All Set to go to SZ May 1

Yesss! I'm all set to go. Cleared all my work today. Whatever is left undone will have to be done in SZ & emailed back later.
UiTM has given me leave (unrecorded) from 30 April to 5 July. I shall fly to Hangzhou on May 1 on Airasia, the cheapest airline to fly to China.
On May 2, I'd go to ZhengJiang to attend LiLi's wedding banquet. It'd be my first time to attend a wedding in China. I'd go with 2 other graduates by train to ZJ and take the bus back later in the evening.
Got the visa today. Its nice to get a 2-year multiple entry "F" (work) visa, each entry up to 90 days! Its the first time I get a visa of this duration.
It has been a mad mad rush these past few days... I hope to be able to slow down a little and catch my breathe when in SZ........

Teacher's Day 2008 greetings from LiLi

Thanks very much LiLi. Its students & friends like you that motivate me to return to SIPIVT each year May-June.
I hope to return to IVT by 1 May, after the authorities clear my application for permission & leave.
VN
p.s.: LiLi will be married on 2 May. I hope to attend her wedding.
All the best to you LiLi as you prepare for wedding & married life with your loved one!

--- On Tue, 9/9/08, Yang, Lili <Lili.....COM> wrote:

From: Yang, Lili
Subject: Happy Teacher's Day
To: "'victorngu@yahoo.com'" <victorngu@yahoo.com>
Cc: "lilixxxxxxx.com>
Date: Tuesday, September 9, 2008, 10:46 AM
Hello Victor,

How are you? Hope you're fine for everything .
Tomorrow is the Teacher's Day ,Thank you for giving the so much support and courage
in my life ,It is an impressive expressive in my memory ,i can't forget it forever.
I want to show you the sincere blessing in this special day. Happy Teacher's Day !

You are not only a good teacher but my close friend, thank you for helping make something of our lives. Thank you !

For my recent situation life , it seems great ! ^_^
Have the good relationship with family, affiliate with boyfriend is tuneful. we are buy a
small house in the city by ourselves, prepare to the fitment this month . Because
we didn't have so much money , so first we choose the small house ,when we
are richer ,we will consider the bigger house, hehe ....We will make a match
of it on next year, I wish you can attend our wedding ....

For the work ,it's more busier than before ,i think it's also the good
chance to take exercise and pile up the experience.....

OK, report over!

Hope to see you as soon as possible !

Yours

lily

All set to go!

Yes, I'm all set to go to Suzhou! Couple of happy news: my last exam paper on 11 May has been brought forward to 23 April. This means I can leave by 1 May.
The Univ. is giving me paid leave, I don't have to take my personal leave this year! Yay!
Low cost airline Air Asia has a direct flight to Hangzhou. Which is just 1.5 hours away from Suzhou on the highway. It is better than China Eastern, as it flies in the day (8.10a.m. from KLIA), and the return timing is fine too (arrive KLIA 9p.m.). It is cheaper than China Eastern.
Now I need to clear my work fast so I can be prepared to go do the best job possible!

UiTM/Ministry of Higher Education Approval

On Monday April 7, I received the leter of approval from UiTM Vice-Chancellor and the Ministry of Higher Education.
I immediately went to the China Embassy to apply for visa. BIG mistake. As the previous Friday was a public holiday for China (Qing Ming) and the embassy was closed. On Monday, it was jam-packed with people. I stood in the loooong meandering line for 3 hours before my turn came.
I was told the visa policy has changed: for "F" vissa that I'm applying for, they can only give me a maximum 30-day visa. I was told that I have to apply for extension at the Public Security Bureau at Suzhou for extension or fly to Hong Kong and re-enter from there.
On top of it, I produced IVT's faxed letter but they won't accept it as they will only accept the original now. Last 4 years they accepted the faxed letter from IVT.
By then I was too tired and I just settled for a 1-entry visa and face the consequences later.
There has been a lot of waiting! I have a final exam paper scheduled on 11 may. I've asked for it to be brought forward to April so that I can leave by 1 or 2 May. They have asked me to wait too...
I have yet to buy my ticket on account of this! The waiting game is trying...

IVT Invitation Letter came!

Yes! The letter of invitation from IVT was faxed to the MassComm office on Friday after 6p.m. I had waited for it but I had left office after 4p.m. I immediately submitted it together with the leave application forms to both the PBSM/Training office and to the Chancellery office. Last year, there was the issue of having 60 days lead time to apply for overseas trip. Since I intend to go 1 May-30 June, I had better put int he application early. I will go and apply for visa later.

While talking to Puan Hafizah of PBSM, she told me she remembered my application for unrecorded leave was approved. But I told her it was not, and I took personal leave, although the VC approved my leave. I gave her a copy of VC's letter.

This year, the letter was in English, and it is written by Wilson Qian of the International Office. I do not need to translate it like past years.

The next hurdle is the exam dates. I hope my subjects are arranged early in the beginning of the exam period so that I can mark my papers and then go.

Vicky of IVT has agreed to look for an apartment for me to rent for 2 months. We've been having short chats on MSN.

connecting with suzhou friends

i have been to suzhou yearly since 2004 during the months of may-june. the friends i have made included local and expats. we stay in touch mainly through sms, emails, or chat online or the occassional phone calls (thanks to calling cards) and the yearly chinese new year cards sent out.. I miss my friends, and i wish i can visit them more often. i am preparing myself and psyching myself up to visit them again this year may-june.