I think that I am the ultimate supreme ditz!!! There has to be blonde roots under my scalp. I told my readers before that there is a Chinese way and our way. When I came to the campus, I was told that someone would take me to set up a bank account so I would get get paid. Well I waited and waited, Yesterday someone from my school called me and asked fro my bank account number so they can pay me. I was like I do not have a bank account no one has taken me to get it set up. the woman on the other end of the phone was confused that I did not have an account. She told me to get one. Then she asked me if I spoke Chinese. I asked her if knowing “Ni hao” counts.
Fast forward to today. I am off today and relaxing. I get another phone asking about my bank card number. I explained again that no one has helped me to set up an account. she then explained that the Canadian teacher went and did it on his own. So I informed her that he has been in China for six years and I have only been in China for two weeks. She said she would send someone to help me. The Canadian teacher told me later he just showed them his passport and looked confused and said English teacher and one person did everything for him.
She called back and told me Harry would come help me and from now on Harry was assigned to me. Harry is a students and he is very helpful. Harry helped me the last time when I was roaming around my campus utterly lost. He took me to my class that I was late for. I was roaming around lost for an hour! Harry speaks English, so that is a plus. I guess they are annoyed at me that I was passed on to poor Harry, I hope he gets paid for this.
Well all this occurred before noon time. I was told that Harry would contact me so I waited and waited. I then called another foreign teacher with a Chinese wife to see if she could perhaps help me to set up an account. his wife was in class. He told me he would go to the office and push their buttons. Actually once I move into the my apartment he will be my next door neighbor. I am at the hotel so I am very far from the FOA office. He said we can double team them to get things done. I called the coordinator for foreign teachers. Her phone was busy well so I texted her a message. It was now 3:15.
Within minutes Helpful Harry called, he told me that he was waiting at the bank for me. We have a bank on campus but no one speaks English at the bank so I would need a Chinese person to go and explain things for me. So I put on my shoes and go. Apparently I am not walking quick enough because Harry calls me twice! I don’t have wings on my feet. I am not a track star I am a fatty! Then the person in charge of foreign teachers called and explain that Harry is waiting. The walk is about 15 minutes. I am trying my best I tell her that I am on my way. I wish that teleportion was discovered!
Harry meets me halfway and explain that the bank was about to close and that was why he called me. We rush to the bank, I am inwardly cursing being a fatty and not losing weight before coming to China. The gate was about to close but she let us in. Harry takes my passport and they speak in Chinese. On a sheet of paper all in Chinese he fills in my passport and Visa number. I write my name. We go to the window. They make a photocopy of my passport page. All is well, but then they ask me for $25 yuan. I was in such a rush I did not bring money. Helpful Harry did not have any money either. He had to ask a friend of his that was on line to lend us 25 yuan. right now I am mortified embarrassed, I smile at her and say thank you but she is looking at me like I am the village idiot. If they told me that I had to pay to open an account, I would have brought money. I have 25 yuan at home. 
First Chinese Bank Account!!!!!Success though, I have my first Chinese bank account, However the card says student. I hope they gave me the right card. Harry took a picture of it to text to the office so they can enter it into payroll. I invited Harry to dinner but he declined because it was too early, It was 4:18. It is sooo cold and windy that I did not want to head out again , so I took a bowl with a lid on it so I can take my food home
I relate this to all not as a complaint, it is just for you to understand the Chinese Way. If you are an extremely organized thinker and stringent to routines then China is not the place for you. The Chinese wait until the last possible moment to do things and then rush everything. Chang Min is like this as well! Myself, I am a disorganized thinker so it isn’t that bad. I do get frustrated with things and am glad that I have other foreign teachers and Harry to help. This is all very new to me. I will definitely help the next next foreign teacher to help ease their transition.
Ok off to enjoy my dinner of tofu and celery with rice and hot peppers9everything is spicy in this province) and to talk to Chang Min for awhile I already called him three times today because I love the sound of his voice and we video chatted with qq. Now we are just regular chatting. If he was here with me in Nanchang the banking would have been so much easier. Oh a spoiler for all you Chang Min romance lovers, he is coming to visit in April!!!!! So happy.
