After it long being rumored, got pummeled with a bunch of work today. Funny since just yesterday I was told not to expect much this week, but that's pretty typical ... the benefits of working for oneself are too many to count, but the unpredictability of when that work will come in is not one of my favorite things. But it more than pays the bills, so I can not complain one bit... but blogging may be a bit light or non-existent in the interim... or unless I have something to say (which is pretty much not the case today).
However, one bit of news is that our visa application for our August trip is thru the consulate inspection phase, which is a relief... but in my paranoia, I am still not quite sure if that means "all is good," but hopefully they would have let us known otherwise. But we have heard rumblings, there has been issues with securing visas...
Now, I am being intentionally coy here... if you are a regular W&C reader, you surely know what the "August trip" is... but I am guessing, you will read little (and likely nothing) about it here until we get back... just trying to be the well-behaved, "not looking to cause any troubles" person that I will certainly be when we visit this place in August... so I don't want to do anything to ruffle feathers/put it in jeopardy -- have I mentioned I'm paranoid?!?
UPDATE (6/18): Good news... are passports were returned today with visas! So probably a lot of worrying for nothing, but still best to keep the proverbial unhatched chickens uncounted... and like I said, will likely keep doing that for the foreseeable future... but still very, very relieved.
As a Beijing-based expat, I can confirm that visas are getting more challenging, but there's nothing about you (that I know of from reading your blog regularly) that should render you unqualified for a visa. And if you're looking for restaurant recommendations, check out my page (www.jamesinbj.com), where I recently posted a page of my favorite places. What events do you have tickets for, if any?
Posted by: James in Beijing | Tuesday, June 17, 2008 at 04:35 PM
You should have no problem securing your visa. You are a US citizens. If you were French I would be a bit concerned as I have heard they are being denied visas.
Posted by: Kim Dallas | Tuesday, June 17, 2008 at 06:32 PM
Actually, the French thing has passed. French people are now getting visas OK, but the whole process has been clamped down with the embassies and consulates "working to rule" so that the speedy visas of a few months ago are now not so speedy anymore.
Posted by: James | Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 02:19 PM