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For anyone who stumbles across this page this is where I will blog my adventure while studying in China. I started this because when I started I knew nothing other than to show up at the university on September 10th.. This will be my third time abroad, I have already studied in France and Japan.
My goal is to share the adventure and hope that someone other than my family and girlfriend will read it or learn something from it. Please look, read and comment.

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Saturday, September 13, 2008

Do you love China? I... well i choose not to finish that sentence yet

So with such an enthusiastic title this is good news yes? Well this is a post to update what has been happening. So i arrived monday and you know of the issues with the room. So i was left with the instructions that once my money came via wire, go to the office and pay and get things done. Class starts tuesday no big deal eh?

Well lets describe my week. I arrived with very little cash. When i was done i basically had a 150 to last me till my money came. no biggie right? Just 3 days, or so my banker told me. So i spend 90 to buy a sheet (note just a sheet) a pillow, some hangers, some TP, and a few bottles of water. So 50 left... ok not a big deal, only should just have to last till wed right? And food at the cafeteria is 5 each meal. Im covered...

So its wed. No money arrive. Ok so mabye an extra day with time change. no big deal. about 40 left... Not the biggest deal. I decide lets not sit with the other forigners, they are hanging out at the litte shop drinking beer. i know if i went i would spend money i couldnt afford to eat. not the worst decicision right? sounded good to me...

So im sweating, hopefully by now you start to realize how i am sweating. I at this point have not payed for tuition, accomidation, or anythin. I owe ~28,000 for all of it. Roughly 4k usa... Easy enough to pay for when you have a wire but when you only have a few dozen to my name...

so lets forward skip a little more to today. Saturday, ( i thought it was still friday. another big woops) I go to the bank. No money. NO FREAKIN MONEY. someone graciously translated that the bank was on holiday and i would have to come back tuesday to get my money. Ok do you get the signifigance of that statment. As a reminder, Class starts tuesday.

Ok so now im sweating. I head to the office to try to get help. But its closed. that is when i find out its saturday, not friday. Office is not open... So no one to get help from. No money, no phone, no help, little cash... So i head back to my room to think. That is when i see notices. i notice a notice that on the 11th was a proficiancy test for chinese language. snap, i missed that.

I meet a german girl who tells me that on monday a bus is comming to take a group to the hospital to get physicals done if their stuff was not good enough. Basically they didnt bring the right stuff. i find out i probably dont have it. she said that they need the chest xray. Well i had a chest xray done, but i didnt bring the picture. Which apparently is not good enough, they need to see the picture. (just to note my doctor said there is no reason a medical professional would need to see the picture, the diognosis is good enough...)

I am told also that this physical woud probably cost money... Great more things i need money for. so now i need a physical, tuition, and acomidation. Still no money. Now this is starting to get really distressing. So far i have been only eating once a day. I cant really afford much more and well its ok, goes with the spartan living, eat some rice and a bit of veggies once a day. wohooo! No diet like a poor mans diet.

I cant just use a card and accept the penalties as i dont have cash money left in my account. Have to pay cash for everything...

So to recap
1. 25 yuan in my wallet at this moment
2. I owe ~27 000 yuan to the school
3. I probably will owe a lot of cash to the hospital for a physical
4. I have not signed up with the school as such
A. no classes
B. No id card
C. No id number
5. No phone so no way to call someone to help
6. No one to call for help
7. Very few speak English
8. Can not afford
A. Laundry
B. Blankets
C. Hangers
D. TextBooks

So do you like China? I am honestly undecided. this is bull that i applied for the wire 6 days ago and i have no money. Classes start tuesday and i have no classes to go to. well no reason to relist everything again. Honestly this is getting to the point where i dont know if i will be allowed to attend. I dont know if in two weeks i will be back into the USA. Its getting to the point that i dont now if its worth it... But well by wed i should know. If you pray please do.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Dude sounds rough. You are in my prayers buddy. But it sure does sound like your having a great adventures!

Anonymous said...

so sorry about this,i wish i was there to help you,i hope you will be happy in china,but i am so sorry about all these things you encounter in china.
but it was really a great adventure!

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