Visas, Vaccines and Bank Accounts

Only 28 days to go now, I think I've got most of the important things sorted. Although I can't help feeling that there’s something I'm going to forget. I've got 14 days left of work before I can chill out and focus on sorting out the last few things such as getting passport photos for visas and photocopies of documents. I'm pretty excited but think I'm in for a massive culture shock in China, so I'm also slightly nervous.

A few weeks ago I ventured to the Chinese Embassy in Manchester to get my 30 day visa. It was pretty straight forward and I didn't have to show any documents apart from my passport, I returned 3 days later to pick it up. The visa is actually a large sticker with a picture of the Great Wall which they stick into your passport.

I've sorted out my contact lenses for the trip. I told the optician that I was going to purchase them off the internet instead of buying them from her as they were cheaper; she agreed to match the price. I guess they didn't really have much option. I'm taking 6 months worth of lenses; I may also buy some daily contact lenses as a back up as I'm prone to losing my lenses.

One thing I need to do before I go away is to get a hair cut. It’s wildly getting out of control and a bit of a hassle in the mornings. I may have to cut it short (Big job for the hairdresser!) with all the hot weather I'll be facing.

I've now had nine injections for this trip, only two more to go now. I have the last two about a week before I go. The last one actually stung a bit and gave me a sore arm for a while but on the whole most of them have been fine. The nurse that has been sticking needles in my arm is actually a lot friendlier than I first gave her credit for (In an earlier blog entry).

I haven't organised any kind of leaving do, I don't really like the attention to be honest. A few friends have decided that we'll have a BBQ for it on the day of England's first game in the world cup to in their words have a "celebration of Dow’s leaving". No doubt we'll have a few beers and maybe venture out to a pub or two in buoyant mood after an England win. I've also got my football team’s end of seasons do on Sunday so that will also kind of be a leaving do in a way. I think that time is going to fly by now and I'm glad all the major aspects of planning are sorted such as flights, insurance, visas etc. I still have to sort out my credit card though, as they haven't sent me a new card that calls me "Mr." instead of "Miss".