I know, i didn't show up here for a long time, i was "enjoying life" back in Germany. I had thou still many things I wrote and wanted to post. So here they are. And i also had selected some pictures.
Tomorrow i will be especially remembering the time in Shenyang, since i will give a small talk with pictures (more pictures than talk) in the Christmas Party in Weimar.
I probably will show up (and post) here sometimes, but for now, that is it......
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
the last days in Sy
20th of November 2007
ICE 1645 - From Frankfurt-Airport to Erfurt. Home finally!
The last days.
After arriving from Beijing on Wednesday (14th) i had a lot of ................................(things to do, and nice moments, or whatever, i don't even remember it now, less than one month later)
Friday
Saturday. Lecture. Dinner with Prof. Li Rudong, Prof. Raninger... Very delicious. Traditional Chinese Duck. Beer at the pie, with Chinese people, including the sweet Alice and King and
Prince. At home, just watched Laurence of Arabia and slept with the load of my head on my hand, had to scream with the pain when i woke up....
Sunday.No electricity in the morning. Changed the room back to the initial configuration and started packing. Last lunch in the University restaurant. Went to the "small town" to upload my phone card (all stores around the campus were closed), and to meet Alice and King at KFC, for changing the small presents. They are really very sweet and kind. Went to the lab, and worked with Zhang, compiling her data, accompanying some CG measurements and so on. At home, beer with the Russian girls, then finished the movie. Not so good sleeping, already anxious.
Monday is a good day for goodbyes. What a Monday. Computer decided not to work (now it is working again, who can understand?!?!). Solved last problems at the University: pay the rent for the days i had to stay longer (got a good discount! with my new strategy!). Met Matt to had on the chocolate and wine i had for him. Then went to Lab, no internet connection, also good. Just saying goodbye, and waiting for time to pass (and for the Prof. to finish the documents going to Germany with me...and also for martin, who wanted to show up to say good-bye, in the mean while, just wrote a text on the lab´s computer...) (ops, need to find it.....)
(the last day in Sy)
------------------------------------------------------------------
snowing in Shenyang right now.
soft and white.
it is Monday, and in a little bit more than 24 hour i will be home.
finally.
everything will be normal again.
life needs routine sometimes.
i have had a very very interesting time here.
things are beautifully and at the same time sadly different.
met many many nice people. and i am just so happy about it.
somethings didn't work as i wanted.
but that is also part of the deal.
i learned, indeed, a lot. And i recognize in myself
a wish to work with people.
years ago i thought i would be a scientist. a laboratory rat.
but human beings are the best lab.
i want the contact, the interaction.
so one thing i am really sad about, is the fact i was not able to
learn more Chinese. there were many reasons, lack of time.
lack of motivation sometimes. it is kinda difficult for me.
maybe i do not have the talent for this language.
but anyway, it is important to have it,
if i am going to work here.
i do want to learn it someday. as i do want to come back
to China in the future.
there is just so much to be done here.
it is challenging.
at the same time i feel strange, because i also
want to do something for my country. we also have many problems,
but we are just 10times less people than here, and changes
done here in China would affect and improve the
situation of much more people................
well, well, well, enough with wondering.
time to solve last details.
(Sy. 19 of November 2007, 12.21)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
It snowed and snowed, when i went to take the bus, everything was white.but no blue sky, gray smog. quite cold. windy. for some reason the bus stopped after 2 min, and everybody had to go out. It seemed traffic was going to be chaotic, decided not to wait for the next bus, luckly could take a taxi right away. Took me much longer
to arrive at the place as usually. what place? Police! Yeah, i had to go, and then first wait in the waiting hall for aliens.
had my passport with a visa until the 21st of November, finally. Good to have the passport back. Not to good to have to move from A to B with the snowy windy weather Shenyang reserved for my last day. But these time i took the bus (hey, next time in Sy i can try to use more bus, if i am not worried about saving time, it is much more interesting....and cheaper - 1RMB - 10 cents of euros!, sure. oh, well, maybe next time i can use the subway anyway, hopefully it will be ready...) to the north train station, and waited for Dolphin who was coming from Beijing.
