The
epic saga that is my experiences trying to cooperate with the evil empire of
China has made me snap. The last straw was chewed long ago dealing with the
notoriously anal Dalian Public Security Bastards with Visa mishaps. Me trying
to follow rules got into some big kafuffle over following instructions too
literally. No help from NZ embassy because it would just aggravate the
officials who are waiting for a bribe. And today, after telling three people
working for China Eastern Airlines my flight number, was told to wait in line.
Finally getting to the counter I was told the check-in closed three minutes
earlier. Bad luck some might say, I would say you have thick skin. Mine is stretched
to transparency. Some might roll your eyes in mock sympathy and mutter ‘She
should know by now how unfair Chinese bureaucratic agencies can be’, to you I
say you’re right but it is still infuriating and I like to vent! All I wanted
at the time was an apology, a letter explaining the situation so my insurance
can cover the extortionate cost of my last minute flight, and a tissue to mop
the tears. Did I get any of that? Not a chance.
So I
suffer in humiliation wondering really hard what on earth drew me to this
unjust country. In moments like these, I feel rage and torment filling my soul,
the absoluteness of this culture’s unhelpful attitude, unsympathetic and
unforgiving nature, I feel like a homicidal teenager ready to explode at the
unwarranted difficulties I encounter. Talk about emotional breakdown! Deep
breaths (come on Hana), how often has crap hit the fan in China, no wonder the
air reeks of decay throughout the country and continent.
The
Visa issue many know already. Basically, I recommend never travelling to
Dalian. When you get a new passport do NOT damage the old one until all Visas
are expired, even if you are told to cut the corner, don’t do it. When in a
bind in China, find someone with connections: GuanXi, to grease the hands of
the more powerful. Bribes are all they understand in difficult situations.
Quote from the greased official after a week of freaking out, ‘I can see this
is not intentional damage of the Visa so we will ignore this and give you
another new tourist Visa a month before you leave.’ That cost about 400nzd.
So
here I sit, battery waning fast, no there are NO plugs in the Shanghai airport,
and like I would risk missing my flight to sit more than 2 meters away from the
boarding gate! So I nurse a ten-dollar pottle of haagen-dazs to sooth the soul
crushing anger I am drenched in while I wait for my second flight to Kunming
today.
