Money, Visa, Homestay hosts, Gifts and my lawn.

So, less than a week to go.  Acck, less than a week to go!  OH MY GOD, LESS THAN A WEEK TO GO!!!!!

I have 45 minutes to my next social event. I have way over extended myself this month and I have to at least pack. I am not packing, I am writing my blog.

I am sitting in my living room, drinking coffee, watching my lawn grow.  It has been more than three weeks since I mowed it because I have been out of town for three weekends in a row. Three weeks of beautiful, sunny weather.  Now, it is raining.  Not that I have time to mow my lawn anyway but the rain just adds insult to injury.  Why am I focusing on my lawn when I have so many other things to worry about?  Maybe it is my brain's defense mechanism to avoid blowing up from having to think about everything that needs to be done.  Or maybe that is really the only thing that needs to be done.  We'll find out in 5 days.

Here is my lovely, lush, long grass.

I have managed to do a few things in between work and social life.  I ordered  some Chinese Wuan.  Yikes.  I just had to google how to spell Yuan and found out that isn't even the real name of Chinese money.  Thanks Wikipedia!  The renminbi is the official currency of the People's Republic of China. The yuan (Chinese: 元; pinyin: yuán) is the basic unit of the renminbi, but is also used to refer to the Chinese currency generally, especially in international contexts where "Chinese yuan" is widely used to refer to the renminbi. 

Anyway, I bought my foreign currency, whatever it is called, from a money exchange place instead of the bank for the first time.  RBC was not forthright with their exchange info and I had heard that the exchange places give better rates.

So, I used FX Connectors on Wharf St.  I had to go before work because I wasn't going to be able to go at any other time. They are in a hole in a very old, historical building that I have never even glanced at before (always taking my beautiful old city for granted). Once I finally figured out how to get to their office, it wasn't the drop in counter situation I was expecting.  I was ushered into an office for a sit down transaction. They were very nice and I have yuan now so that task is done.

This photo was taken from street level.

FX Connectors 1208 Wharf St. 
Follow the little white signs to that door on the bottom left
 (if you can figure out how to get to the staircase)

I finally got my Chinese Visa yesterday.  Single entry 30 days.  I know that one of the other people going got a five year, multi-entry visa so I am pretty sure China is dubious about my visit but one entry is all I need to convince them of my awesomeness (except for not knowing what their money is).

I emailed my host (female) to introduce myself.  She wrote back.  Here name is Lily and she has a husband and a 7 year old daughter.  She sent a photo of the family and they are beautiful.  It is the kind of family photo where they look so lovely and happy, it makes you happy to see them.  I will post it once I get up the nerve to ask for permission.

Lily says we will be visiting her husband's family for dinner once or twice as well as eating at their place.  Which brings me to gifts.  I think I mentioned that Geoff suggested smoked salmon and ice wine were favourite host gifts (not maple syrup which is what I thought would be good).  I cornered Niya once I knew that I also had a child to meet.  Niya, who is from China and will be accompanying us for one week of the field school, suggested an English picture dictionary.  Great idea.  I found one with a Canada theme.  Niya also reminded me that I should plan for an extra gift or two.

Final gift haul:  smoked salmon in a fancy box, ice wine in a not fancy box, C is for Canada book, a BC photo book and a box of empress squares from Rogers Chocolate (courtesy of my friends Chris and Cathy) in a semi-fancy box.  (I am making some wild assumptions about fancy box desirability).

Next day - since I left off about about four paragraphs ago (Saturday 9:30am-ish), I have been to a movie, lunch, bought my new camera and been to a wedding receptions (Amy and Fletcher = Flamey!).  As I said, I have overextended myself.  But now it is Sunday 9am and I don't have to be at my conference until noon so I am eyeing up the weather.  I think I can get the front yard done.  Neighbours who want to sleep in on a Sunday be damned!

Twelve hours later - I got the lawn done.  It was a wet messy hatchet job but I don't care.  Then the rest of the day at conference with lots of new people to meet and food to eat.  A good day, but I'm still not packed. 

