(Note: This account of our "US to China Shipping Experience" was
eight pages long, typed! )
Our adventure in sending
personal items to China has been so entertaining and frustrating that I
felt I should record the highlights for posterity. Let this be a warning
to those who think, as we did, that shipping books and other items
overseas would be a better idea than paying overweight baggage charges,
mailing the items, or simply deciding to do without almost all of your
things.
It all started when I
decided that my professional library of TEFL books would be an invaluable
help to my work in China. As it stands, that may still be true (since
there are very few TEFL books available here), but my decision to crate
the books as opposed to mailing them may always be seen as a
miscalculation. In addition to TEFL books, the crate contained Christian
books and resources, Chinese language-learning resources, children’s
educational and entertainment-oriented videos and materials, Andrew’s
favorite toys, our dishes and clothes, my guitar, our favorite decorations
and personal items, and various toiletries -- most of which are
unavailable here.
When we inquired about
shipping things to China, we only found one reasonably priced company in
Columbia (Craters and Freighters: C&F) who would be willing to make us a
crate. Furthermore, a different company (International Supply Services:
ISS) would pick the crate up from the former and deliver it to us in
Shanghai. There was also a big hassle over meeting Chinese regulations
related to wood infestation, but the builders promised us that it was
properly certified. As I write, we know of no trouble in that regard on
the Chinese end.
I should have taken all of
that as a premonition of what was to come, but we didn’t heed the warning
signs. Actually, most of the warning signs didn’t manifest themselves
until it was too late.
Craters and Freighters is an
interesting company. The crate was supposed to arrive at our Columbia home
the morning of Wednesday, June 8, giving us two days to pack it before we
had to vacate our house on the eleventh. They delivered it late that day
-- after making it the wrong size! We had been in communication for half a
year about the box, and they knew I wanted something “palate-sized” with
five-foot walls -- 40x48x60 inches to be exact. This was the size
suggested by ISS because it would fit easily into a shipping container.
Needless to say, we were shocked to see a crate measuring 53” x 53” x 67”
in our driveway! They explained that they were late because they are
short-handed, and the size change was due to an assumption that 40x48x60
would be the internal dimensions instead of external
measurements. They also said that since I said I wanted a “palate-sized
crate” they figured I meant 48x48 (x60) instead of 40x48. Never mind that
I had always said (and written) exactly what I meant, and had even had
them repeat it.
Several of the people who
helped us in the packing process agreed that it was poorly constructed and
was an odd size, but there was nothing we could do about that after the
fact.
The new size meant we could
ship more things (a blessing), but it also dramatically increased the
dimensions/volume and weight. This, of course, dramatically increased the
price. The new volume had pushed it over the 1000 lbs. mark, which
warranted a shift into the next price range.
In the end, it cost $1205 to
ship it plus $215 to build it. It weighed just over 1000 lbs, had a volume
of 3.14 cubic meters and the following dimensions: 53” x 53” x 67”
(internal: 48” x 48” x 60”). Our estimated value of all items in crate:
$6,616 US (which is probably too conservative).
With the help of wonderful
friends, we worked to fill it up and finished 30 minutes before the C&F
workman came to seal it on Friday afternoon (June 10). Unfortunately,
someone had removed all the screws and power tools from his truck (they
had agreed to bring everything needed to close the crate), so he had to
use bungee cords to hold the door on. To make matters worse, it took the
worker, myself, and two friends an hour to get the crate up onto the
truck! Mind you, we are talking about a wooden box that weighs just over
1000 lbs.! But, to be fair, C&F had always treated me kindly on the phone
and in person, and the workman who took the crate off the truck called to
say it arrived at the warehouse intact.
On Monday (June 13), ISS
arrived to get the box, which was to ostensibly travel to Charleston by
truck and then head to Shanghai. (We left the same day for Georgia and
Tennessee on the way to Ohio and Hong Kong.) In truth, we now know it went
to Norfolk (where ISS is), then changed ships in Los Angeles, then changed
ships again in Hong Kong.
From the beginning we were
told to expect the crate to take about one or one and a half months to
reach Shanghai. I can only guess that ISS honestly didn’t know it would
change ships in both LA and HK. That would have put it in SH in the middle
or end of July, so we waited until then to begin inquiring about it’s
location. As the beginning of August passed we had still heard nothing. By
now our suitcase supply of vitamins was gone and precious commodities like
unscented anti-perspirant and hair spray were being rationed. I had also
been teaching for a month without the aid of my own resources -- which was
rather a handicap!