Amazing to observe the people in places like train station. Most of the mass arrive or leave with these huge rice sacks with -i don't know what- inside, and they don't look so happy. In the waiting halls, almost no place to wait, sacks and people on the ground, waiting.
Waiting to go home or to go visit their beloved, or to go to work. Huge waitings halls, but anyway not big enough.not very comfortable chairs, hot water near the toilette available for the basic things: drinking and making the instant noodles everybody always eat. It is a meal which cost from 2 to 5 RMB, 50 cents. I am always a good "attraction" for these poor and not so poor people (it depends on which waiting hall you are). They look, and look
again, i always smile, they are surprised about that, some of them really look at you from bottom to top as if you were a alien. (ha, this time a real "alien"). People try to talk to me, and i am so embarrassed that my Chinese is so poor. I sometimes just guess what they might be asking, and answer something. (I should have had more of these conversations (also with taxi drivers), but i was just to lazy, since i kinda always forgot the correct pronunciation
or even the entire phrases. I should have made more "help notes" with the usual dialogs...should have had more courage.....) So, spent sometime there, observing people as subtly as possible, and being obviously observed. Dolphin arrived and together with her husband we went to my favorite restaurant in Shenyang. Guo Fu Beef. Last time hotpot (at least until i buy one of the special cookers - really want to eat this at home). We had a great time. Had to go to the pie,
for a last beer with Martin. And then back home, knocking on everyone's door at the dormitory to say goodbye. Second time last beer with the girls. Back to the mess, finished cleaning, oli called. this and thats, at the end it was almost 2 in the morning,
and i had to wake up at 5. 00am, now i do feel the tiredness. "Checked out" of the apartment at 5.50 (lady taking her time to check everything in the room), thought that i would have a taxi waiting outside, but, no one answered at the hot line. Walked with my 2 heavy backpack to the small town, cold and white are the last memories. Well, also some
problems in between. First thing, just when i got a taxi, there comes another one just behind, and it could not turn left to the road because my taxi was blocking the passage. I was just a question of 2 minutes until i got the bags in the car, but no, they are always in a hurry,
the stupid guy kept horning uninterruptedly. I had to show the dirty finger, just wonder if they understand. So, traveling with lower speed because of the snow. Freezing in the taxi with heating off. So, almost there, toll gate of the highway closed, highway blocked. Took another way, which in fact was the same distance, but even slower, and to complete, on the way, an accident with a big truck. Police already around taking
pictures. When i was thinking i would still take some time we arrive. The last thing was the small fight with the taxi driver. The taximeter was showing 90, he wanted 180. How come? Gave him 110 and said i would give no more. Dunno why they do this. Anyways, at the end i didnt care, i was just happy to arrive at the airport. Check in with no problem. More waiting. I was so hungry, but they only gave us something to drink, i really thought we would get breakfast.
Naja, transit in Beijing with no problem (except for the fact that i didn't had the departure card, since the lady didn't want to give it to me in Shenyang. It is amazing, if you know you have to do something, just, don't believe anyone....). Still some time to walk around at the aiport in Beijing, Bought an interesting book about China. Then the flight. Oh. Even an upgraded class, much more space for the legs. Everything very normal, good lunch. Slept a bit, then a bit bored, making pictures of clouds. Then time decided to pass slow, read a bit, thoughts and music. Then dinner, and the new Mr Bean movie. And then, arrived. Home "sweet" (not so sweet, cold) home. Home. Such a good feeling to understand people speaking.To be among the different-looking people around, to understand all signs and so on.......Could not manage the train at 5, waited for the one at 6.11, and here i am, just gained 7 hours, that means, it is time for
dinner again. Thou i would be time for bed, my eyes cant do it anymore.
So, will also take a break and enjoy the movements of the train, trying to sleep. In hour i will be arriving in Erfurt............huhuhuhu,
back to normal life.
ICE 1645 - From Frankfurt-Airport to Erfurt. Home finally!
The last days.
After arriving from Beijing on Wednesday (14th) i had a lot of ................................(things to do, and nice moments, or whatever, i don't even remember it now, less than one month later)
Friday
Saturday. Lecture. Dinner with Prof. Li Rudong, Prof. Raninger... Very delicious. Traditional Chinese Duck. Beer at the pie, with Chinese people, including the sweet Alice and King and
Prince. At home, just watched Laurence of Arabia and slept with the load of my head on my hand, had to scream with the pain when i woke up....