A few quick notes on other things on my mind as I try to get myself organized: 

The cat is sick.  Why do they always get sick right before I go away.  Two trips to the vet, third and hopefully last one tomorrow.

here she is looking tiny and frail.  Recuperation nap.

My new camera.  I guess I will figure out how to use it on the plane. 

Who is going to take me to the airport and pick me up: Alisma and Valerie respectively (I have good friends).

I took the Myers-Briggs personality test last week.  We get the results on Tuesday.  I already know what my result will be.  Personality:  TBRQ - too busy to read the questions.  It said it would take 20-25 minutes.  I think I did it in 5-7 minutes. 

I'm going to bed so I guess it's time to hit 'post' on this thing. 

Funding, Air Canada, Cultural Competencies, probably some other 'but I digress' stuff

Funding:
I have two potential sources of funding available through work.  My Staff Development fund (general education) and an International Global Grant (only for this experience).  Plus, self funding but that is the absolute last resort so let's pretend I never said those words. 

The costs of the Field School have been finalized and I have paid my $1500.  I have applied for SD funding for that. I can access up to $2000 year.  But I want to keep a bit back for a course I would like to take in Summer (Dot, yelling won't stop me).

So, I am hoping the Global Grant will fund the airfare and some additional costs, such as taxis, some meals not included, immunization (Dukoral!), passport photos etc.  I did up a budget of all travel, meals, incidentals that are not included in the cost of the field school.  I wrote up a lovely, detailed letter outlining my needs and basically asked for another $1000.  This, of course, does not cover any side trips (The Wall!) and my two extra days in Shanghai and Beijing, those are on my dime.

So far, I have only been approved for the $500 deposit from SD but a fairly firm verbal A-Ok about the other $1000.  It's the Global Grant that is the unknown. I'll keep you posted. 

Air Canada:
I got another one of those dreaded 'schedule change alert' emails from Air Canada.  Oh, how I dread the schedule change (see Ecuador & Vietnam).  I opened the email and couldn't even figure out what the change was.  Turns out it is something like a 10 minute change for an earlier departure time.  Yes, please.  Finally a good one!.  Or at least a mostly neutral one.

Cultural Competencies: 
We had another meeting about the field school to go over some cultural competencies.  We mostly covered general stuff about how not to be a racist jerk, even if unintentional.  But I was really keen to hear about the 'side notes' like where to sit at a round dinner table (answer, wait and someone will put you in an appropriate spot based on your social rank - I may be in the kitchen).   I need more of that stuff.

Apparently how you hand over a business card or gift is important.  Two hands!

We are all going to take the Myers Briggs personality assessment to see what type of person/traveler we are.  We are going to spend a lot of time together and we all are basically strangers so this should be interesting (or my worst nightmare).  We meet again about that right before we go.

But I digress: Homestay
Oh, update on homestay.  We aren't going to be staying with families for the first week in Xuzhou.  We are in a hotel.  But we are good to go for week two in Baotou.  As you know, the homestay was what sold me on the field school in the first place.  So, this isn't the greatest news but I'm glad we still get the opportunity for some of the time.

Luzia sent me the name of my homestay person and some detailed biographical info.  Here it is in it's entirety:  (female).  Well, I barely need to find out anymore!  We should get along like gangbusters based on both having lady parts!  Luzia wants us to contact our homestay and introduce ourselves.  I don't even know which is her first name and last name. I have her full name but if memory serves me, names are reversed.  To Google!

I found this informative website  http://www.protocolprofessionals.com/articles_china_print.htm. (I hope it is culturally competent and not just stereotyping, I live in fear - I have only ever humiliated myself on trips before, I have never represented my employer).   So, last name first, first name last.  Plus title.  I don't have a title, not even a Ms or Miss or Mrs.  I'll keep you posted.

More random thoughts: 
I am busy downloading some apps on my phone.  WeChat, the messaging system people use in China.  Can't use Google translate so I downloaded Baitu (?). And XE Exchange.