Then we got good news. The
crate would arrive August 10, so we only had another week to wait. On
around August 12 they called to say it was here and we needed to go to Yan
An Road to start the claiming process. It so happened that an old Chinese
friend from Beijing was in town for a few days, so he went with me to the
shipping office. Once we got there, we inquired about fees. It was only
going to cost 100 or 200 yuan ($12-25), which sounded reasonable (since we
had paid over $1200 already!). As they were preparing various papers my
friend noticed that the invoice my Dad had faxed me and the information on
the company’s sheets didn’t match. We brought this to their attention and
they eventually came back saying, “Sorry, we have made a mistake and this
isn’t yours.” Allison (our contact at the Chinese company -- Air Sea
Transport or AST hereafter) apologized profusely and said she would find
out where our crate was and personally see to it that it would be
delivered to our apartment.
We didn’t hear anything for
several days, so I had Yew Wah’s Chinese Administrative Assistant (Martin)
call. They didn’t know anything at first, but later came up with an
estimate of August 27 for the crate’s arrival.
August 27 came and went, but
not without me calling (or having a Chinese associate call) several times.
Mom and Dad called on August 23 to say that ISS said the box had arrived
in SH, but this was still news to the folks here. On the 24th,
they told us there was no record of “a ship by that name” having come to
SH, and speculated that it had changed ships in Hong Kong. They were
right, but we wouldn’t know this until the end of the month. On 8/27 Mom
and Dad called back saying they were sure it was here—but this was still
news to the local company. I wrote home on the 28th saying
there was still no word.
Finally, on the 30th
we heard that it had arrived. The next day is where the following report
begins. Bear in mind that this was originally a letter to my parents,
written before we knew the end of the story.
August 31. I spent the
morning at work (preparing for the new term to start next Monday) and
trying to get money from our bank account (I was out of cash, and there
has been no indication of how much I’ll have to pay to get the crate
home). At 12:37 I arrived by taxi ($2.06US) at AST (Allison’s office) to
“get the paperwork done,” but Allison was not there today. Her colleague
pulled me up on a computer, and came back to say I owed them 622RMB ($75).
(When thinking about Chinese money, it is better NOT to convert it to US
dollars, but to remember that a Chinese daily wage is about 45RMB. This
makes sums like 622RMB seem pretty high.) I protested, saying that Allison
told me it would only be 100-200. He called her (she was at a training
meeting), and she told him to tell me that she had told Lisa what to tell
me about how to get our stuff. Lisa had a look on her face that indicated
this was news to her. I asked to speak to Allison about the fee, and she
said the 100RMB fee was for the crate she had said was mine but wasn’t.
This is a different crate. But she would eliminate their profit and let me
have the paper I needed for only 522RMB ($63.27). I told this to the man (Mr
Chen), and he confirmed it with Allison, and then proceeded to tinker with
the computer to adjust my bill. No short time later he was ready to take
my money, and we proceeded to the cashier. In exchange for my 522RMB, I
was given a piece of paper which (I am told) says it is an exchange
certificate. They seemed happy to have taken care of me and bid me
farewell. I asked where to go next. They (and by now this is a joint
effort of two or three staff people) went to ask Lisa, who said I should
go to the Customs office. “Where is it?” I asked, as I pulled out a map
(maps generally throw people off, as I don’t think most people here know how
to use one). After some discussion, they pointed to a road along the river
and said it was “somewhere down here.” Not satisfied, I asked for an
address so I could give it to a taxi driver. Lisa said I should take the
#42 bus (apparently to it’s terminus). I asked if I could get on the #42
nearby. No (of course not), I would need to take another bus in the wrong
direction, and then transfer to the #42. I said I’d rather take a taxi, so
please give me an address. Another man was brought into the discussion and
they went back to the map. He pointed to where he felt the customs office
was (no where near the first guess), and someone eventually wrote
something in Chinese which was supposed to be directions to the customs
office.
It was now after 1:30 (an
hour after arriving at AST to get this paper). I went out and found a taxi
and he took me about two blocks from the address (I didn’t know this at
the time) and said I should be able to find it “that way.” (This ride cost
14RMB/$1.70.) I walked “that way” a ways and showed the paper to a shop
owner; she pointed in the same direction so I felt pretty good. I repeated
this until I got to a parking attendant in front of the Customs office
(which I didn’t know was the Customs office yet). He looked at the paper
and sent me around the building. I climbed up to the entrance, entered and
asked the information lady and she sent me downstairs. There was no public
entrance in the basement, but I chanced to enter an unmarked door. I was
encouraged to find a man inside who looked like he might be wearing a
Customs uniform, so I showed him the paper. He sent me back upstairs to
room 1004. The men in 1004 wondered why he had sent me to them; in fact
they wondered why Allison’s company had sent me to this address, so they
called her office. The line was busy. They tried a number which Lisa had
given me, and talked with the people there for a while. One of the men
then escorted me back down the stairs, past the man who had sent me
upstairs, to a public area (which, oddly enough, was right behind the
parking attendant who had originally sent me around the building). I
thanked him for his kindness, and now stood before a Customs officer. I
told her I had a crate, and the shipping company had sent me here. She
asked if I’d filled out the form. I said I didn’t know about a form, and
asked where I could get one. She pointed to another lady, who was not in a
Customs uniform, at the next desk. (As this lady will become important
later, I’ll introduce her as Lei-Lei Ye, of the Shanghai Foreign Service
Co., LTD. - Non-commercial Goods Service Centre, hereafter called FSC.)
