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:

• 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