got the forms last Wednesday, although the first phone call was made on the Monday. And yet STILL nothing, even about cost, how many appointments I need, absolutely nothing. For all I know, he might not have even looked at the forms.
But something good did happen. I got a lovely letter from SAAS informing me that yes, I can have more money. Now I just need Dr Smith Finley to send on my travel expenses claim and I'm laughing.
Today's Fearometer Rating:8
Friday, 20 July 2007
t-32 days: ANGER.
Oh, you know how we told you in that letter that you can register from the 25th-31st? We lied. You can only move in on the 31st. So those flights you paid for on the 30th means you now have to pay for a hotel in Urumqi, HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Oh, and you have to pay for your rent upfront before we let you in. That's 3200元 please. MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Today's Fearometer Rating: 8
Oh, and you have to pay for your rent upfront before we let you in. That's 3200元 please. MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Today's Fearometer Rating: 8
t-32 days: To do list, revised
Things I STILL have to do:
Things I HAVE done (to make my feel better):
But no, I'm STILL not ready, and I still might 哭, it's just a little less likely.
Today's Fearometer Rating: 6
- Get a medical. Do. Not. Want. You have to get an ECG, an AIDS test and all sorts. It better not be really expensive, because I have to get one in China as well (I was supposed to just get one there, but the consulate here won't accept that (see previous posts panicking about this).
- Get my visa. Cannot be done without the medical. But still a stressful experience, as I have to go to Edinburgh which means getting a bus at 7:10 in the morning, and coming back a few hours later (and it's like, 3 and a half hours each way. So for those who think Inverness is right by Edinburgh, you're wrong. Really, really wrong). On two separate days.
- Work out how to send money to China. This just requires a call to the bank or similar, but I also need to work out how much and when to send money there. I know there are charges, and I would like to avoid them, but without leaving myself skint. Gah.
- Pack. This one can wait. Hurrah!
Things I HAVE done (to make my feel better):
- Get travel insurance. Yes sirree, I'm all insured :D
- Book flights from 北京 to 烏魯木齊/乌鲁木齐, 中国南方航空 (China Southern Airways) flight, here we come!
- Get my documents from 新疆师范大学 See previous post.
- Book accomodation in Beijing. Technically, this isn't done, but I have sent the email and am just waiting for a reply.
- Get travel money. I have 200元 and 300 (about 2300元) American Dollars Travellers Cheques, which should do me until I get my first load of money sent over from here. If not, I always have credit cards/bank card.
But no, I'm STILL not ready, and I still might 哭, it's just a little less likely.
Today's Fearometer Rating: 6
Wednesday, 18 July 2007
t-34：I has dokumintz!
(English is below - any bilinguals please do correct, it required a lot of dictionarying.)
利亚姆 同学：
我们很高兴的通知您，经审核您的申请材料，我校己决定录取您作为语言生在我校汉语教育 学院 汉语 专业学习，时间自2007年 9月 _ 日起至2008年07月_日止，授课语言为汉语。
请您持本录取通知书，外国留学人员来华签证申请表(JW202)原件和“外国人体格检记录”原件，前往中国使（领）馆办理来华学习(X) 签证，并于2007年08月25日至2007年08月31日期间，到我校国际合作与交流处（国际文化交流学院）报到。因故不能按时到校报到者，必须事先征得本校同意，否则将视为自动放弃入学资格。
注：入境后，请立即到学办理报到手续， 并在30天内办理居留许可证逾期公安局将罚款。
Liam:
We are happy to inform you that having received your application, we have decided to accept you as a language student at our School of Chinese, from _/09/2007 until _/07/2008, for instruction in Chinese.
Please take your acceptance letter, Visa Application for International Students and Visa Application Form to the Chinese Embassy (Consulate) to get your Student (X) Visa, and then between 25/08/2007 and 31/08/2007 to our international office to register. If you are unable to register between those dates, you must first approve this with the school, otherwise you may lose your place.
Footnote: After entering China, and within 30 days of registering at the school, you should go to the Public Security Bureau and obtain a Residency Permit.
Today's Fearometer Rating: 5
利亚姆 同学：
我们很高兴的通知您，经审核您的申请材料，我校己决定录取您作为语言生在我校汉语教育 学院 汉语 专业学习，时间自2007年 9月 _ 日起至2008年07月_日止，授课语言为汉语。
请您持本录取通知书，外国留学人员来华签证申请表(JW202)原件和“外国人体格检记录”原件，前往中国使（领）馆办理来华学习(X) 签证，并于2007年08月25日至2007年08月31日期间，到我校国际合作与交流处（国际文化交流学院）报到。因故不能按时到校报到者，必须事先征得本校同意，否则将视为自动放弃入学资格。
注：入境后，请立即到学办理报到手续， 并在30天内办理居留许可证逾期公安局将罚款。
Liam:
We are happy to inform you that having received your application, we have decided to accept you as a language student at our School of Chinese, from _/09/2007 until _/07/2008, for instruction in Chinese.
