China in Auckland.

Obviously you have to get a visa for certain countries and being British you definitely need a visa for China. I am rather proud of the number of stamps and visas stapled and glued into my passport. I am going to be devastated when I have to renew it in a couple of years time. Getting our Chinese visas was not impossible but it gave us a little culture shock.

My new School prepared my paperwork, I had my ridiculously expensive medical and we made sure we had enough passport photos. We headed to the Chinese Embassy in Auckland for the actual visas. Having gone through a similar process for New Zealand, American and Kyrgyz Visas I was expecting it to take all day and be somewhat tedious.

After getting lost courtesy of our slightly old TomTom that decided we wanted to go to the TipTop Bread factory instead we arrived at the Embassy. It was just like any other building in the area. I was actually shocked by the lack of people in the embassy. We took a ticket from a machine and went to the seats in front of the counter which resembled those you see in some banks where the tellers are behind glass with a narrow slit to receive papers. We glanced at our number and the electronic system above the employees and there were only 2 numbers until it was our turn. We were in shock! Within in moments the number changed and they waited about 10 seconds. No one came to the window, so it was onto the next number. Having seen this we readied ourselves to sprint to the front as quickly as possible.

Our number came up and we did our best Usain Bolt impression and made it before they moved to the next number. The man was officious. He said that my work place was wrong that my husband should be getting a different kind of visa to the one requested. Demanding a form we couldn't find and telling us we had filled things out incorrectly and dismissing us with 2 minutes. So, a speedy correction, mild panic and checking everything very carefully we took another ticket and resumed our place in line. Within about 30 seconds we were in front of a different man who was very nice and helpful. The forms were submitted and we were given a hand written receipt (hand written!) and told to return in 4 days.

Not a particularly painful experience at all. On our way out we decided to use the facilities. I think the picture says it all.