Sunday.No electricity in the morning. Changed the room back to the initial configuration and started packing. Last lunch in the University restaurant. Went to the "small town" to upload my phone card (all stores around the campus were closed), and to meet Alice and King at KFC, for changing the small presents. They are really very sweet and kind. Went to the lab, and worked with Zhang, compiling her data, accompanying some CG measurements and so on. At home, beer with the Russian girls, then finished the movie. Not so good sleeping, already anxious.
Monday is a good day for goodbyes. What a Monday. Computer decided not to work (now it is working again, who can understand?!?!). Solved last problems at the University: pay the rent for the days i had to stay longer (got a good discount! with my new strategy!). Met Matt to had on the chocolate and wine i had for him. Then went to Lab, no internet connection, also good. Just saying goodbye, and waiting for time to pass (and for the Prof. to finish the documents going to Germany with me...and also for martin, who wanted to show up to say good-bye, in the mean while, just wrote a text on the lab´s computer...) (ops, need to find it.....)
(the last day in Sy)snowing in Shenyang right now.
soft and white.
it is Monday, and in a little bit more than 24 hour i will be home.
finally.
everything will be normal again.
life needs routine sometimes.
i have had a very very interesting time here.
things are beautifully and at the same time sadly different.
met many many nice people. and i am just so happy about it.
somethings didn't work as i wanted.
but that is also part of the deal.
i learned, indeed, a lot. And i recognize in myself
a wish to work with people.
years ago i thought i would be a scientist. a laboratory rat.
but human beings are the best lab.
i want the contact, the interaction.
so one thing i am really sad about, is the fact i was not able to
learn more Chinese. there were many reasons, lack of time.
lack of motivation sometimes. it is kinda difficult for me.
maybe i do not have the talent for this language.
but anyway, it is important to have it,
if i am going to work here.
i do want to learn it someday. as i do want to come back
to China in the future.
there is just so much to be done here.
it is challenging.
at the same time i feel strange, because i also
want to do something for my country. we also have many problems,
but we are just 10times less people than here, and changes
done here in China would affect and improve the
situation of much more people................
well, well, well, enough with wondering.
time to solve last details.
(Sy. 19 of November 2007, 12.21)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
It snowed and snowed, when i went to take the bus, everything was white.but no blue sky, gray smog. quite cold. windy. for some reason the bus stopped after 2 min, and everybody had to go out. It seemed traffic was going to be chaotic, decided not to wait for the next bus, luckly could take a taxi right away. Took me much longer
to arrive at the place as usually. what place? Police! Yeah, i had to go, and then first wait in the waiting hall for aliens.
had my passport with a visa until the 21st of November, finally. Good to have the passport back. Not to good to have to move from A to B with the snowy windy weather Shenyang reserved for my last day. But these time i took the bus (hey, next time in Sy i can try to use more bus, if i am not worried about saving time, it is much more interesting....and cheaper - 1RMB - 10 cents of euros!, sure. oh, well, maybe next time i can use the subway anyway, hopefully it will be ready...) to the north train station, and waited for Dolphin who was coming from Beijing.
Amazing to observe the people in places like train station. Most of the mass arrive or leave with these huge rice sacks with -i don't know what- inside, and they don't look so happy. In the waiting halls, almost no place to wait, sacks and people on the ground, waiting.
