Visa troubles

For the past two weeks I have been trying to find out what to do about my working visa. After inquiring at the Chinese Embassies in America, Mongolia, Hong Kong, and South Korea, all say I need to go to my mother country to obtain a work visa. China made this new rule right after the Olympics when I was already in China. This effects thousands of foreign teachers, and I am not sure what they are doing. I suggested I renew my tourist visa, and work illegally, but Mr. Zhang would have none of that. So, in a matter of 1 week I found out that I had to go back to the USA to get my work visa, and I discovered that I need a work permit, too. I told Mr. Zhang but he knew nothing about it. After forwarding him links to web pages that showed what it was, he wrote me back and said, "OK. we are applying.." that was all.

The university bought Ned and I round trip tickets from Beijing to Albuquerque. We will take the night train from Tongliao to Beijing on Friday night, and fly out Saturday at noon. I pray that Mr. Zhang gets the work permits by then, or else.... he'll be fed ex'ing them half way around the world. We will be in Albuquerque for 2 weeks while we apply and wait for our visas. All of our belongings are in storage, and we'll be staying at Ned's friend Oscar's house. I'm excited to see friends and family, and eat some good 'ol pizza, ice cream, lasagna and cheese...foods that don't exist in China!

The whole process has been exhausting, and I'll still be worried about the work permit until it comes. This week I'll tell my students I'm leaving them for 2 weeks, and I expect they will be shocked and upset. I don't look forward to it. I woke up very sick (headache, dizzy, nausea) last Monday after teaching over the weekend, and I think I got sick from over-work and stress over the visa. I have to go half way around the world to get a piece of paper glued in my passport.

Please, please, please let it work out!