An Invitation

Late last week, after nearly a year and well over 100 emails sent flying between Nebraska, China, and Chile, I finally received my Working Permit and Invitation Letter of Duly Authorized Unit from the People’s Republic of China.  The documents arrived by special delivery just two days before I became homeless earlier this week—who knows what would have happened had I not been there to accept the delivery…

With these documents I can now apply for a China Z Visa, which allows entry into the country.  I am to enter via Shanghai, and proceed directly to Xi’an on August 30th, where Crystal will escort me to the local police station for registration within 24 hours of my arrival.  Then we apply for a work visa.

Who is Crystal?  Funny you should ask…  “Crystal” is the email respondent that has held my fate for much of the past year.  She works in the International Affairs Office of Xi’an Jiaotong University City College, where I have been offered a position teaching English in the Foreign Languages Department this fall.  Crystal is filling in for “Carrie,” who is on maternity leave, and I am pretty sure I am the first Foreign Expert that Crystal has ever processed.  I feel confident that Crystal has learned at least as much from the experience as I have.

Perhaps I should let Crystal speak for herself.  Here, for example, is her response to my status inquiry last month, after not having heard from her for several weeks:

hi  Douglas
Everything are going very weil! You may rest assured.It will take another three or four weeks to close it.The relevant departments of the Chinese government will give you invitation letter.I will mail it to you by postal service  as soon as possible.

Crystal

Crystal always calls me Douglas, even though I’ve never referred to myself that way except on official documents.  It’s just as well, really; Chinese speakers usually call me Duck.

Don’t get me wrong—I could not even begin such a complex transaction with the two years of college Chinese that I took back in 1983, so I truly admire Crystal’s ability to conduct our conversation in a foreign language.  Still, when it’s not completely painful, it can be pretty funny.  Here’s how it began:

Dear Douglas

I'm crystal from international affairs of XJTUCC.Congratulations that XJTUCC decides to employ you for 1 year's contract.

I'm writing to help you completingthe prcedures to come to china successfully,please send the following documents to me:

1、the copy of passport

2、a e-copy of 2 inch color photo

3、the copy of highest diploma

4、health records

Thank you!

I hope to see you in xi'an!

Needless to say, it would require numerous additional emails to satisfy her request.  The good news is I now know that one of my first lessons will be on the proper use of indefinite and definite articles, a/an and the.

In the meantime, Crystal and I will just keep working away at it, or as she puts it:

We have a long procedure to run to obtain your one-year work visa within one month. If we miss the validity period of visa, you will be refused by Shaanxi  Exit and Entry Administration Center and that is a big trouble for both of us.

 No doubt.