Please take your acceptance letter, Visa Application for International Students and Visa Application Form to the Chinese Embassy (Consulate) to get your Student (X) Visa, and then between 25/08/2007 and 31/08/2007 to our international office to register. If you are unable to register between those dates, you must first approve this with the school, otherwise you may lose your place.
Footnote: After entering China, and within 30 days of registering at the school, you should go to the Public Security Bureau and obtain a Residency Permit.
Today's Fearometer Rating: 5
Friday, 13 July 2007
t-39 days: To-do list
So, people keep asking if I'm all organized and ready to go to The Middle Kingdom. In a word: no.
Things I still have to do:
So no, I'm not ready, please don't ask, because I might 哭.
Making this list has increased the Fearometer rating:
Today's Fearometer Rating:7
Things I still have to do:
- Get a medical. Do. Not. Want. You have to get an ECG, an AIDS test and all sorts. It better not be really expensive, because I have to get one in China as well (I was supposed to just get one there, but the consulate here won't accept that (see previous posts panicking about this).
- Get my documents from 新疆师范大学 (Xinjiang Normal University. Why 师范 is translated to Normal is beyond me, it means "teacher-training."). Nothing I can do to expedite that, but I am still sitting stressing about it.
- Get my visa. Cannot be done without the previous two. But still a stressful experience, as I have to go to Edinburgh which means getting a bus at 7:10 in the morning, and coming back a few hours later (and it's like, 3 and a half hours each way. So for those who think Inverness is right by Edinburgh, you're wrong. Really, really wrong). On two separate days.
- Book accomodation in Beijing. We're staying in Beijing for a week before going to 烏魯木齊/乌鲁木齐, so we need somewhere to stay. We have seen a place we both really like (we being 熙涵 and I), but until we know when we can move into our room in 新疆师范大学，we can't do anything about that.
- Book flights from 北京 to 烏魯木齊/乌鲁木齐, but again, can't do that yet.
- Work out how to send money to China. This just requires a call to the bank or similar, but I also need to work out how much and when to send money there. I know there are charges, and I would like to avoid them, but without leaving myself skint. Gah.
- Pack. This one can wait. Hurrah!
So no, I'm not ready, please don't ask, because I might 哭.
Making this list has increased the Fearometer rating:
Today's Fearometer Rating:7
Thursday, 12 July 2007
t-40 days: Money
Here is the last two days in lolcats speak:
Wednesday:
Me: Oh hai, i are needz a money for the Chiyna.
Bank's Interweb: Oh hai, you are wants how many?
Me: I are not know, you are give me the amerkun dollaz travilerz checkz, 300 moneys please.
BI: Okai, you are come tomoro get, yes?
Me: Okai.
Thursday:
Me: I are go shops.
Me: I are bored shops. I are go home.
Me: I are get off publictogethersteamchariot. Oh noes! The moneys! I go tomoro.
This post was inspired by the text conversation had with 熙涵 which was entirely in lolcat speak. For those who don't know what lolcats are: click here (Warning: really quite funny)
Today's Fearometer Rating: 5
Wednesday:
Me: Oh hai, i are needz a money for the Chiyna.
Bank's Interweb: Oh hai, you are wants how many?
Me: I are not know, you are give me the amerkun dollaz travilerz checkz, 300 moneys please.
BI: Okai, you are come tomoro get, yes?
Me: Okai.
Thursday:
Me: I are go shops.
Me: I are bored shops. I are go home.
Me: I are get off publictogethersteamchariot. Oh noes! The moneys! I go tomoro.
This post was inspired by the text conversation had with 熙涵 which was entirely in lolcat speak. For those who don't know what lolcats are: click here (Warning: really quite funny)
Today's Fearometer Rating: 5
Tuesday, 10 July 2007
t-41 days: STRESS (Part 2)
So, further to earlier's post, I have since discovered that not only do I have to go to Edinburgh for my visa, they also won't accept my application without a medical. This is despite the fact that we have been told by the university not to get a medical here, as we will get a medical at the other end anyway, and will end up paying for two.
And so I look at the form. The usual medical things (blood type, have you ever had BadSpellingOfEnglishNameForHorrendousObscureDiseases). Then a few I hadn't expected. ECG. Chest X-Ray. AIDS test. STI test. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH.
Anyone offended by swearing, please look away now.
FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK.
As you were.
Today's Fearometer Rating:9
And so I look at the form. The usual medical things (blood type, have you ever had BadSpellingOfEnglishNameForHorrendousObscureDiseases). Then a few I hadn't expected. ECG. Chest X-Ray. AIDS test. STI test. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH.
Anyone offended by swearing, please look away now.
FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK.
As you were.
