Countdown: 2 Weeks, 3 Days

0 Comments

…and only 4 more actual days of work! It’s almost finished!

We successfully got our Visas, good for 60 days at a time, 4 times a year, so effectively we can stay there for 8 months even if we really mess up our longer term Visas; we’ll just have to leave and come back in to the country every two months. Supposedly it’s good enough to even just go to Hong Kong and back. Or I’m thinking we can use this as an excuse to take a vacation every two months. Although, ideally still, we should have year long Visas that can be renewed without leaving the country. It’s just hard not thinking about vacation! Even though I’m desperately POOR! But my credit’s doing real good now that I’ve gotten most of my debts paid off.

This countdown may actually be a little in accurate now, and there may not be anything I can do about it. My father would like us to travel back to China with him. He gets to the states on the 15th, and he’s “thinking” of returning “most likely” on the 23rd. Completely uncertain though! Apparently, and I don’t think I’ve ever had to do this before, I wonder if it’s a new policy, but we’ll need to be registered with the local police station when we get there, and it’ll be easier with my father, which I don’t doubt. I just don’t want to delay our departure anymore than I have to. By that point I won’t have a job anymore so it’s not like I can work some more and make some more money. We’d have finished our last US vacation as well. We’ll basically be completely ready but sitting on our hands still. Not a very pleasant proposition I don’t think.

Our “farewell” party will also be next weekend, sometime. It was originally supposed to be this weekend, but I guess that didn’t pan out. Hopefully, it’ll be at my boss’ home, with some work friends, and the few friends I’ve left in LA. Maria’s going to be seeing some of her last friends next week, and I think tomorrow we’re heading down to Orange County to see one of them. It almost doesn’t feel real.

I’ll need to see my mother, at some point, before I leave. I’m thinking next week, during the week may be appropriate. It’s all wrapping up really, and I don’t have much exciting to say at the moment. Maria and I’s conversations are continually and exceptionally wonderful slash insightful. I can’t really wait until we get to China and we have a whole new slew of stuff to talk about.

