Back in BJ

That stands for Beijing for all y'all who needed that clarification!  They actually have shirts here that say I <3 BJ.  haha. 

Anyway, I'm jetlagged once again..yuck!  I'm back to waking up at 3 AM.  Somehow it's not so bad this time around.  It's probably because I have all this SAS MPH coursework to catch up on. 

Work is a little better.  I arrived in Beijing on Friday afternoon and found out I had to work yesterday (Saturday).  That was a welcome back to Beijing treat for me!  In China, people don't really have holidays.  It's not like the states where you look forward to 2 weeks off for winter vacation or a three day weekend for Labor Day.  No, not here.  For everyday you get off work for a holiday here, you've already made up that time (or will make it up) by working on the weekends.  So most recently, there was October National Holiday here in China from the 1st to the 7th.  Depending on the company, people will be working 1-2 days of the weekend for a while to make up for the "week they got off".  How much does that suck?  I really don't want to work here unless it's for an NGO/NPO or the embassy or for some international corporation.  Then you get twice as many holidays ;)  As long as one country is on vacation, you can't get anything done right?  :D

I was happy to have had dinner with Dr. Qian my States-side principal investigator (PI).  He is here visiting China with Dr. Heimburger of FICRS (the fellowship I'm on).  It was good to see familiar faces of people who may be able to understand some of the frustrations I have thus far in Beijing.  It was also at this Sichuan restaurant that provided a preforming arts show while you ate.  I've posted some pictures below of this crazy "acrobat" girl.  She just bends in ways that look absolutely painful!  I really didn't know people could bend like that.  It was actually really disturbing and mildly unappetizing.

Anyway, check out the pics below.  Other than that, send me an email or post how things are going for you!!  I need a boost for Beijing Round Two.


Below is some paranormal activity for you:

 Her butt is on her head!!!

That is some good balance right there!

Chicago!

After being in Chicago for a week and just taking a break from China, I realized how much I missed the good 'ol US of A.  It's good to be able to walk out of your apt and take a deep breath of clean, crisp, fresh air.  My lungs were not used to the oxygen levels there--they're all sorts of confused and they wonder constantly "where's the CO at?"

Anyway, much to everyone's relief (you can all stop holding your breath now and breathe) I got my work visa!! :)  yayyyyy  I know you were all very concerned ;)  I got the notorious and elusive 'Z' visa.  As far as I'm concerned, mission is accomplished.  It really wasn't too hard to get.  All I had to do was wait around 4 hours and then get yelled at by this lady who should not work the front desk for anyone in any country.  Those who are going to Chicago for a Chinese Visa, beware!!  She is mean!  I usually don't get phased by mean people, but she is just downright rude.  When I walked in that morning at 9:30, I got a front row viewing of her chewing this poor guy out about not having "copies" and the "right papers" and all that and I thought, okay maybe this guy was a little ill prepared, but then she just kept the same attitude the whole time.  By the time I got up to the front window, I thought, surely she won't yell at me.  I mean, come on, take a look at this sweet and innocent face! ;)  Plus, I'm totally prepared.  And this is how it went:

Me: Hi, how are you?
Visa lady:  Papers
Me:  okay
Visa: I need copies
Me: okay,
Visa:  This is not everything.
Me:  It's not?  What am I missing?
Visa:  Working permit
Me: oh, I have that, one second. (meanwhile, you don't realize this until you're at the counter but there's a lot of wind coming out of the paper slot from inside their office, so it's literally like trying to turn your papers in when there's an industrial sized fan blowing at you--probably why that guy was having such a hard time finding his copies)
Visa:  (3.5 seconds later with raised voice) Ma'am I need the copy
Me:  One second please, I have it right here
Visa: (3 seconds later with really raised voice coming out of the speaker) Ma'am please step aside
Me: one second please
Visa: Ma'am step aside (as she attempts to call the next person up)
Me:  it's right here!  (as I shove it through crinkled)

Then she glares at me, paperclips everything together, and literally tosses it like with a flick of the wrist into the tray haphazardly.  I'm sitting there thinking I really hope she doesn't lose any papers!  She hands me the receipt and I'm just glad to be done and she says, "Pick up is October 6th".  As I leave the counter, it registers to me that I'm leaving Chicago October 1st and October 6th is like 10 working days when the website clearly says a visa only takes max 4 working days.  So I turn around to ask her about it, but she's already called the next guy up to the counter.  I apologize to the guy and ask her, is there anyway to expedite the visa processing. 

Visa lady:  You did not say that the first time
Me: Well, I thought it only takes 4 business days to process a visa.
Visa:  Yes, but we have October holidays coming up
Me:  Yes that's not until October 1st.  (it was the 27th of sept so 4 working days would have been sept 30)
Visa: If you want it before the 6th, you need to expedite it
Me: (thinking whatever, I already had to come to America for this crap so what's another $20 on top of $140?) Okay, well can I expedite it?
Visa:  You'll have to wait until after this gentlemen. 
Me: Okay, sure.  (I step aside to wait)
Visa:  (with raised voice) Ma'am you'll have to wait until after this gentlemen is done. 
Me:  (thinking about how much I'd like to punch her in the face right about now) I understand.
Visa: (now nearly yelling) Please wait until after this gentlemen!
Me:  (I am so confused because I'm not saying anything. I'm not doing anything, yet she keeps yelling at me through the glass speaker.  So I finally just step out of her line of sight totally behind the guy, and apparently that's all she wanted because she shut up.  The guy then turns around and was like, "I'm so sorry!!"  I was like..dude, it's okay--just good luck with your stuff!

So, after all that, I walked out of the office feeling very sorry for the poor souls who ever walk into that office excited to go to China.  I hope that they never get this lady because she is an awful representative of China.  I was hoping she was just having a bad day, but I was talking to another friend of mine and I think that's just how she is because she remembers the crazy lady.  So, if you're in Chicago for a visa, avoid the skinny, angry looking lady who is in her mid thirties and hates life more than the trust fund babies of Uptown hate the idea of work or responsibilities. 

*sigh* hopefully when I get back I can get this visa exchanged to a temporary residence permit and then be smooth sailing from here on out!