monte

For sometime I didn't understand that Ru was saying "the middle phone" when she would call me from her cell and I asked what phone she was on. If you are not talking on your home phone or your office phone then you are on the phone used "in the middle" or between home and office.

Sometime ago a post on the topic of buying a Dell computer for fiance/wife to use. I have gone back to the posts around the time I thought was correct but I was unable to find the post. I would like to purchase a computer for my wife to use and then bring to the US when the time comes. Any recent experience out there?? Ru tells me that she is not comfortable with the quality of the locally available computers in the retail shops. I didn't do enough research while I was there. I understand "Legend" has the edge as the major domestic manufacturer, they claim 30% of the market is theirs. I'm not sure if Ru's concerns are more of a reliability of the machine issue or maybe a self-confidence issue. She uses computers in her work but her work has a relatively narrow focus on the technology used. Any help would be appreciated, Thank you, Monte

Recently on another site a post stated that a Chicago office handled all the K3 applications from all the regional Service Centers, that a large part of the delay in the process could be circumvented by mailing directly to this office. Could this be true?? The man who posted this gave his name and phone number for follow up questions. Does anyone at CFL have any input on this? I received my wifes' paperwork on Christmas Eve and plan to file the K3 I-130 documents forms this week. Having not heard of this before I must treat it with some scepticism. Any knowledge out there?

The advice on buying the cigarettes duty free was correct. I purchased two cartons (import limit) of Marlboro box to take as a gift, cost me $38.00 per carton in my home town. On China Southern just prior to landing in Guangzhou their price was $10.00 per carton with no limit. Gave them to my wifes father. As for a bribe of any sort or even an attaboy type thing I never was in the position to feel the need. Ruwei definitely took charge of any of that sort of thing long before I even understood what was going on. Good luck, Monte

I have not posted anything for about two months after getting off to a poor start on this site some time ago. Several of the members have communicated with me off site and I suppose it is time I bit the bullet so to speak and apologize to Dave and any one else I offended at that time. I returned from Zhanjiang a few days before Thanksgiving. While in Zhanjiang Ruwei and I were married both in Traditional and Registered fashion. I have wanted to post this earlier but while I was out of the country I had ordered a new computer system installed in my home and it has taken this long to get the creature tamed somewhat despite my technological ineptitude. I am more of a "lurker" than a contributor when it comes to this website and others like it, AAC and K-3, but I do value the wisdom and advice offered. I know I will have more questions and maybe one or two answers to post in the future. We are just starting down the long K-3 road and it is some comfort to know about others in the same position or having been in this position. I hope you all don't mind, but, I'm back. Monte

This is a continuation of the registration of a marriage in Zhanjiang requiring registration with provincial officials in Guangzhou question that I posted before. This requirement became effective on Oct 1, I'm told. Reading of the response that Se Lang posted, thanks Se Lang, is a part of where the question comes up "go to the marriage registration office of the local government above county level". Doesn't that mean the provincial capital or is there some level of officialdom between the county and the provincial governments? Frank1538 what a great "traditional" wedding you had, I worry whether at my advanced age I would make it through the day let alone the night you described. I'm not a real fan of country music but I heard a lyric the other day that sums up my initial feeling about placing myself in your position. It's something about, "What was I thinking" possibly with an added "O my God, what was I thinking" I'll be in Zhanjiang on the 7th of Nov., is there anything I could take for your wife or do for you while I am there? Let me know,okay? Thanks to you both and best wishes for all

Thank for all the positive input folks, even thanks for the non-positive input. I thought I had, somehow, in my 49 years become an adult and responsible for my own decisions, but thanks for pointing that out to me Dave. As for my "lack of resources" and having the internet: many postings on CFL refer to Chinese friends, Chinese co-workers, past trips to China, Chinese neighbors, Chinese etc., etc., I have none of these type of resources,. The one Chinese food restaurant in town recently took down their Chinese food sign and changed it to Thai food signage. Same cooks, same owners, same place. Go figure. The referral to the acronym page was greatly appreciated thank you MoonCarolCafe. Still a couple that I don't quite understand but I'll work it out somehow. Owen, thanks for the help! Still feel like I'm trying to get a grip on water though. Se Lang great thanks for the offer of your list of sites, however, that is my very problem, too many sites saying different things now, no need for more at present, so I'll take a rain check on your offer if OK with you. Dave G, I don't mean to offend either but one of my observations is that you need to work on your skill at "not offending". Just because a person prefaces patronizing remarks with "I don't mean to offend" they do not have free license to go ahead and offend. You are right though, my verbosity doesn't approach yours. Thanks again, Monte

Dear CFL, Thank you all for the great responses. Even though no one did answer the question about having to register marriage in provincial capital rather than home town as of Oct.1. Or at least nobody has definitively answered yet. At any rate maybe some of you would provide the definitions of a few abbreviations or words that I am not familiar with, please!! MeiMei= sweetheart? Lover? Wife? NVC and GZ=? TSC=? “Alaska files with NSC”=? Chinese size 36=? American size?? (Ruwei is 5’3” and weighs 117lbs) What does a “Traditional Wedding” entail? Does “Traditional Wedding” involve a “Traditional Wedding Gift” if so what?? What is the big thing about “the world of cotton socks”? Have all you guys out there been totally confused by all the contradictory information on the web regarding Chinese attitudes, customs, and daily life??? Three Cantonese language websites, same phrases or words said three different ways, whas up wi dat! I’m sure some of these questions seem pretty simple to you more experienced members, but, remember I live on a relatively remote island in SE Alaska (600 mile swim to Seattle, WA) with a distinct lack of resources providing any insight on these matters. I try to learn as much as possible about the 1,000,000 related subjects but as soon as I develop an opinion or reach a conclusion based on the given data it is contradicted by the next website, CFL posting, or publication I purchase. What to do? Oh, What to do? Maybe I should just accept CFL info as gospel and ignore the rest?

I have been told that the K-3 spouse process is currently much quicker that the K-1, I may have understood incorrectly but the info came from the Zhanjiang Marriage Agency and other info has proven reliable inthe past. The K-3 applicant awaits processing in the US with the US spouse while K-1's await paperwork in China. Or, am I mistaken again??

If I understand correctly a marriage in Zhanjiang must now be registered in Guangzhou, is this correct?? New policy took effect the first of Oct. This will definitely keep us on the move if true, I'm only there for nine days. While not absolutely, positively getting married we have discussed and I'm taking all the authenticated paperwork required for marriage. Thanks to all for the warm welcome!

Again thank you for your warm welcome, A question did come to mind; Ruwei has told me that we need a week to register our marriage if we do marry and that we must now register a marriage at the provincial capital, Guangzhou. Anyone know about this change, it supposedly took effect the first of October?? While not absolutely sure about getting married I am going with all proper authenticated paperwork for marriage.

Thank you all and no they are not different cities. Just one of us spelled the name wrong in the first post. (look, I told you I didn't know what I was doing)

This is my first posting here even though I have been visiting here for several months. November 5th I leave Ketchikan, Alaska traveling to meet the woman of my dreams in Zhanjaing, PRC for the first time. I've seen that, generally speaking, your group at CDL is a caring, supportive group and I have appreciated the bits of info I have gleaned from all your postings. I guess at this time I really don't have questions, it is more like a great, overwhelming amount of general anxiety. Depending on how things go this trip I plan to be a frequent visitor and possible contributor to these pages, but, any advice you can offer would be appreciated, keeping in mind of course that I have absolutely no idea of what I am doing.