Waiting to go home or to go visit their beloved, or to go to work. Huge waitings halls, but anyway not big enough.not very comfortable chairs, hot water near the toilette available for the basic things: drinking and making the instant noodles everybody always eat. It is a meal which cost from 2 to 5 RMB, 50 cents. I am always a good "attraction" for these poor and not so poor people (it depends on which waiting hall you are). They look, and look
again, i always smile, they are surprised about that, some of them really look at you from bottom to top as if you were a alien. (ha, this time a real "alien"). People try to talk to me, and i am so embarrassed that my Chinese is so poor. I sometimes just guess what they might be asking, and answer something. (I should have had more of these conversations (also with taxi drivers), but i was just to lazy, since i kinda always forgot the correct pronunciation
or even the entire phrases. I should have made more "help notes" with the usual dialogs...should have had more courage.....) So, spent sometime there, observing people as subtly as possible, and being obviously observed. Dolphin arrived and together with her husband we went to my favorite restaurant in Shenyang. Guo Fu Beef. Last time hotpot (at least until i buy one of the special cookers - really want to eat this at home). We had a great time. Had to go to the pie,
for a last beer with Martin. And then back home, knocking on everyone's door at the dormitory to say goodbye. Second time last beer with the girls. Back to the mess, finished cleaning, oli called. this and thats, at the end it was almost 2 in the morning,
and i had to wake up at 5. 00am, now i do feel the tiredness. "Checked out" of the apartment at 5.50 (lady taking her time to check everything in the room), thought that i would have a taxi waiting outside, but, no one answered at the hot line. Walked with my 2 heavy backpack to the small town, cold and white are the last memories. Well, also some
problems in between. First thing, just when i got a taxi, there comes another one just behind, and it could not turn left to the road because my taxi was blocking the passage. I was just a question of 2 minutes until i got the bags in the car, but no, they are always in a hurry,
the stupid guy kept horning uninterruptedly. I had to show the dirty finger, just wonder if they understand. So, traveling with lower speed because of the snow. Freezing in the taxi with heating off. So, almost there, toll gate of the highway closed, highway blocked. Took another way, which in fact was the same distance, but even slower, and to complete, on the way, an accident with a big truck. Police already around taking
pictures. When i was thinking i would still take some time we arrive. The last thing was the small fight with the taxi driver. The taximeter was showing 90, he wanted 180. How come? Gave him 110 and said i would give no more. Dunno why they do this. Anyways, at the end i didnt care, i was just happy to arrive at the airport. Check in with no problem. More waiting. I was so hungry, but they only gave us something to drink, i really thought we would get breakfast.
Naja, transit in Beijing with no problem (except for the fact that i didn't had the departure card, since the lady didn't want to give it to me in Shenyang. It is amazing, if you know you have to do something, just, don't believe anyone....). Still some time to walk around at the aiport in Beijing, Bought an interesting book about China. Then the flight. Oh. Even an upgraded class, much more space for the legs. Everything very normal, good lunch. Slept a bit, then a bit bored, making pictures of clouds. Then time decided to pass slow, read a bit, thoughts and music. Then dinner, and the new Mr Bean movie. And then, arrived. Home "sweet" (not so sweet, cold) home. Home. Such a good feeling to understand people speaking.To be among the different-looking people around, to understand all signs and so on.......Could not manage the train at 5, waited for the one at 6.11, and here i am, just gained 7 hours, that means, it is time for
dinner again. Thou i would be time for bed, my eyes cant do it anymore.
So, will also take a break and enjoy the movements of the train, trying to sleep. In hour i will be arriving in Erfurt............huhuhuhu,
back to normal life.
things that happen 2...........
Beijing, 12nd of November 2007
What seemed impossible became true!
Can you imagine?? The men showed up at the bus station with my passport, at 9 in the morning today, just before i was about to enter the Brazilian embassy. Dolphin said she still have to tell me the story. I will not be able to meet them, since they are not
in Shenyang anymore. So, i also was kinda lucky today, like something related to good timing. I arrived at the embassy at 8.45 (surprised with my good orientation, i just needed to look up twice in the map, after going out of the metro station). There are already people waiting. I checked the block, embassies only, the one from the kuait was the nicest, not bad. Waiting outside in the cold, until i was the next in the line. Then a couple, he brazilian, she chinese come in just like this, without waiting in the line. Hum, actually after that i figured out, i am at the Brazilians embassy, i am brazilian, why do i have to be waiting with the other chinese applying for visa, when my issue is with the passport section anyway. So, if i was half an hour faster in entering the embassy, i would probably just have signed the document of lost of passport by the time i receive Dolphins call, with the good news.
Hey, what a history, kinda unbelievable. It was a bit late, but not to late, since i saved some money anyway, and a good amount of bureaucracy work.