Leave a Reply





  • Milestones

    • August 25, 2010 - M. registers with Tsinghua IMBA
    • August 22, 2010 - M. returns to China from NYC Summer Internship 2010
    • August 21, 2010 - M.'s last day in NYC for Summer Internship 2010
    • August 20, 2010 - S. loses contract job with ISB due to visa woes
    • August 20, 2010 - S. gets contract job with ISB doing Help Desk work
    • August 19, 2010 - S. gets 3 month "visiting relatives" extension on his visa
    • August 11, 2010 - Happy 1 Year Anniversary Blog!
    • August 11, 2010 - M. gets her China Student Visa!
    • July 21, 2010 - S. officially begins doing web work for the IFC
    • July 13, 2010 to July 17, 2010 - S. takes train down to HK to get on his last visa entry
    • July 12, 2010 - M. gets all trained up for her internship
    • June 28, 2010 - S. starts M. in NYC Music Project
    • June 27, 2010 - M. flies to NYC for finance internship
    • May 30, 2010 - S. sings with the IFCC at WAB
    • May 23, 2010 - S. starts doing freelance work for Cary
    • May 16, 2010 - M. and S. manage to drive through "Bay to Breakers" and catch their SFO flights back to China
    • May 15, 2010 - M. and S. attend Miguel's wedding; S. is groomsman
    • May 14, 2010 - M. and S. meet in LA and drive up to SF for Miguel's wedding
    • May 10, 2010 - S. leaves for the States for the first time since coming to China
    • May 4, 2010 - M. signs partnership agreement
    • May 2, 2010 - M. runs her first full marathon: the Cincinnati "Flying Pig"
    • April 30, 2010 - S. buys 200RMB bike in China
    • April 27, 2010 - M. leaves for the States for the first time since coming to China
    • April 26, 2010 - M. accepts Tsinghua IMBA admissions offer
    • April 25, 2010 - S. sings "African Sanctus" with IFC
    • April 8, 2010 - Maria gets "acceptance email" from Tsinghua
    • April 8, 2010 - Happy Birthday M.!
    • April 2, 2010 - M. gets "acceptance email" from BiMBA
    • April 2, 2010 - M. interviews with Tsinghua IMBA
    • March 27, 2010 - S. and M. eat SUSHI for the first time in Beijing; it's been over 6 MONTHS!
    • March 27, 2010 - S. and M. celebrate much belated 2 year anniversary
    • March 25, 2010 - S. and M. celebrate 6 months in China
    • March 24, 2010 - S. and M. buy seeds!
    • March 23, 2010 - M. interviews with BiMBA
    • March 19, 2010 - S. and M.'s work visa applications get submitted. Wish us luck!
    • March 19, 2010 - S. finally gets all his work visa materials together
    • March 14, 2010 - S. and M. go to Hong Kong to get on their third entry into China
    • March 4, 2010 - S. files 2009 US State and Federal tax returns from China
    • March 3, 2010 - M. turns in MBA application for BiMBA
    • March 2, 2010 - M. takes GMAT in Beijing
    • February 21, 2010 - Lantern Festival in China, fireworks FINALLY end
    • February 15, 2010 - S. and M.'s 2 year anniversary, celebration postponed for a month
    • February 14, 2010 - Happy Year of the Tiger!
    • February 14, 2010 - S. and M. celebrate first Valentine's Day in China together
    • February 14, 2010 - S. and M. celebrate first Chinese New Year in China together
    • February 1, 2010 - M. turns in MBA application for Tsinghua
    • January 14, 2010 - S. and M. go to Seoul, Korea again to get on their next visa entry
    • January 1, 2010 - Happy New Year in China!
    • December 25, 2009 - S. and M.'s first Christmas in China; successful Christmas buffet at Connections Bar and Grill
    • December 19, 2009 - S. performs Handel's Messiah with the IFC in China!
    • December 16, 2009 - S. performs at the British Embassy with the IFC
    • December 15, 2009 - S. and M. open Chinese bank account
    • December 14, 2009 - M. starts taking Chinese classes
    • December 10, 2009 - S. is really managing Connections Bar and Grill; huh?
    • December 1, 2009 - Renovations FINALLY finish at S. and M.'s Beijing apartment.
    • December 1, 2009 - Renovations finish at Connections
    • November 26, 2009 - S. and M's first Thanksgiving in China
    • November 22, 2009 - S.'s first concert performance in China with the IFC Children's Chorus
    • November 18, 2009 - S. and M.'s China visa expires for the first time
    • November 16 to 18, 2009 - S. and M. go to Seoul, Korea for visa purposes
    • November 15, 2009 - S. celebrates his 26th birthday in China
    • November 13, 2009 - S. joins the International Festival Chorus in Beijing
    • October 31, 2009 - Renovations begin at Connections Bar and Grill
    • October 30, 2009 - M. gives talk at China University of Political Science and Law
    • October 24, 2009 - M. runs first race in Beijing, the 3rd Annual Pride in Beijing "10K"
    • October 23, 2009 - M. has first "non-S. et. al." business lunch
    • October 22, 2009 - M. sits in on iMBA class at BiMBA, BeiDa
    • October 20, 2009 - M. sits in on iMBA class at Tsinghua University
    • October 13, 2009 - S. and M.'s apartment gets internet
    • October 11, 2009 - S. and M. move in together
    • October 11, 2009 - S. and M. move into their own apartment in Beijing
    • September 25, 2009 - M. takes first run in Beijing
    • September 22, 2009 - S. and M. move to China
    • September 19, 2009 - S. and M. christen "Bob"
    • September 14, 2009 - S. and M. take last vacation in States to Carmel, CA
    • September 12, 2009 - S. and M. attend their going away party at Craig and Becky's
    • September 12, 2009 - M. sells her car
    • September 11, 2009 - S.'s last day at VS Media
    • September 7, 2009 - S. and M. get one way tickets to China
    • September 5, 2009 - M. gets added to S.'s checking account, making it "their" checking account
    • September 4, 2009 - M. finishes her MCLE
    • September 3, 2009 - S. and M. approved for visas to China.
    • August 31, 2009 - M. applies for visas for S. and M.
    • August 30, 2009 - S. gets new glasses after nearly five years
    • August 30, 2009 - S. and M. book last vacation in US to Carmel by the Sea
    • August 29, 2009 - M. transitions to T-Mobile pay-as-you-go cell phone, saying goodbye to Verizon
    • August 29, 2009 - M. submits paperwork to roll over SMRH 401k to IRA
    • August 15, 2009 - S. visits OH and meets M.'s immediate family for first time
    • August 10, 2009 - S. gives notice to VS Media, last day September 11, 2009
    • August 9, 2009 - M. visits RI/OH, meets twin nephews for first time
    • August 8, 2009 - M. purchases gap insurance
    • August 7, 2009 - M.'s last day at SMRH; thanks for the memories
    • July 31, 2009 - S. and M. move to his father's home
    • July 24, 2009 - S. moves collective furniture to his mother's home, moves into M's apt.
    • July 24, 2009 - M. 1st chair at trial, fails at submitting the stipulation, but inadvertently gets the case dismissed
    • July 23, 2009 - Everything OK with M.'s oral surgery
    • July 23, 2009 - S. sells his car
    • July 22, 2009 - M. sells her couch
    • July 21, 2009 - M. gives notice to SMRH, last day August 7, 2009
    • July 16, 2009 - M. gets oral surgery to remove wisdom teeth/cyst
  • To Do

    • S. and M. - Determine what to do with our lives...
    • M. - Editing work
    • S. and M. - Find new apartment
    • S. - Epiphany website
    • S. - West Campus website
    • S. - IFC website
    • S. - Connections website
    • S. - Get a job