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What a long strange trip it should be!

Right! I should have left yesterday, Monday, February 13th for China. Instead I’m in a weird holding pattern! Just hanging around waiting for proper visa paperwork to get processed and yakking to Master Luke in Skype. Luke is my website and blog designer...

What a long strange trip it should be! Part 2

Well, here it is Sunday, February the 19th and the visa thing is slowly moving again. My Letter of Invitation from Shandong University of Arts (SDUA) and my Work Permit from SAFEA (State Administration of Foreign Expert Affairs) are in the post and on there way here....

What a long strange trip it should be! Part 3

At last, my Letter of Invitation / Confirmation and my Work Permit has arrived from Shandong University of Arts and SAFEA. However, my work permit is valid for 6 months, instead of 1 year, as I assumed it would be. And the first day of my arrival in China is stated in...

What a long strange trip it should be! Part 4

So, as fluid as this situation is and has been; my itinerary has changed, yet, one more time. I am informed that I may file for my visa asap. And then arrive in China / Jinan / Shandong University of Arts as soon as I can. Actually, my contract has already started, so...

What a long strange trip it will be! Part 4a

Well, it is set. I do in fact leave Monday, the 13th of March, and arrive Wednesday morning at 12:30am local time; 13+ hours ahead of EST. I received my Z visa this past Monday, the 6th. The visa processing started at the end of November 2016! It is a one entry visa...

What a long strange trip it already is…….. Amazing stuff!

Really hard to believe! I am now in downtown Jinan, China. The flights over were very good, but very, very lengthy. First, I was told in Rochester that my checked bags were going straight through to Jinan. So, I get to Shanghai and double check where they might be...