Could only buy a ticket to Sy on Wednesday, the fast train, didn't want to take bus or slow one. Would be doing some sightseeing, but it is gray and raining outside.
So, will write some emails, and relax for the moment. Then work later.
What seemed impossible became true!
Can you imagine?? The men showed up at the bus station with my passport, at 9 in the morning today, just before i was about to enter the Brazilian embassy. Dolphin said she still have to tell me the story. I will not be able to meet them, since they are not
in Shenyang anymore. So, i also was kinda lucky today, like something related to good timing. I arrived at the embassy at 8.45 (surprised with my good orientation, i just needed to look up twice in the map, after going out of the metro station). There are already people waiting. I checked the block, embassies only, the one from the kuait was the nicest, not bad. Waiting outside in the cold, until i was the next in the line. Then a couple, he brazilian, she chinese come in just like this, without waiting in the line. Hum, actually after that i figured out, i am at the Brazilians embassy, i am brazilian, why do i have to be waiting with the other chinese applying for visa, when my issue is with the passport section anyway. So, if i was half an hour faster in entering the embassy, i would probably just have signed the document of lost of passport by the time i receive Dolphins call, with the good news.
Hey, what a history, kinda unbelievable. It was a bit late, but not to late, since i saved some money anyway, and a good amount of bureaucracy work.
Could only buy a ticket to Sy on Wednesday, the fast train, didn't want to take bus or slow one. Would be doing some sightseeing, but it is gray and raining outside.
So, will write some emails, and relax for the moment. Then work later.
things that happen....
Sy, 10th of November 2007
There are moments in life, when you feel strange, i mean, it is something good and bad at the same time. It is difficult to describe. I dont even wish i could. I just feel it.
So, i am still here in China. I think someday i will laugh about this, because, somehow, it IS funny. It is nothing "serious", it is just that, without a passport, anyone more or less becomes no one. At least you cannot travel anywhere. On Monday, the 5th of november, a gray day over here, i lost my passport. Everything began really early.At 6 am we took a taxi in the south gate of the school, that was supposed to bring us to the long distance express
bus station, where we would take the bus to Dan dong. Well, as the taxi driver brought us to the wrong bus station, and as he just didnt want to understand that we wanted to go to the other one, near the train station (damm, i have tried to explain it, but well, my language knowledges are definitelly not good enough, and, he was not smart enough to find himself in the map we were showing), i got kinda upset and left the car without noticing that my passport just had
felt down from my bag. I know, i know, i know, i should have been more careful, and so on. I am, always, careful with documents. It is the first time i lose a document. The thing was, as i put the pass inside the chinese book, and i didnt expected to need it. So, when i was trying to talk to the taxi driver, i had to take to book, and i just forgot to put the passport in a safe place inside my bag. Well, whatever, i doesnt matter now. Anyway, we took another taxi to go to the other station, and could even manage to get the bus at 7 to Dandong. Inside the bus
i start checking my bag, and, surprise, pass is gone. First difficult moment: the bus driver didnt want to stop the bus, so we could get out. After 10min trying to explain it, saying that
we had to go out to find my passport, and they just always saying, they just can not stop the bus, what do they ask me? if i could show my passport!! well, i thought it was a joke, but it wasnt.
No one had understood anything, and after almost not believing we would get out of the bus, the "stewardess" of the bus had make some calls, and the got "permission" to stop the bus.
Well, the first thing i did was to call the only person who could really help us, and start to search for the lost document. It is such a strange feeling, 3 days before going home, to realize what you will have to go through, without the piece of paper used to prove that you are you, so you can travel through borders. At the first bus station (the wrong one), we had the luck that people were really trying to help. So, we explained everything again,
people laugh, i don't know if they really think it is funny, or if they dont realize the seriousness of the situation. So are the Chinese, they are always under controll, they never show any sign of being nervous or whatever. Well, the police showed up and the bus station staff explained the situation to them, in the mean time we had some radio broadcasting the lost, so if taxi drivers have found it, they could know where to send it. At some time, just when i had lost my nerves and had let some tear out, someone come and say, oh, we found your passport. Too good to be true. To bad no to speak the language. At the end what was the deal: yes, someone had found it, more precisely 2 migrants from the countryside that came to
work, probably in the many constructions sites. How did they figure that out? Well, they showed my pass to the lady in the luggage store, and asked what to do. She just said she didn't know what it was, and what to do with it. That would be expect to much, i guess?
