An American Expat in China

My trip has begun and is well under way.  I am having fun so far but wish I had a travel companion.  Faye came over for two nights before I left on my trip.  We booked our flight to Thailand for August and got in some much needed snuggling.  I miss her a lot already. Even thought she had a couple days off for China's Dragon Boat festival she gave me reasons why she didn't want to visit Laos. After seeing the pictures and hearing the stories I think next time she will be easily convinced to come to here.  I flew out of Shenzhen Bao'an Airport on Friday and landed in Kunming, where I only stayed one night and did not do much but drink in my hotel room and eat some snacks.  My only intention in Kunming was to treat it as an overnight stopover so I could get a fresh start the next morning as my flight was scheduled at 10:50am.   Upon landing in Vientiane Laos I exchanged currency and got a sim card before meeting my driver from TMark Resort Vang Vieng...

Faye had her visa application rejected.  Despite having done everything right the fucker at the desk didn't review her files, ask her relevant questions, or so much as look at her before issuing an outright rejection.  She paid the fee, took two days off of work, paid for a flight and hotel in Beijing, waited in line for three hours under the hot sun with no water or clean bathroom, and the fucker didn't even have the decency to ask her a single relevant question.  I am livid.  She had an invitation letter, an itinerary, proof of employment, a bank statement, and even photos of her and I together in a folder but the fucker didn't even look at her documents.  I cannot express the disappointment I feel in the US Embassy employees and their discriminatory conduct.  Despite my best efforts to offer comfort, Faye is distraught.  I did my best to help her.  Our plan B was that we would travel to Thailand together upon my return to China.  She is so...

It has been a relatively uneventful couple of weeks.  Last week I saw my gym was missing the L from its swimming pool sign.  This was pretty funny so I took a picture and shared it as often as possible.  I hashed on Saturday the 3rd and had a great time on trail as well as at dinner and the bar afterward.  Faye came over on the 10th and I helped her practice for her visa interview.  She is pretty anxious about the whole thing. It doesn't help that she has to take two days off work fly to Beijing to wait in line for three hours for a 3 minute interview. 91% of tourist visas get approved but she was rejected for a student visa in the past and that has made her nervous. I hope she can get the visa so she can join me in PA. We have a back-up plan to visit Thailand if she is denied.  There are two weeks of school left. I am looking forward to travel but also have some anxiety about Murphey's Law scenarios. As much fun I will certainly be havinf I also will miss ...