Getting off the plane, I was fresh faced (re: half-awake) and excited for more time in China. I gave my passport to the immigration official with an extra warm greeting (mostly because I was excited to be there, but she was also really cute). She looks at my picture, nods, flips to my visa. Says "huh?"
Around this time the fun began.
Turns out the office manager at the academy I was staying at screwed up, extending my visa in November as I had asked but neglecting to get the one that allows for a re-entry. An honest mistake and easily forgivable. I figured I would have to sign a form, smile sheepishly, maybe get her on the phone as a last resort. Well, after a half hour of discussion I was politely but firmly escorted by one Air Canada employee and three cops (who seemed thankful for something to actually do) onto the next flight to Vancouver.
Including takeoff and landing of both flights, I'm guessing my second trip to the People's Republic clocked in at around an hour and a half.
So I'm back in Van, staying at my friend's house, chilling for a few days until sorting out a flight back to Edmonton. I don't think I'll be heading back to the Orient anytime soon. Not only do I have no money I was told it would be a good idea if I didn't apply for another visa until at least a year had past.
Lesson learned. The bureaucracy of China may be disorganized and chaotic, but if you lack the proper paperwork they don't screw around.
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