Previously on Chronicles of A Foreigner.....

      We arrive at Sim’s Cozy which actually was a very nice hostel with an English speaking staff. I figured that the room was going to be paid for, but when the receptionist asked for money for a two night stay and fee for the driver least to say I was surprised. There was nothing else I could do except pay for everything. After he gave me the receipt and the room key I took the elevator to my room and went to sleep. The next morning I took a hot shower. It felt like it has been ages since I had this luxury. The hostel had its own bar and restaurant with a variety of different foods. Once again I enjoyed a well prepared meal then explored around the hostel. They had their own recreation room with a billiard table, foosball, ping pong table, and basketball game. I played a game of billiard alone then ventured around the hostel some more. It was nicely arranged. The architecture was very beautiful. I could feel the culture heritage that was implicated into the design. After walking around the hostel I returned to my room pulled out my ps3 and went back to my usual habits as if I was still at home. Of course I wanted to go out and explore, but I wanted to stay and relax in my room; the fear of getting lost and never finding my way back was also a big deterrent. The next day was the same as the day before, eat, play billiard, and return to my room. While I was in the hostel I did see some other people that were on vacation, but they didn’t seem to care to start a conversation so I didn’t waste my breath. I felt that there is no point on trying to drag out a one-sided conversation, and at the point the feeling of being alone hasn't set in yet.

      After my two day stay in Sim’s Cozy it was time to say goodbye. I got a cab and headed to the address of the company. This is when I noticed how big the city really is, and how much of a difference there is in traffic laws. I have never been so scared in my life while riding in a car. It felt as if they had no regard for other vehicles or pedestrians, just as long as they get to their destination. And I don’t mean just the taxi drivers; it was anyone who was driving a vehicle. They all seemed to share this same mindset. It also seemed to be a custom that there cannot be a time span of 5 seconds without hearing someone blare a car horn. This is not an exaggeration. I have actually timed how long of a silence there is between car horns. 5- 10 seconds seems to be the most acceptable time span before someone must blare their horn for no apparent reason.

Finally I reach my destination in one piece; I pay for the “safe passage” and grab my luggage.  I stand in front of a towering sky scrapper. No significant difference between all the other buildings and walk in through the doorway and ask the desk clerk for guidance. After the strenuous process of getting the simple directions of “Take the elevator to the 10^th floor and turn right. You will find the office on the left.” 

     I walk in the office and meet Vickie in person. To my surprise she is surprisingly short. I mean I know I’m not the tallest tree in the forest, but she made me feel as if I was Shaq. She welcomes me to Chengdu and takes me across the street to buy me lunch. After some small talk and a bite to eat we return to the office to get down to business. She cuts straight to the chase by bringing out the contract that entitled me to one year of work, and tells me to look it over. After reading it we both sign the contract and she gives me a copy. Afterwards she turns me over to one of her coworkers named Bella. Bella then takes me to a hospital in town to get a medical check-up. After the urine sample, blood test, x-rays, and other routine diagnosis I pay the fee and receive a certificate saying I’m good to work.

      After returning to the office Vickie then asks if I have a receipt from the hotel and the cab. My memory, of course is that of a steel trap, I remembered exactly where I had the receipt…….. Unfortunately it was at Sim’s Cozy, I had left it on the nightstand next to the bed. As for the taxi, the driver never gave me a receipt. Vickie then says she will call the hostel and see how much I had paid and will reimburse me. Apparently my word isn't good enough. After waiting a few minutes she tells me that they couldn't find the receipt in the room, thus I lost the money I had spent on paying for the room and the taxi. I was definitely not happy with these turn of events. Afterwards she then introduces me to a tall dark slender gentleman from South Africa named John. She tells me that we will be sharing a room in another hotel, which means I won’t start working yet, and I get some more free time….. “Where is the downside to this?” you may ask. There isn't one.