So the workers left their 2 bags there, and payed in advance for 2 days, until Wednesday at 16.30. We asked them to check the bags, in case they hat put the pass inside, they didnt want, and after, they just said they checked and found nothing, and the lady
(she had silver shoes) just said she saw that the workers took the pass with them. Oh God, what a fate. So there they are, two of the thousand migrants from the countryside that everyday try their luck in the city, there is enough work anyway. Waiting is the most difficult things in these situations. I had hope (i still have!) they would show up sometime. And that they would have
the pass. Times passes, you keep thinking positive, but also start to take the necessary measures for the worst case. You dont sleep, and if, only nightmares.
Who knows where these people is right now? Who knows what they might have done with my pass. Days passed and i tried to solve the things, reported the lost to the police (normaly it takes 1 week till the can give you a certificate of lost) changed flight, contacted embassies, bying tickets to Beijing and so on. The Brazilian embassy said they can give me a new passport quite quickly, and the problem is now the visa to Germany. Jesus, this is a torture.
Also the Chinese police responsible for foreigners wants a new visa. So, having a passport is not the most important thing, you have to have the right stemps inside. Ha, this is the world.
The other "funny" thing: It was Oli´s last night here, and there was a blackout. We woke up next day early, still not electricity (and no water, and no heating). Taxi to the airport, Oli checked in. I went back by bus very sad, just wishing i could be going home as well. Going back home, i feel like being in a movie. The day was so gray, smoggy and it had been raining for hours, not pouring, just nisseln. It seemed like the end of the world. And still no electricity.
Spent the afternoon reading, and trying to work a bit. It is amazing how dependent we are on energy. There is nothing to do, i dont even had warm water to make some tea. At least later on, i could buy some beer at the restaurant, when i receive Oli´s call that he was still in the airport in Shenyang. All flights cancelled, because of the weather. That is it, even having a pass and a ticket, sometimes you just can not move nowhere. Oli came back to the school, and we had candle light dinner, and watched movie with the last two hours of my computers battery.
Next day started good again, despite the fights and long phone calls with people from the flight company (air china), he had electricity again. Also again with the right help we could manage to get a ticket for today, the saturday. Some more this and thats to solve, day still gray, but less than the day before. Now Oli is gone, and i am here trying to work, or not to go crazy. It is good that i know i will be able to solve things in the next week, and it is good
to have a flight back. But i just didnt need all this right now, still so many things to do for the winter term, and i am not even there yet. I just hope, when i am back home, that also the "Gluck" is back for me. This feeling of atrackting everykind of unluck is not good.
Time for a break now .
There are moments in life, when you feel strange, i mean, it is something good and bad at the same time. It is difficult to describe. I dont even wish i could. I just feel it.
So, i am still here in China. I think someday i will laugh about this, because, somehow, it IS funny. It is nothing "serious", it is just that, without a passport, anyone more or less becomes no one. At least you cannot travel anywhere. On Monday, the 5th of november, a gray day over here, i lost my passport. Everything began really early.At 6 am we took a taxi in the south gate of the school, that was supposed to bring us to the long distance express
bus station, where we would take the bus to Dan dong. Well, as the taxi driver brought us to the wrong bus station, and as he just didnt want to understand that we wanted to go to the other one, near the train station (damm, i have tried to explain it, but well, my language knowledges are definitelly not good enough, and, he was not smart enough to find himself in the map we were showing), i got kinda upset and left the car without noticing that my passport just had
felt down from my bag. I know, i know, i know, i should have been more careful, and so on. I am, always, careful with documents. It is the first time i lose a document. The thing was, as i put the pass inside the chinese book, and i didnt expected to need it. So, when i was trying to talk to the taxi driver, i had to take to book, and i just forgot to put the passport in a safe place inside my bag. Well, whatever, i doesnt matter now. Anyway, we took another taxi to go to the other station, and could even manage to get the bus at 7 to Dandong. Inside the bus
i start checking my bag, and, surprise, pass is gone. First difficult moment: the bus driver didnt want to stop the bus, so we could get out. After 10min trying to explain it, saying that
we had to go out to find my passport, and they just always saying, they just can not stop the bus, what do they ask me? if i could show my passport!! well, i thought it was a joke, but it wasnt.
