philb

I'm using onesuite and can generally get thru (if it is not the new Year). I've used up about 3 hours for less than $10US...and the records downloading is perfect. Sometimes you get what you pay for....is that an old Chinese saying???? Phil

Mark: ConGrats on getting thru... It sounds like something you could send to Chevy Chase and he could make a movie about...Low road out of China!!!!! Phil

John: Sorry to hear of ther loss. Like your SO doesn't have enough pressure on her. Support her and listen closely to her needs....that's what a good husband can do right now... Phil

2 more cents... Sorry for your predicament. Divorced....your Husband needs to look up the definition. 2-3 hour visits with ex are unacceptable. Meet in a neutral location and transfer quickly. If your Husband cannot afford a bed for you; he certainly should not be considering bringing another human being into this world. Look to counseling and start investigating all available sources of support and counseling available. Trigg and Co. has brought up a long running problem. Take either side and measure the disparity in who is in first and who is not. If the gap is too great; then it is going to become a problem sooner or later for everyone. I think that many on this website have experienced similar problems; including myself, and we all feel for you. Phil

when asked...I always say to pay out in RMB or Yuan. They give her 8.26 : 1 Some folks have suggested a Paypal account deal. Not my thing...but maybe you want to look into it. Phil

I agree w/ Trigg....(doesn't everyone?): Just list the city and she'll get to a WU outlet. Make sure to pass on the amount sent as well as the MCTN # for her. I made the mistake of trying to surprise her and WU would not pay out unless she knew the exact amount she was planning on receiving. Two trips instead of one will count as one wet mop swing down the road somewhere....I'm sure. Phil

Trigg: feel lucky that the FAA isn't involved...they are known as alaphbet soup in some quarters! All's well, that ends well. Now hope that you don't need to use it. Phil

Tell your parents that you'll be safer there than almost anywhere else in the world. Use a little common sense; be polite and it is instantly returned! My SO always reminded me to protect my wallet in tight quarters ex. on a bus. Don't do anything stupid and you will be fine. You will be equivalent to a 3 year old in the respect that you can't read a sign or half way explain anything....you will come to place your hand in your girlfriend's hand and will be guided and protected and loved. The country is beautiful and you will soon experience that the people are friendly and beautiful too. Be an ambassador...not "an ugly American" and enjoy the time of your life!!! Phil & Yun

CFLers; Thank you for threads like this. I've been dodging bullets and didn't even realize it!!! Announced our engagement at a dinner party on Christmas Eve. I was "Santa" and had some nice gifts for everyone (24). Jan. 1- I gave a new year's card out to her Mother; her Brother and two Sisters; each with $1,000 yuan. I'm sure that the family and Mama are just thinking that all this is just a warmup for the real thing...Boy have I been waltzing along half oblivious to customs like this. Trigg- is that 9er thing in US or Yuan? I think that the 8 thing is Feng Shui = good joss??? hell, what do I know? You can leave that part unanswered, Phil

Richard: Thanks. Maybe being a rookie is bliss at this stage! Look at all the fun I have to look forward to ------ALONE. Thanks, Phil

I was reading on another internet site about service centers....so take this with a grain of salt: There are 4 major service centers handling requests from people in different states. The service centers have varying delays; however, the Vermont Service Center (VSC) has the quickest turnaround. I don't know if being in California and sending it in to VSC has anything to do with it. Some of the veterans can probably help here...I am definitely a newbie at this. I can offer this, "patience"...not much else seems to help. Phil & Yun

It took 3 trips to the Police station and sitting around for about 4 hours to get the police report. Then to get all of her documents translated and notaried cost about $1,250Y. I don't know if that is a rip off or not ; but there don't seem to be many alternatives. Everyone is taking their last bite before she leaves!!!! Phil & Yun

I'm working with an attorney who requires all docs translated and certified. Yun went the other direction and questioned locally in NanNing and received the same answer with the same list. She has already accomplished this since it took two weeks to get them...."power out", "no one available"...etc. I would say, "yes", one less thing to worry about. Phil & Yun

Yahooooooooooooooooooooooooo Phil & Yun

If I can get my SO here in 2005 and married...it will be the luckiest occasion in my life in a long time. Phil & Yun

