:: *shrug* eh, wutever ::

:: Tuesday, November 04, 2003 ::

I get to go to Hong Kong tomorrow. Why? Because I'm special, that's why.

Actually, it's because I have to take care of my visa, which still says I'm a tourist and not a full-time employee. I have to leave the country in order to change my visa type so that I can reenter and stay. If that doesn't make a whole hell of a lot of sense to you, you're not alone - it confused the hell out of me the first time I heard it.

"Wouldn't it be easier if I could change my visa type, WHILE in the country?" I asked.

"Yes," came the reply.

"So... you're not going to let me change my visa type while I'm in the country, then..."

"Nope."

"But..."

"No."

"But you didn't even - "

"Nuh-uh."

"Oh, c'mon..."

"Security."

Oh.

Whatever. Best to go with the flow than to argue with a Communist regime. Although that means I'll need to spend more of my already meager supply of hard currency, it also means I get a mini-vacation of sorts, something which I sorely need. Oh yeah, and for some reason, I get to fly on company expense, which is surprising. And very suspicious. Paranoid? Definitely.

So things have begun to drift back into their normal routines since my direct superior's untimely departure. A new interim director's been installed (no, not me thankfully), work's proceding as usual, and one of our staff got himself arrested for causing a public disturbance and fighting with a bus conductor. Just another Tuesday.

I'll be out of touch for the next few days, so don't bother checking to see if I've posted anything new.

--your friendly neighborhood Alden
:: Alden 3:31 AM [+] ::
...

:: PASS THE BUFFALO WINGS ::
It's getting cold. And I'm not just talking about the weather, either.

I'm homesick as all hell right now. Might have something to do with the fact that I'm the only one at the office at the moment. Might have something to do with the fact that my boss left the country yesterday, leaving our department to wonder what in God's name to do in his absence. Might have something to do with the fact that I'm sitting thousands of miles away from family, friends, and good buffalo wings. God, I'd kill for some good buffalo wings right now. Whatever the case, it's damn lonely here, despite the 1.6 billion people.

I don't know what it is about this time of year that seems to get me down. It should be a pretty happy time, what with all the holidays just around the corner. Anticipation of good things and all. But then again, I'm reminded that I'll go through those holidays by myself. First time ever. First time away from home and anything remotely familiar. Milestone? Yeah.

Had to happen sometime, I suppose.

Sure, there's always the Thanksgiving Dinner buffet at the big hotels. I'm sure there are a bunch of festivities due to the large expatriate population. But shit. It isn't the same, is it? Feels like a cheap imitation.

And then there's the weather. It's getting colder everyday and I'm finding it necessary to throw on an additional layer of clothing as time goes on. Hands are freezing right now, jebus... I think the contractors who built my factory apartment must have saved a shitload on insulation, because, well, it doesn't seem like I have any. Rooms are like meat lockers in the morning. The only warm spot in my house is my room, which I've tried to barricade against the onslaught of a Beijing winter. Windows shut tightly, curtains drawn, space heater on full blast. Still, should I decide to wear anything less than a hooded sweatshirt, thermal tee, and fleece-lined pants to sleep, I know I'd wake up with a body temperature slightly below that of an average Martian afternoon. I just hope the power doesn't fail during the night - that heater's the only thing standing between me and a not-so-delightful case of hypothermia.

I need gloves.

On the bright side, I've made some friends here. Which is good. Friends help keep you from bouncing off the walls. Watched a movie at my friend Chermayn's house last night. She was educated on the East Coast. Pennsylvania, to be precise. It almost felt like I was back in college. Beer in one hand, food in the other, movie on the 40 inch high definition plasma wonder of technology they call a TV. Ok, maybe it wasn't exactly like college. Close though. It's good to have people to hang out with.

In any case, to all my family, I miss you guys. To all my friends, I miss you guys. To everyone that just called me a pussy for admitting that, fuck you.

Take care, everyone. Be sure to enjoy the buffalo wings.

--your friendly neighborhood Alden
:: Alden 1:47 AM [+] ::
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