The situation has started to improve. Through a friend of a friend (they way things seem to work here) I managed to get my passport away from the corrupt clutches of the jingcha. It’s now with my new boss (I have a new job!) who is processing the visa ASAP, because I am visa-less and so technically illegal. Another thing that pissed me off is that I will have to do the physical yet again – and i’m paranoid of getting some terrible incurable disease through taking the bloodtest (I just don’t trust anything here anymore!) or being irradiated via xray.

It’s also totally unnecessary – since if I have any disease – it will be from China, as I’m still yet to leave the country. I understand the paranoia the Chinese government has over foreigners bringing diseases to China (AIDS, STDs etc…), but if they were to take this seriously – why isn’t every foreigner (tourists included) subjected to this treatment. And more to the point, if they are so worried over the spread of AIDS – howabout the massive prostitution industry in this country and the (mostly Chinese) rich men who frequent these places.

It’s a very Chinese way to combat a problem, and of course, totally ineffective – ironically you’re probably more likey to catch AIDS through a dirty needle, during your medical exam!

The Weather has been really strange recently. On Friday It was back to T-shirt again. Got some really strange looks, one guy couldn’t contain himself when he saw me walking around. He asked me if I was cold, and didn’t believe me when I said it was too hot today.
He – like all the other Chinese people – was wrapped-up in a thick jacket, and probably wearing at least one layer of long-johns! Sometimes, I am almost convinced, that i’m living on another planet.

Took this with my phone the other night. It’s people burning paper money, which i’m told, is for their deceased relatives and friends who are now living the afterlife. Some evenings, on every street corner, there is a group or several groups of people standing around burning fires.