I went through International Ed's online course/field school resources.  Lots more to read on cultural stuff.

I went over to Chris's and basically stole a wheelie bag from her.  Wheelie bag travel.  Look how grown up I am!

Here are two BBC articles on the two cities I will be visiting.  Umm, can you spot the differences? If the names of the articles doesn't tip you off, the pictures & descriptions sure will.  (Granted the one on Xuzhou is a fluffy travel piece and the one on Baotou is about industry and the West's insatiable demands for newer and shinier electronics.)

Xuzhou:  The Land of Water

Baotou:  The Worst Place on Earth

Fortunately, Bautou is where I have my homestay (female) so she can show me around the city and hopefully,  focus on the nice parts.  I have been assured it isn't as bad as this article makes it seem.  Plus, we have had a longer relationship with the Baotou school so we can be a bit more comfortable with them.  Our connections to Xuzhou are newer so more formal interactions are to be expected.

Visa

I received an email from International Ed on Friday, very politely asking me if I had any questions about the Visa Application.  Oh Oh!.  I searched back through my emails and found the one with the Chinese visa application and the 'please fill out, we would like to have them in by Friday'. That was from two weeks before!.  Never don't add an alert!.

I still have that unused passport photo from the Cambodia visa application process/almost disaster, and of course, I had my  passport.  But they were at home.  Fortunately, I had a meeting at the other campus so I was going to be driving in that direction anyway so I figured I could do it and no one would be the wiser.  Until I looked at the visa application.  There were so many questions I had no idea what the answer might be.  I had to fess up and email Luzia for some info (dates, locations, what kind of worker am I - turns out I am not 'company employee', I am 'other', who knew - Luzia knew!).

I don't think I was fooling anyone with my 'responsible, prepared traveler' shtick anyway.  Luzia, who is the nicest person in the world (not just my opinion btw) sent me the info and I dutifully cut and pasted it into my visa application.  Drove by my house to pick up the passport and photo and headed over to Lansdowne for my meeting and to give everything to Luzia.  Except when I got to Lansdowne, I discovered Luzia was at Interurban until noon.  So much for the meeting.

Back in my car, back to Interurban and managed to get the everything into Luzia's hands before she left.  That's when she said, 'oh, not to worry, some of the other participants won't have theirs in until Monday'.  Emotion 1:  Baaahhh!!!.  Emotion 2:  Thank god I'm not the only one.

Update (next day) on my visa application.  Luzia emailed to let me know that China has rejected my photo.  Apparently China is quite particular about the photo for their Visa.  My Vietnam/Cambodia photo was too big. Plus, I was wearing jewelry.  No earrings, no necklace. It seems they are very particular about your photo. (No Tilting, No Crying!) 

So, back to London Drugs on my lunch break (have I whined about how busy I am at work that I don't even have time to do my travel planning!  Feel free to pity me).  They took my picture so many times.  Total shout out to London Drugs Tillicum photo centre.  They did not want me and my mug rejected again.  First the light was wrong, then my tooth was showing (twice - I have been looking at myself for 50 years and it took this to make me realize my tooth sticks out a bit when I blank-face-smile 😐).  Then my ears were showing!  Even with my short hair, ears have to be completely visible.  Anyway, eventually I got my photo and handed it into Luzia in International. 

But wait...  (I am now still writing this five days after I started it, buuuuuuuussssssssssssy). 

Now, China wants my last, cancelled passport.  Why?  I don't know.  China wants it, China gets it.  They are pretty much holding all of the cards.  Plus I don't really care and they seem to, so they win.  I am starting to worry they might say I can't come in.  It is hard to say what they may or may like about my ears and/or past travel.   Cross your fingers. 

I reject your rejection!

I was going to write about funding and other fun stuff but ... (fill in usual refrain about length of post and general winery about busyness). Instead I will search google images for something to spice this post up. 

All's good.  The goal is to meet some great people, see some amazing places and learn some cool stuff.  This is nothing but a minor blip to keep me alert.

Forbidden City, Beijing

The Great Wall

Shanghai