Decided to just go to France and learn Chinese

please enjoy photos...1st is at Japanese all you can eat, which I ate all I could and almost died from 1st degree burns. 2nd photo is Yin and Regina (whom I'm staying with until I go to France). 3rd photo is of me, last day at the school. (yes that is a look of huge indifference)


Verdict is in...drumroll please..."your visa request is rejected" Me: ok, I quit.
I made it that simple. I've been waiting since January for this. They waited til a month ago to move their asses and I just don't have the time. I called Tiger mom up and told her about my situation. (Of course she's in flight somewhere...) She tells me that I can just apply for a new visa while in France and we can work on it while we're there. She suggest that, worst case scenerio, she can have my return flight rerouted to the States and I can just work on it there. I'm not sure why or how she made it sound so easy and fixable. I calmly say ok, hangup with her, and begin to panick at this point. I've quit the private school and will remain with the pimp school until I figure things out.

Pluses: I'm down to 6 students. They will all be officially mine and no more middleman (pimp school) taking their cut when I come back from France. I've paid rent up until I leave. I know where I'm storing my things while I'm away. I now have time for Bikram and Chinese lessons...the list goes on.

Minuses: Missing income(wasn't much to begin with), a little homelessness when I return, oh yeah that Visa thing.

I've talked to so many people and everyone seems to be in the same boat. They've been changing the Visa requirements everyday it seems. Which to my private schools surprise, they "did not have the power to get Visas and the government wants more Chinese working in Chinese school". I laughed when I heard this, mainly because of my photo shoot for the brochure a month ago. 'Yes this school is international, look at the Black lady in the pamphlet.' The headmaster has lost face and seems to think that his "guanxi" or relations with the government was something short of amazing. Guess not. Whatever. Moving on.

Meanwhile, Vida (implant from Lithuania by way of Tokyo) has become my roommate. She's a friend of Jakes (now mine) that needed to come to Shanghai to defend her thesis at Fudong University. She's extremely smart and has been a huge asset in keeping me sane these past few weeks. She so reasonable and rational. I see a Ph.D in her future for sure. She suggested I find a language program at one of the many universities, apply and convert visa to a student visa to buy some time for me to think about what I can/want to do.---One option
Jo has a 'guy' I can talk to and get some suggestions. I say "of course you have a guy".--Another option

I'm not as stressed about my situation as I was initially. I want to use my time and money wisely now (considering the little of both I have for the time being). I will call the Chinese consulate in Paris to confirm whether or not Tiger mom was right and see what papers THEY need for visas. (as soon as I figure out the time difference)I will start looking at fitness places again to work at. I really feel thats where my heart is at. Meanwhile get in shape, so that I'm somewhat hirable...SO MUCH WORK TO BE DONE.

no more being absurd and lazy.

thats all for now folks.