Thursday 30th July, 2020 1930
One thing about having a live-in Chinese colleague is that you get all the gossip you would never get otherwise. Sometimes the gossip is about me but more often than not it involves unrest among the natives.
For all I know it's the same in other universities, previously my housemates have been students so they would hardly know the “grown up” stuff.
It does though seem there is a culture here of holding people back when they want to improve their qualifications and prospects. The latest is of course Jody. She wants to take a course on teaching Chinese to foreigners and eventually study abroad for a PhD. There's one such course taking place around spring festival but applications need to be submitted now. In typical Chinese fashion, applicants need to get a signature from two heads of departments along with their official stamp.
Three days this week she has gone to try and obtain Mr Zhang's monicker and thrice he has refused. The original reason given was that it was too dangerous because the course is in Beijing. Fair point, there's another outbreak in parts of the city but certainly the authorities wouldn't run the course if it was unsafe. It would be postponed.
The latest excuse is probably nearer the mark but also more idiotic. It would be harmful to Mr Zhang's career. What career? He retires in two years, same as me! The sun is setting on his “career” and as far as I know he wouldn't lose his pension and golden goodbye. She is becoming quite understandably despondent, so would I be seeing as her initial application passed selection to the weeding out round. I am sure in time she will get used to the idea of waiting another year when there is no such excuse but I can imagine it is hard.
I had an email today regarding a flight change. Doesn't happen very often and usually involves a ten or fifteen minute alteration to departure and/or arrival times, no big deal. This time however we have been shifted from China Eastern (I quite like them) to Shanghai Airlines (never flown them). Still nothing major, we are still up front for the same price, it leaves Nanning fifteen minutes later but lands at the original time.
Except they also changed the airport! Instead of PVG it is now SHA! In the event it is not a problem, Joanna is happy as she will be going home to rest and it is closer to her place and allegedly a cab will take 25 minutes to get me to my hotel. But can you imagine booking Heathrow and having arrival changed to Gatwick or Stanstead? And no, I'm not paying another £200 to cancel and change back to PVG. If this is all that goes amiss with my travels I will be a happy Teddy.
This is a one-bed flat with bathroom, living room, dining room, office and kitchen. Not cramped at all but not exactly huge. So where the hell is my money belt? For the life of me I can't find it. I'm not even sure I want to wear it, it is quite bulky and uncomfortable but just in case it would be nice. I don't use that phone thing to pay and I detest having to fork out 6¥ for making withdrawals at ATMs outside Lanzhou so I will be taking a substantial amount of red folding stuff with me. I don't particularly distrust Chinese airport security staff on the scanners but there have been cases where people lost certain items. Maybe I will carry it through the scanners in full view in my hand.
Oh, and our man in Shanghai very kindly made enquiries at a recommended opthalmologist there. I stated that I probably want reactolite varifocals. I am now half blind when it comes to distance for starters and reading has to be up close and personal. This being China, I thought the price would be reasonable. Sadly, what I think counts for little. Depending on what I need apparently they will cost between 3,500 and 7,500¥. Knock me down with a fart.
The worry is that the lenses need to be specially made in Japan (no problem there) and they will take ten days to make – there's the worry. Given my experience here after a week of waiting and they are still shit, imagine my concern over forking out even greater amounts for something I won't know is any good until it's too late?
This is an unexpected casualty of Covid – I had planned on Vision Express in High Wycombe doing this. I don't want to wait any longer though. Just crossing the road to the jing jo shop tonight I realised an e-bike could be coming and I could miss it. Hard thing to take for a previous Hawkeye.
But hey! Seven days and I am off! A holiday with the person 8 out of 10 cat owners said their cats preferred and definitely something I have wanted for a decade.
I just have to make sure I behave.
Steve
ReplyDeleteWhen we used a taxi from our hotel in Shanghai to SHA in 2010 it took about 35 minutes but cost about the same as a 10 minute trip in NZ, about NZD25. Bear in mind this was a decade ago.
KBO.
Will Wood.
Thanks Will. I am expecting anything between 150 and 250 yuan - Joanna will take the subway. Not an option for this fat old bugger with a big suitcase to lug.That's on our return.
ReplyDeleteOn Friday outbound because I arrive PVG and we are staying overnight there - and because I decided we'd fly to Chizhou rather than take the train (yes, it's all about treating Joanna!) - our flight at lunchtime is from Hongqiao.
That would be about 250 yuan by cab but there are hourly shuttle buses for 30y a head so bus it may be.
Quite how early we leave for Hongqiao will depend on what's on offer when I fly out of here. I have no idea if there will be food in the VIP lounge or booze. I'm guessing food in the air will be pepacked cold stuff but as for the alcohol? Anyone's guess but I haven't paid double price just for the privilege of getting on and off first and a bigger seat!
My only experience of SHA was after one year in China. It was before Chizhou airport opened so I had to fly to Hefei and could have left from SHA or PVG. Roland was dismayed as PVG is a lot easier to get to from Pudong but the flight timing was better.
I left my hotel very early in the morning. When you have limited funds there is an added terror to missing your flight. I had more than ample time.
Or so I thought.
Within sight of the airport we ground to a halt! There'd been an accident. No worries, plenty of time still.
But you know that thing with the Chinese that they leave their cars exactly as they are until the police get there and take statements? Anywhere else they'd have taken photos and pushed the vehicles out of the way to get traffic moving again but oh no. Even the police couldn't get through.
I arrived at the terminal smack on takeoff time and missed the flight. That flight had cost 260y. I had to pay for a night in a cheap hotel nearby (close enough to walk if necessary, I couldn't have done it from the accident the day before) and buy a new ticket, very interestingly now priced at 620y. It wiped me out until next payday. At least this time I have a financial cushion.