So I spent a couple hours at the Chinese Consulate earlier today. It was fun times until I had to turn in my paperwork to obtain my visa (going for work next month). First off, they made me cross of any reference of ‘Taiwan’ on my papers… bitches. Secondly, they had a problem with my occupation: ‘Photographer’. I had to clarify and put down: Fashion/Wedding/Food photographer before they would accept it. I thought I was in the clear after that, but an hour later (when I was back at home) they called me saying I had to come back in to fill out extra paperwork specifying certain things I would not photograph or else they would deny my visa. WTF. I hate goddamn China.
I had to sign this additional form today at the Chinese Consulate because my original paperwork had some “issues”. I hate China.
O hay, my visa finally got approved. I guess I’m going to China… woo hoo (I’m totally un-enthused at this point)
Six drinks in
- Jenny P: Aren't you excited to shoot in China next week?
- Me: Actually, no not really
- Jenny P: What? Why!
- Me: I don't like China. I'm from Taiwan--we kinda hate each other
- Jenny P: Racist!
- Me: Exactly! and also the minute I start speaking Chinese, my Taiwanese accent is super evident and they definitely treat you differently
- Jenny P: Oh, that's easy. Just pretend you don't speak Chinese at all... and fake a British accent while you're at it
- Me: Whaa?
- Jenny P: (terrible accent) ya, wot? hey slag, where's the fucking loo??
- Me: Hahahaha yeah, that's not gonna fly
My friend sent me this picture she drew to illustrate how “China looks like a chicken” after I told her I couldn’t visualize it. She also colored Taiwan brown and said it looked like a turd. We get along swimmingly -_-
I was cleaning one of my bags in anticipation for my trip to China in a couple of days when I found this red envelope (紅包). This is odd because I didn’t actually get any this year (envelope was empty).
tumblr is blocked in china
I’ve gleaned this knowledge from very reliable sources and I leave tomorrow so I spent all day today trying to set up a VPN or remote access (which, was not recommended by a ton of nerds). I got remote access to work but was advised that if they (BIG BAD CHINA) noticed suspicious activity they might just interrupt the connection and take over my desktop. Which, would be a bad, bad thing.
international iphone
After spending an hour on the phone with AT&T support my phone is now internationally enabled for voice dialing at 2.29$ usd a minute. Yuck. I’m probably going to buy a cheap phone when I get there, so don’t call me. I did learn, however, that I can receive texts for free (they will just deduct normally from my plan) but any I send out will cost me 50 cents. So text me all you want. Just don’t be offended if I email you back.
Things that did not arrive in the mail before I leave for China in 5 hours
* anything from you (yes you!)
* 8 gb sdhc card
* collapsible lens hood
* 62mm hoya multi-coated uv filter
* my Nikkor 18-200mm after Nikon repaired it
* 5 checks from different shoots (one was from December)
* 2 1099 tax forms from companies I freelanced for (still haven’t done my taxes… gulp)
* TRUE LOVE
The consulate inadverdantly red-listed me by making my visa expire one day after I get back. I had to go through extra security and couldn’t even get my boarding pass till the gate. My seat? Exactly in middle with two people on either side and two babies in front of me.
Well a 14 hour international flight can’t be that bad, right? See ya later USA. To be continued… (hopefully)
This is the last photo I took at O’Hare airport before leaving the country. I’m still in China and believe it or not I haven’t been able to get online until now. Yep, tumblr is blocked along with a ton of other sites (compiling a list) which makes the interwebs pretty damn boring. Things have been crazy hilarious and I’ve slept a little less than 12 hours in the past three days. Also, I’m pretty sure I won’t be coming back to the US with my liver intact.
Hey Nick, I see your Mexican Coke and raise you my Vietnam Coke I got on the plane! Mmm… socialist republic communist state…
Baby #1 was actually quite well behaved.
Baby #2 was a whiner, crier and sat directly in front of me. Fun times.
Boundless is a Tumblr theme designed by Sam Stefan. Icons by Gentleface. Comments? Questions? Write me: frank [at] franklieu [dot] com
