Comments on: maodun http://bokane.org/2004/07/19/maodun/ disoriented in the orient Sat, 14 Jan 2012 04:38:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: donny http://bokane.org/2004/07/19/maodun/comment-page-1/#comment-681 donny Tue, 27 Jul 2004 16:08:20 +0000 http://bokane.org/newblog/2004/07/19/maodun/#comment-681 i rather like the chinese bureaucracy. other than a few total jerks, they are for the most part one of the most efficient if u follow the rules. now india, on the other hand, must require that a person be a colossal prick before he (never she) can be hired for an official position. an embassy dude yelled at me b/c i didn't bring a pen to the embassy to write my forms. another official casually mentioned the "fact" that america has no culture. and u gotta love that $20 entrance fee to the taj mahal for foreigners as opposed to the $1 fee for natives. i rather like the chinese bureaucracy. other than a few total jerks, they are for the most part one of the most efficient if u follow the rules.

now india, on the other hand, must require that a person be a colossal prick before he (never she) can be hired for an official position. an embassy dude yelled at me b/c i didn’t bring a pen to the embassy to write my forms. another official casually mentioned the “fact” that america has no culture. and u gotta love that $20 entrance fee to the taj mahal for foreigners as opposed to the $1 fee for natives.

]]> By: Michael Ji http://bokane.org/2004/07/19/maodun/comment-page-1/#comment-680 Michael Ji Sat, 24 Jul 2004 18:00:03 +0000 http://bokane.org/newblog/2004/07/19/maodun/#comment-680 Jesus, that's insane. Makes me feel nervous about working back in China. Would I have to go through all these hassles as well one of these days? At least, everything is alright with you for the time being. Jesus, that’s insane. Makes me feel nervous about working back in China. Would I have to go through all these hassles as well one of these days? At least, everything is alright with you for the time being.

]]> By: matt http://bokane.org/2004/07/19/maodun/comment-page-1/#comment-679 matt Sat, 24 Jul 2004 17:49:54 +0000 http://bokane.org/newblog/2004/07/19/maodun/#comment-679 man you must have pissed someone off in a past life. i think i've lucked out most of the time when it comes to these things, but my return in Sept will certainly be the test i.e. switching schools, returning on a re-entry Visa, limited time to get a new residence permit, etc. I won't say more, I'd like to keep my positive karma intact! Cheers and may the PSB Gods shine on you. BTW, seems the less Chinese you speak the easier things go. really, the more I improve the more questions i find myself having to answer, and hoops i have to jump through. man you must have pissed someone off in a past life. i think i’ve lucked out most of the time when it comes to these things, but my return in Sept will certainly be the test i.e. switching schools, returning on a re-entry Visa, limited time to get a new residence permit, etc.

I won’t say more, I’d like to keep my positive karma intact!

Cheers and may the PSB Gods shine on you.

BTW, seems the less Chinese you speak the easier things go. really, the more I improve the more questions i find myself having to answer, and hoops i have to jump through.

]]> By: John http://bokane.org/2004/07/19/maodun/comment-page-1/#comment-678 John Sat, 24 Jul 2004 14:44:06 +0000 http://bokane.org/newblog/2004/07/19/maodun/#comment-678 Haha, I really enjoyed this story (but I do sympathize). This is the China we know and love. China's bureaucracy is a constant thorn in the side of foreigners that just want to EXIST in China, but in Beijing that "thorn" seems to take on stake-like proportions. I'm glad to live in Shanghai. :) Haha, I really enjoyed this story (but I do sympathize). This is the China we know and love.

China’s bureaucracy is a constant thorn in the side of foreigners that just want to EXIST in China, but in Beijing that “thorn” seems to take on stake-like proportions. I’m glad to live in Shanghai. :)

]]> By: Adam Morris http://bokane.org/2004/07/19/maodun/comment-page-1/#comment-677 Adam Morris Thu, 22 Jul 2004 08:56:31 +0000 http://bokane.org/newblog/2004/07/19/maodun/#comment-677 WOW. Crazy shit. Wish I could have been there again to save ya. I'll be back at the beginning of August though, and have room for crashing in case you need to investigate Tianjin's offerings. -Adam WOW. Crazy shit.

Wish I could have been there again to save ya. I’ll be back at the beginning of August though, and have room for crashing in case you need to investigate Tianjin’s offerings.

-Adam

]]> By: joe clark http://bokane.org/2004/07/19/maodun/comment-page-1/#comment-676 joe clark Mon, 19 Jul 2004 18:15:24 +0000 http://bokane.org/newblog/2004/07/19/maodun/#comment-676 Hey Brendan, The first time I overstayed a visa (ROC) I figured the best thing to do was make myself obsequious while waiting for the new visa application, visit every day and check the progress. I have since realized that this only invites them to say "you're missing this" and "don't you feel sorry for what you've done" and make the process difficult. Later I realized that it's better just to hand in the application and make it impossible for them to contact you. For instance, pay a visa agency to apply on my behalf (as I've done with PRC and HK) or pay for the rush one-day service at the consulate and don't return until they're about to close the office (ROC). So far, I've never had such a visa application turned down or delayed, though I must admit it's scary to actually try it. Once I got a tourist visa renewed in the PRC when I was really bending the law quite a bit, by pretending I didn't understand the police lady's question "Why is your address in a Shenzhen office building, if you're a tourist?" Hey Brendan,
The first time I overstayed a visa (ROC) I figured the best thing to do was make myself obsequious while waiting for the new visa application, visit every day and check the progress. I have since realized that this only invites them to say “you’re missing this” and “don’t you feel sorry for what you’ve done” and make the process difficult. Later I realized that it’s better just to hand in the application and make it impossible for them to contact you. For instance, pay a visa agency to apply on my behalf (as I’ve done with PRC and HK) or pay for the rush one-day service at the consulate and don’t return until they’re about to close the office (ROC). So far, I’ve never had such a visa application turned down or delayed, though I must admit it’s scary to actually try it. Once I got a tourist visa renewed in the PRC when I was really bending the law quite a bit, by pretending I didn’t understand the police lady’s question “Why is your address in a Shenzhen office building, if you’re a tourist?”

]]> By: Ken http://bokane.org/2004/07/19/maodun/comment-page-1/#comment-675 Ken Mon, 19 Jul 2004 15:10:25 +0000 http://bokane.org/newblog/2004/07/19/maodun/#comment-675 Why did your green card expire so soon? Mine is good until September... Why did your green card expire so soon? Mine is good until September…

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