Friday Oh Friday

Friday started out miserably. After a friend called around 1 waking me up, i realized I had to get my visa fixed on Friday. So I woke up at 6:30, got up, dressed, had breakfast, and made my bed. American Medical forms are not legitimate in China, and so i had to retake several tests on monday at this clinic 20 minutes from the school. Friday morning I planned to pick them up and then go to school to get another form, and then class, lunch and then to the police station with JP. But this was not to be. After checking my form I found out that I could only pick up my forms between 1 and 3, so I had gotten up 4 hours earlier then I needed to. So I went online and checked my mail and facebook and went on skype where matt consoled me with pictures of beautiful Long Beach Island. As I walked to school my spirits were lifted a little by the fact that it was another gorgeous day out. I got to class, took my quiz, and enjoyed reading my friends TIME magazine during the short break. After class I was supposed to tutor, but my tutee called in sick so low and behold, I got to go to the clinic at 1:00 and got back to school in prefect time around 2:00 an hour before the office closed to have them evaluate my collection of formes and then give me another (the amount of red tape in this country is discusting). And then suddenly they asked me for 460 kuai! Usually they give you 2 options. Go all the way to the police station and wait for HOURS and get your forms varified for free, or do it at school. I had planned to do it for free, because my friend JP had gone to the police station at 12:30 to get 2 line tickets and at 2:30 our numbers still hadent been called. But This time they didnt give me that option and finished all the forms at school, which I was both miffed and relieved about. I hadnt wanted to spend 4 hours at the police station, but i really hadnt wanted to spend 460 kuai either.
I went to the police station anyway to keep poor JP company as he waited in line. (the police station is several subway stoppes away from school and half way across the city) Finally, JPs number was called and we rejoiced outside the station afterwards singing made up "im so happy my visa is fixed" songs so loudly it made people turn. And thus, tired but triumpant we returned to wudaokou and had a celebratory lunch at a completely empty Pyro, enjoying pizza and motzarella sticks and talking for 2 hours about our favorite memories.
I went home until 10 when I met up with JP again and we went to a cozy bar/ club and danced the night away with fellow 外国人 (foreigers).
Visa Problem Free and happy as a bee,
A.

picture 1 is a colom on Bei Da campus which is on every other oplympic advertisment and I dont know why
picture 2 is JP outside the police station with his new found friend the cleaning man