Today's Fearometer Rating:9
t-41 days: STRESS
On Monday the 13th of August, I will travel to Manchester to stay with a friend for two nights, see a gig, and get my chinese visa. WRONG. I will still go to Manchester, but I won't be getting my visa. Because I have to get my visa at Edinburgh. Nowhere else will accept my application.
Problem: Edinburgh does not do a same day service. So it means either staying overnight and paying the £15 next day charge, or going down to apply, coming back, then going down 4 working days later to pick up, then coming back. Either way, quelle chore.
Also, the consulate's website says I have to take a medical certificate. But we were told not to get medicals done here, as they would be done in China. Zenmeban?! (What to do?)
Also, still no documents (although we've been told they're on route - faxed copies have arrived, but not hard copies). So no flights can be booked to Urumqi. However, I do have a travel agent friend who has said she can do flights for hopefully cheap (although she hasn't given me any actual figures). All this stress means that I am now also scared once more, The Fear has returned. If this is going wrong BEFORE I go, what might go wrong when I'm there? AAAAAARGH.
Today's Fearometer Rating:6
Problem: Edinburgh does not do a same day service. So it means either staying overnight and paying the £15 next day charge, or going down to apply, coming back, then going down 4 working days later to pick up, then coming back. Either way, quelle chore.
Also, the consulate's website says I have to take a medical certificate. But we were told not to get medicals done here, as they would be done in China. Zenmeban?! (What to do?)
Also, still no documents (although we've been told they're on route - faxed copies have arrived, but not hard copies). So no flights can be booked to Urumqi. However, I do have a travel agent friend who has said she can do flights for hopefully cheap (although she hasn't given me any actual figures). All this stress means that I am now also scared once more, The Fear has returned. If this is going wrong BEFORE I go, what might go wrong when I'm there? AAAAAARGH.
Today's Fearometer Rating:6
Saturday, 7 July 2007
t-44 days: No More Fear(tm)
Today is a completely fear free days in terms of going to the Middle Kingdom. I couldn't even tell you why.
Last night, I booked my train tickets to go to Manchester to get my Visa (if the bloody documents ever arrive), so that's one less thing to worry about. Until we have documents from the university telling us when we can move into our rooms there, we can't really book our flights from 北京 （Beijing) to 乌鲁木齐（Urumchi). Although thinking about it, we could book the flights (they're already 2680元，about 175 english pounds*） and stay in a hotel in Urumchi (阿涵，what thinkest thou?)
Also, hotels for 北京, tai exciting le. I've found some AMAZING family run hostel type dealies for around ten to fifteen pounds per night right in the centre, private room and bathroom. They have great reviews as well (in varying degrees of english).
Which is a thing I don't like about China. With the Olympics coming up, the Chinese government are trying to stamp out chinglish, which is a shame. I mean, "Small Heart, Don't Walk On The Grass" is just cute, and I have no objections to standing at an Enjoy Stand (viewpoint). "To take notice of safe: The slippery are very crafty." Okay, so I'd fall on my ass, not realising that it meant the floor was slippery, but still, it's fun. We can't stand the sight of mattress fragrant grass. I could go on.
Obviously, "Deformed" or "Crippled" for "Disabled" (Or "differently abled" if we're to be PC in an American way) isn't too good, but when they're still using words like 'steek (to close, of a door)' and 'to blue (to blow in modern english),' who can blame them?
Today's Fearometer Rating:0
*correct at time of writing (exchange rate 1GBP=15.2852CNY)
Last night, I booked my train tickets to go to Manchester to get my Visa (if the bloody documents ever arrive), so that's one less thing to worry about. Until we have documents from the university telling us when we can move into our rooms there, we can't really book our flights from 北京 （Beijing) to 乌鲁木齐（Urumchi). Although thinking about it, we could book the flights (they're already 2680元，about 175 english pounds*） and stay in a hotel in Urumchi (阿涵，what thinkest thou?)
Also, hotels for 北京, tai exciting le. I've found some AMAZING family run hostel type dealies for around ten to fifteen pounds per night right in the centre, private room and bathroom. They have great reviews as well (in varying degrees of english).
Which is a thing I don't like about China. With the Olympics coming up, the Chinese government are trying to stamp out chinglish, which is a shame. I mean, "Small Heart, Don't Walk On The Grass" is just cute, and I have no objections to standing at an Enjoy Stand (viewpoint). "To take notice of safe: The slippery are very crafty." Okay, so I'd fall on my ass, not realising that it meant the floor was slippery, but still, it's fun. We can't stand the sight of mattress fragrant grass. I could go on.
Obviously, "Deformed" or "Crippled" for "Disabled" (Or "differently abled" if we're to be PC in an American way) isn't too good, but when they're still using words like 'steek (to close, of a door)' and 'to blue (to blow in modern english),' who can blame them?
Today's Fearometer Rating:0
*correct at time of writing (exchange rate 1GBP=15.2852CNY)
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