I enjoy a late start to the day.  After spending some time googling “Chinese translation for the air-conditioner remote” (I’m still not sure what all the buttons mean), I head out to for the train and B4.  I’m meeting Amy Song, the assistant to the principal, and going to the Passport Office.  My “Foreign Expert Certificate” is completed, and I’m eligible to apply for the multiple entry “Z Visa”, good for a year.  (my current visa is only good for 30 days and a single entry).  There sure is a lot of paperwork for working in China.

Similar to the Texas DMV offices, we get a number and wait our turn.  An hour later we are walking out, application finished.  Now all I have to do is return in 3 weeks, pay 400y (around $65), and pick up the new visa.  Amy drives me back to the apartment.  I pick up a few groceries, and begin to get ready for a staff party at BISS.

The staff at BISS has a full-blown meal at the school, scheduled for 5:00.  I arrive on time, meet Judy in her room and head down to the cafeteria.  It is truly an international group.  I’m hearing so many accents as I walk through the room.  Everyone is talking about their summer travel.  I’m beginning to get “travel fever”.   Our first break is the first week of October.   I’ll start checking destinations next week.

An Indian restaurant is catering and it’s great!  It’s my first time and it won’t be my last.  It looks a little different, but tastes similar to good ol’ “rice and beans”, at a Mexican restaurant.  After dinner and lots of interesting conversation, we head back to Judy’s room.  We finish putting up some bulletin boards so she won’t have to come back to school this weekend.   Out the door around 9:30 and we grab a taxi for the ride home.