About sap198

Currently Lives:

Beijing, China

Citizen of:

United States

Some Forum Posts:

China: HELP!!! More questions re: my soon-to-expire visa -- are the methods below practical and legal???:

do you know if any of the following are do-able and legal, considering my extremely short deadline: (a) can I still work part-time on an expiring visa? My employer at the school needs to know ASAP before she signs a contract, and I must tell her tomorrow (b) I was going to go today to a visa company and I was going to pay 6000 RMB to get them to have a company I would not really be working for renew my visa for one year, but that sounds dishonest and legal to me although it is the quickest way (c) Should I get my Z visa changed to a tourist or business visa? By the way, I don't have much money -- that job had said they would pay me for two more months (March and April) i.e. on the 5th of the month, but they have still not paid me, so I'm in a very, very tight situation here. Please let me know ASAP! And this goes for all members of the board who may know anything about such matters. Thanks again, Sapna sap198@yahoo.com

China: Help!!! My Visa is expiring in 8 days...:

... and I have no full-time job to help me with the renewal/extension process.... See, I just lost my job at an education investment startup company 2 weeks ago (Feb. 17) -- I was laid off due to a severely light workload and language difficulties (it was a Chinese company that had been around only since Oct. 2001). And this was very sudden, not my fault i.e. not due to poor performance/politics, and I'm now in this situation, so as you can imagine, I'm under a lot of stress right now because I don't want to have to leave here (been here only 1.5 years and would like to be here in Beijing, China, for 1 or 2 more years). I have been able to find a part-time job but it won't be able to help me with this visa stuff until 6 months later, if and when I become full-time (a part-time teaching job at a language school). And my visa expires March 11 -- 8 days from now! I called many visa companies and some don't do Z visas (the kind I have), and some can convert Z to F visa (Business), and in some cases, you have to go to Hong Kong to get the Z changed into an L or tourist visa - valid for one month, and then go back to them to get a 3-month/6-month extension. But I'm worried about the cost because money is tight right now (although I do get paid by the company for two more months, and my next paycheque comes in on the 5th i.e. 6,800 RMB after tax approx., 7000 RMB before tax)... And I'm not sure how easy and inexpensive going to HK would be -- i have to do this before the 11th!!! Please advise ASAP -- I'm really running out of time and would appreciate a prompt response either here or to my e-mail address (please see end of message). Thanks in advance, Sapna sap198@yahoo.com

China: Formal Chinese language training for foreigners:

Would anyone be able to recommend a good Chinese language school for foreigners? I've heard of the Bridge School and how good it is -- any expats in Beijing on this board who can testify to this? I mean, are there any expats here who speak, read and write fluent Chinese and can attribute that to attending classes at the Bridge School? (I know it's what you make of it, but the school and the teacher do make a difference). Here's the deal: I've been in Beijing for a little more than a year now, speak some basic Chinese but still have a long, long way to go, and I work full-time in a Chinese company, so I have time only for evening or weekend Chinese classes or tutoring. I'd really like to master the language, including reading and writing once I can speak and understand even better. I e-mailed the Bridge School to find out about private tutors last week, but received no response. I also found out some details about another class from the Chinese Culture Club, but no one answered a follow-up question I had, so is there anyone on this board who could help me? I would really appreciate a prompt reply, either on this board or at this e-mail address: sap198@yahoo.com Thanks! Sapna

China: Any animal shelters in Beijing that accept volunteers?:

Hi again, I'd like to know if there are any animal shelters in Beijing, anything like the State Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and/or Humane Society? Do these places take volunteers (on weekends, for instance)? I am especially interested in volunteering with dogs. I recently lost my pet dog and miss him a lot, and would like to be around dogs, plus, of course, make a difference -- I love animals in general. A prompt response either here or at: sap198@yahoo.com, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, Sapna

China: Any places where you can more variety of English music CDs and tapes?:

I live in Haidian District in Beijing, and have recently visited some small music stores where I bought some nice CDs and tapes in dance music, my favourite. Would anyone know of any places that have even more variety? Anyone know of any places that would have some more of the latest artists or songs e.g. Nellyville ("Hot in Herre"), Mary J. Blige (a song called, "Come and Dance"), a song called "Keep on Dancing" by No Doubt, I think. In Haidian District? In Chaoyang District or Wangfujing? You can respond either on this message board or offline at: sap198@yahoo.com. Thanks in advance. Sapna sap198@yahoo.com

China: Anyone getting bored in Beijing???:

Hi Kanda! This is Sapna, the girl you met a few times at YPHH -- remember me? Are you still in Beijing and China? I'm also starting to get bored (once again) in Beijing -- finding the right balance between hanging out with locals and expats, and deepening and maintaining those friendships is so hard! Well, if you're still in Beijing and China, you can contact me at: sap198@yahoo.com Take care, Sapna

China: Clock radios:

Hi, Actually, I haven't looked at all in the Lufthansa Center. I'll look in there and if I don't find any there, then I guess I'll just have to wait until a friend goes to HK and ask them to bring it then. Thanks for your suggestion. Sapna

China: Any Americans in Beijing interested in teaching English?:

Hi, I was wondering if there are any Americans in Beijing who'd be interested in teaching English to professionals as a full-time job? If yes, I might be able to help i.e. I know someone who'd need such teachers soon. If interested, please reply ASAP either to this forum or to: sap198@yahoo.com Thanks in advance, (Ms.) Sapna Nayyar

Date Joined:

6/16/2002

Total Posts:

11

Posts/Day:

0.00