No one had understood anything, and after almost not believing we would get out of the bus, the "stewardess" of the bus had make some calls, and the got "permission" to stop the bus.
Well, the first thing i did was to call the only person who could really help us, and start to search for the lost document. It is such a strange feeling, 3 days before going home, to realize what you will have to go through, without the piece of paper used to prove that you are you, so you can travel through borders. At the first bus station (the wrong one), we had the luck that people were really trying to help. So, we explained everything again,
people laugh, i don't know if they really think it is funny, or if they dont realize the seriousness of the situation. So are the Chinese, they are always under controll, they never show any sign of being nervous or whatever. Well, the police showed up and the bus station staff explained the situation to them, in the mean time we had some radio broadcasting the lost, so if taxi drivers have found it, they could know where to send it. At some time, just when i had lost my nerves and had let some tear out, someone come and say, oh, we found your passport. Too good to be true. To bad no to speak the language. At the end what was the deal: yes, someone had found it, more precisely 2 migrants from the countryside that came to
work, probably in the many constructions sites. How did they figure that out? Well, they showed my pass to the lady in the luggage store, and asked what to do. She just said she didn't know what it was, and what to do with it. That would be expect to much, i guess?
So the workers left their 2 bags there, and payed in advance for 2 days, until Wednesday at 16.30. We asked them to check the bags, in case they hat put the pass inside, they didnt want, and after, they just said they checked and found nothing, and the lady
(she had silver shoes) just said she saw that the workers took the pass with them. Oh God, what a fate. So there they are, two of the thousand migrants from the countryside that everyday try their luck in the city, there is enough work anyway. Waiting is the most difficult things in these situations. I had hope (i still have!) they would show up sometime. And that they would have
the pass. Times passes, you keep thinking positive, but also start to take the necessary measures for the worst case. You dont sleep, and if, only nightmares.
Who knows where these people is right now? Who knows what they might have done with my pass. Days passed and i tried to solve the things, reported the lost to the police (normaly it takes 1 week till the can give you a certificate of lost) changed flight, contacted embassies, bying tickets to Beijing and so on. The Brazilian embassy said they can give me a new passport quite quickly, and the problem is now the visa to Germany. Jesus, this is a torture.
Also the Chinese police responsible for foreigners wants a new visa. So, having a passport is not the most important thing, you have to have the right stemps inside. Ha, this is the world.
The other "funny" thing: It was Oli´s last night here, and there was a blackout. We woke up next day early, still not electricity (and no water, and no heating). Taxi to the airport, Oli checked in. I went back by bus very sad, just wishing i could be going home as well. Going back home, i feel like being in a movie. The day was so gray, smoggy and it had been raining for hours, not pouring, just nisseln. It seemed like the end of the world. And still no electricity.
Spent the afternoon reading, and trying to work a bit. It is amazing how dependent we are on energy. There is nothing to do, i dont even had warm water to make some tea. At least later on, i could buy some beer at the restaurant, when i receive Oli´s call that he was still in the airport in Shenyang. All flights cancelled, because of the weather. That is it, even having a pass and a ticket, sometimes you just can not move nowhere. Oli came back to the school, and we had candle light dinner, and watched movie with the last two hours of my computers battery.
Next day started good again, despite the fights and long phone calls with people from the flight company (air china), he had electricity again. Also again with the right help we could manage to get a ticket for today, the saturday. Some more this and thats to solve, day still gray, but less than the day before. Now Oli is gone, and i am here trying to work, or not to go crazy. It is good that i know i will be able to solve things in the next week, and it is good
to have a flight back. But i just didnt need all this right now, still so many things to do for the winter term, and i am not even there yet. I just hope, when i am back home, that also the "Gluck" is back for me. This feeling of atrackting everykind of unluck is not good.
Time for a break now .
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