My first foray

This morning I had dim sum with Stacey. Weaving through the Fujian section of Chinatown on East Broadway was kind of a cigarette-smoking, spitting, crowded mess. As obvious as it sounds, a thought that occurred to me while I was walking through this was: get used to it! Though I've been in China enough times to not be completely culture shocked, there is always an element of shock when you arrive somewhere so different. I think for me, it will be less culture shock and more about dealing with change. I don't deal with change all that well...

After dim sum, I went to the Chinese consulate to apply for my work visa. Armed with the documents that the school sent me, my passport, my application and my 2X2 photo, I went as west as you can get in Manhattan. I took my number, V0180 and I sat there watching the board as my number was blatantly skipped over! I went up to the guard and told him that. He assured me I could go up to any window and just tell them that my number was skipped. Gee.. real efficient! I did just that and the woman proceeded to tell me that my documents were not originals. Hmm... I know I didn't color copy these myself. When I tried to ask for further detail to find out what they needed, I was yelled at. So I was turned away. To be continued...