Welcome: Now - Nai xin nai xin Phil & Yun

Good Luck-It's like jumping off a diving board = NO WADING Don't worry; I tried to start the process while I was with Yun in NanNing. I am admiring a family picture of when she was a child. The day that I am returning with all the info filled out and signed; she drops the bomb that the man in the picture is her father....who died 10 years ago! Her stepfather is a nice guy; but his name will not satisfy the Bio - list the natural father as deceased. More copies...more signatures. I think I have enough copies with original signatures for two applications! Damn the Torpedoes!!!! Phil & Yun

If you send by WU, be sure to tell her the transaction # AND the amount that you are sending her. I wanted to surprise her and told her so. The WU agent would not release the money to her until she could tell him the amount she was expecting. The only surprise was what I got to hear after two trips to the WU office! Phil & Yun

Take a trip to BeiHei - 4 stars...ahhhh a real western toilet and there is Yun standing on the toilet seat squatting. When I tell her to get down...the answer is,"No can go". I wonder what the bathroom fixture arrangement is going to look like when she finally gets to America???? Phil & Yun

HI: I was in NanNing from 12/19/04 - 1/5/05 and the power (and water) were on and off continually. It seemed that the power was off almost every other day for anywhere from 4 to 12 hours. Keep those water buckets full in the Loo!!!! Phil & Yun

Just got back from NanNing...Yun asked me to cook. Ever try making spaghetti without tomato paste, sauce or stewed tomatoes? Breakfast...French Toast...where do they hide the MAPLE SYRUP. REAL COFFEE...has Starbucks or Deitrichs even thought about it? Phil & Yun

Portland Jim & Lee: You have the perspective! I'm divorced; and many of us are. I've got to ask myself if I had spent as much time, effort and sincerity with the ex-wife as I now do communicating across an ocean with my SO....would I be divorced today? My SO wakes me up and puts me to bed. I can only thank Yahoo for all the hours of video feed and messages flying back and forth for free. If I for some reason miss a session with my SO; I find myself just a little out of sorts....just not right until the next time. Funny, I've talked about things over the internet that I somehow never got around to with the ex. When she gets here, I've got a very good habit to keep in place = COMMUNICATION.

After spending a year supporting my divorce attorney and getting my head screwed back on ( even if my wallet was 1/2 of previous ), I then ventured into the internet for local talent. Wow, there I was looking at the computer after yet another disaster of an internet encounter and this beautiful Asian woman pops up. Don't ask why...the mood....timing...I'd pushed the DELETE button on Russians; Hispanic women from Mexico/Chile/Brazil...you name it. Never even opened a foriegn bio. And for some reason it hit me. I'd always been attracted to Asian...is it a little mystery; cultural differences; I don't know...something...so I hit the other button and took a look. What a sweetheart! Her bio just had a sincereness...a sweetness....an honest presentation....I have only been thrilled beyond belief to have been so lucky to have contacted Yun. Then to actually meet her and live with her; even for a short period. To rise from the depths of divorce hell to where I am now is almost too good to be true! I return this week for 2-1/2 weeks during Christmas Festival in NanNing. I'm not sure who is more excited Yun or me. Asian? She's just one beautiful being with a heart of gold. I ask myself every day how I got so lucky? PS. we're sizing the engagement ring this trip. K-1 here we GO!

I was in NanNing in the summer. I had finally convinced everyone that we could take a taxi instead of the bus. I thought I was given the seat of honor in the front of the Taxi closest to the air conditioning. I soon found out why the driver would not start until I had secured my seatbelt.....WHAT A VIEW....it all works; but I'm not thoroughly convinced why. I did see a couple of STOP lights and there are some marked crosswalks that no one and I mean no one uses. The collision of the Concrete mixing truck and a bus at night was really something...you talk about bent metal!

lumatt; How did you meet in the 1st place? How did you already communicate marriage? Just asking. The hand translator is a must. Worth its weight in gold. Ever play Charades? You will. Seriously, I bought a middle of the road computer for my SO with translation capabilities including a writing pad and stylus when I was over there with her. You'll be footing some english lessons and a few Cds in mandarin aren't all that painful. I think that once you've met; there will be enough motivation to overcome any barrier. Good luck.