Mitchell's Big OOPS In China

Time to go home. I was excited. It’s been a great 8 weeks, but “there’s no place like home” so I’m ready.
Packed, eager, and ready. Three flights, 28 hours, and some 8,100 miles.
Like “The Blues Brothers” when Elwood says “… 106 miles to Chicago, we have a full tank of gas, half pack of cigarettes, it’ sdark and we’re sunglasses. Hit it!”
I did.
Until I arrived in Beijing and went to check in through customs and the nice lady says
Lady - “Sir, your entry visa is good for 30 days. You stayed longer. You can’t leave.”
Me – “Huh?”
Lady - “Well, you have a choice. You can stay and get an extension on your visa, and then I can let you go; or, you can pay a fine.”
Me – “Um, I ain’t stayin’. How much is the fine?”
Lady - “5000 RMB.”
Me – “That’s, um, a bit stiff.” (5000 RMB is like US$650)
Lady – “You can choose to stay.”
Me – “Take a credit card?”
Lady – “Nope”
So, 3 ATMs later, I have 5000 RMB. 45 minutes after that I have a signed affidavit admitting I am an international dummy who doesn’t know how to read my own visa and I was finally on my way home. I didn’t bother to point out the irony in the fact that since I was illegal in overstaying my welcome, one of my choices was to stay even longer.

So here I am. Tired, jet lagged, and yes, a bit more educated on the rules of international travel. But happy to be home.
I will return to China after Thanksgiving for a few weeks. So this is to let you know I may be a bit quiet for a few weeks, but then once back in the saddle – I’ll be back to publishing.
Thanks for reading along….and stay tuned.