Promises are Being Made

I have been assured that everything I need to get a Class Z visa is currently winging its way across the sea. Also, the inky black oblivion that is my set of Re:Re:Re:Re's from Capital University of Economics and Business has kept up, which leads me to suspect that they no longer have any interest in me. This could, however, be a trap. I wouldn't think a University is capable of playing dead, but from this distance it would be impossible to tell, really. How they benefit from lying in wait until I'm in the wrong city to make trouble for me is beyond me, unless its a personal venegance thing, which would make a great premise for an 80's hypermasculine international action movie. The Phipps Contract, coming to you in July.

But if Maria of Xi'an Peihua University is to be trusted, all my info will arrive while i'm at Lake Creek, at the yearly Hoeflich family reunion of sorts, meaning that I'll be calling every day to find out if i've gotten my work order stuff, and then spend the day after I find out driving back to west linn, and then driving home after i've sent all my info. This is really okay, but not optimal as far as these things are concerned. Still, until that work order is in my grubby little hands, I don't think I'll be able to rest easy about my Job opportunities.

But if this all falls through, I'll be going to PAX!

Oh, and I might be using this thing to start re-writing a story i wrote in Barry Sander's class. Please don't confuse China with whatever cracked out Narnia I put forth. You should be able to tell. They'll have titles like "Chapter 1".

So, I spent the last weekend near Newport, Oregon, car camping with the family. Weather was gorgeous, went crabbing and caught nothing legal to keep, which is really fine anyways since actually preparing the bastards to eat is such a pain. Pulling the crab rings was satisfying though. Managed to avoid getting sand/saltwater/smoke into my shiny new corneas, good times.

On the contract drama front, no news, which i am beginning to perceive as good news. I did get an email from the North China Institute of Technology, which I don't remember applying to, telling me that if anything comes up they'll let me know. Unless they're looking for an astronaut ice-cream tester at 10,000 USD a month, I can't really see myself as being too excited.

So, overall, things are looking up. If Beijing doesn't get back to me by the time my work thingy arrives from Xi'an, I think i can safely assume that I'm in the clear. Maybe.

...this is going to be so much more interesting when I actually get to China. I promise.

ಠ_ಠ

I'm beginning to regret trying to get out of my contract with Beijing, largely based on the lack of response. I mean, if they never reply to my "i quit" jazz, what happens? Presumably nothing, but supposing i get to china and then all of the sudden fools with baseball bats are waiting for to take me to teach English under penalty of concussions?

When I die, I'm putting "Better is the enemy of good enough" on my tombstone, and then a picture of a contract.

Anyways, I got so insanely worried about this stupid thing that I fled to Eugene, where I found out that Guitar Hero Rocks the 80's was made by interns (they took the solo out of Police Truck, which is embarrassing), so I'll be getting back my preorder money.

Right now I'm waiting for a shower at doug's place and playing Chu Chu Rocket (!), in preparation for a long day of hanging out, etc. My DS is out of power, so I can't be levelling up my Pikachu. The winter of our discount tent, etc etc.

I just checked my mail again. Nothing. I'm terrible at bluffing at poker, why did i think i'd be better at bluffing at the game of contractual obligations? This is going to be the death of me.

Midnight Contract Negotiations

I just told Capital University of Economics and Business (CUEB) that i won't be working for them, citing section 12 of our contract together. However, according to the contract, if i break contract all they can do is null the contract, which is really what i want anyways.

oh god oh god ogodogodogod i hope this works out okay.

If things go well with CUEB, though, I'm on board to go to Xi'an.

Well, we'll see what happens.

If you chase two rabbits, you will lose both.

Interesting news. The Capital University for Business and Economics has written me to say they couldn't get me (or anyone else) a "Z" work visa. They're now trying to get me a 6 month F visa. As mentioned in our last episode, this has the potential to completely do me over. I did, after all, sign a contract.

I wrote Xi'an, and told them the scoop. Hopefully this won't bugger everything up with them. My exit strategy is to cite the lack of visa as a reason to leave my contract with Beijing, nad hope they don't somehow use it to FORCE me to only take a 6 month visa and then have to reapply for another six months, working a job in a more polluted city for less money.

If i play this right, i could end up with no jobs at all, but that's becoming increasingly unlikely. Worst case scenario, i'm back at square one, but in all likelihood I'll be stuck working for Capital University of Business and Economics for 500 less RMB a month and in beijing instead of Xi'an, doing the exact same work, and with a shitty visa.

The next few days will be interesting. Waiting on confimation emails, yet again.

In all likelihood, i'll get what I want by good looks and charm, yet again.

The News

Yesterday I was told to plan as if I will be working for Xi'an Peihua University. They're working on my Visa right now.

There are 2 ways in which this can possibly go awry.

1) For some reason I am denied a work visa period. This would be awful. I don't know why China would say "aw hell no" to Dan, but there's a chance, i supppose

2) My contract with the Capital University for Business and Economics buggers everything up. This is far more likely, although still probably not a problem. I might have to call some people. Write very strongly worded emails. And so on, and so forth.

Before going to China, i have a few things lined up. I'm getting Lasik surgery, I'm going camping, Lexi and I are painting pdx red, and I'm going to lake creek. Somewhere in there i have to go shopping. I dress like a bum, and i'm supposed to be some kind of teacher. It's madness.

Until I leave, I'll be using this as a kind of public note-pad to remind myself why i'm doing this, and what i'm bringing, stuff like that.

List 1.A: Stuff I Am Planning To Bring To Xi'an
-2 weeks worth of clothes
-A playstation 2
-Baldur's Gate 1 and 2
-A copy of War and Peace with Cliff's Notes
-A Suit
-My laptop (which i need to stick another gig of ram into)
-My digital Camera

Fuck, i need to start saving money. There's a lot of stuff I'm going to have to buy while i'm there. Like food. :(

Even if i don't get THIS job, i'm totally going to China. There's no stopping me. I'm like some kind of Going to China machine.

<3,
Dan