je suis verte!

We went to the "Entry/Exit Bureau" today trying to get our visa extended. Everyone has to get a number and wait to be called. There were several people working there but seemed only one person was taking paper work. Only three numbers were called in half an hour. Our ticket said there were 33 people in front of us. But it seemed that when many numbers were called, no one showed up. And then there were many people who didn't have the correct number would go up and got served. I told Brent to go up and just ask, he wouldn't do it. I noticed a white guy who spoke very good Chinese went to get his number, but they stopped giving out numbers because it was late. He wondered around and then went to one of the desks and handed in his paper work and he got served! I was so mad and I dragged Brent to go up to another person but that person said she didn't handle paperwork, and pointed to the desks next to her. A few minutes later I told Brent to go up by himself to try to put in the paper. The person pointed to the number above her head indicating that he needed his number ticket. I was holding it at the time. I was convinced that she saw us together before and that's why it wouldn't work.

I suspicion is not without evidence. We met a French girl yesterday who's selling French wine in Qingdao. She said she noticed that she's treated a lot better than the locals. But the people who get treated worst are Chinese decent who don't speak Chinese much. A friend of hers who's born and raised Chinese-French was treated very rudely here. I notice that I get stared at a lot here when I am with Brent, especially by women. I don't get looked at when I'm alone, nor does Brent get stared at as much.

OK, after two hours of waiting, I decided to stand right in front of the desk where one guy was working. There were many numbers that were called but no one showed up. He waved to us to go up. After handing in our paperwork, he asked how long I wanted extension for and the purpose of our trip. When I said traveling, he told us that we need financial proof that we have $100 per day for the extension period. Of course we don't have our bank statement with us! I was so mad!!!!!! Brent was mad too that there are no regulations written out anywhere including the application form. Hmm, he only tasted what we went through most of our lives here.

Otherwise life is not that bad here. A few photos to bring a smile:

1. ET lives here.
2. If you can read Rule #3, it says don't relieve your bowel in the cave.
3. My newly wed cousin and his bride spent their honeymoon in China and came to visit us. We hiked LaoShan together. Great time!