The form was in quadruplicate, and Lei-Lei pointed me to a basket of
partially used carbon paper sheets to aid me in filling it out. She also
asked to see our packing list. She then asked who was going to help me
clear the goods through Customs. I said I thought this was Customs. No,
this is just a Customs office; after this I would need to clear the items
through a different office. I said I was just going to take care of it
myself. She laughed. “But you don’t speak much Chinese and there are many
things you must do. And then how will you get the crate to your home?”
[Allison’s company – which I would rather not deal with again if at all
possible – said they could get the box to my house for around 200RMB
($24.25), but I figured the warehouse would also have a way to move it,
and a friend also said he could locate a truck. Bottom line: I was taking
this one step at a time and those steps were still in the future.) I
admitted that I wasn’t sure. She said her company (remember she was not a
Customs official) would help me clear Customs and deliver the crate to my
house for about 1000RMB ($121.21). I tried to find out what I would get
for that 1000 – did it include everything? No, it didn’t include any taxes
I’d have to pay (she said I’d have to pay tax on the furniture); and it
wouldn’t include the warehouse storage fee. I said I just got notice
yesterday that it was here, so there shouldn’t be any storage fee. She
laughed again, and said that other fees would also be involved. So, I said
I’d think about it. She asked, “Isn’t someone from your office going to
help you with this?” “Maybe,” I said. “I’ll just get this form taken care
of now and then I’d handle the next step.” “You can’t fill this out
yourself; you must have it sealed (chopped) by your organization. Then you
can come back.” I tried not to show my disappointment as I headed for the
street.
Another hour had transpired
by now (it was 2:26 according to my taxi receipt). I headed for my
downtown office, which wasn’t too far away (only 10 RMB/$1.21, the minimum
for a taxi). I got a hot dog for lunch (not too bad, but 12RMB – rather
pricey considering what 12 RMB can buy around here), and proceeded
upstairs. The boss and Chinese Administrative Assistant (Martin) were both
in, so I started with Martin. What I thought would be a simple procedure
obviously didn’t look so simple to him, especially when I asked if someone
might be available to help me with Customs (as suggested by Ms Lei-Lei).
Martin didn’t know what to say, so I decided to talk to Jeff (my American
boss). He said it needed to be an official stamp, and Yew Wah doesn’t have
one. I would need to see “Frank” at the Yew Chung office (next door to our
apartment, which is about 25RMB or 20 minutes away from work by taxi – or
an hour by bus). I inquired if this meant today or tomorrow, and the
answer was a definite tomorrow, as Frank was probably going to be gone by
the time I could get there (by now it was approaching 3 pm). As for the
help with Customs, he asked if I’d be willing to pay a former teaching
assistant 100RMB to help translate and go with me all day (Yew Wah pays
them 80RMB per day, which is actually a good wage – double what might be
considered average and perhaps triple what might be called minimum wage).
I said that would be fine. Martin tried a few numbers, but no one was
available or interested. At this point I decided to call a friend (SP),
who said he would do whatever it takes, including getting me a truck.
(What’s more, SP drives his own car, and has always proven to be very
resourceful!) We would meet at 10 AM. By now Martin said he had to return
to Gubei (where Frank’s office is) and after collecting some materials I
needed to study before Monday’s classes we headed out.
I don’t have a taxi receipt
(YW paid), but I figure it was past 3:45 when I got to the Gubei
Kindergarten campus (SIS). Needless to say, Frank was already gone. I sat
in a front office and filled out the Customs form, and then the
receptionist (I think she is the only person on that campus I have met)
said she would ask Frank (I’ve never heard anyone call him anything else!)
to Chop them in the morning. Since I had arranged for SP to pick me up at
10 AM she said she would try to get them done by then.
Next I walked over to the
other Gubei campus to take care of a few work-related needs (equally
fruitlessly, but I’ll spare you the details). I had also parked my bike
there this morning, which I collected and returned home. I arrived at
5:50, and our dinner guests were already here (Leo L and family – old
friends, and Leo will work closely with me at SIS Gubei). Leo’s wife is
Chinese, and asked for the day’s tale. She wanted to see the paper I got
for my 522RMB, thinking it strange that I should have to pay so much. She
said this paper indicates that I should CALL the place where the crate is,
and THEN go to collect it (WITH a truck) at the time THEY specify, and
THEN see Customs on the way out of their warehouse. (I can read none of
this, since my reading ability is about zero.) She agreed to call them for
me in the morning, so that is where we must end the story for now.
The adventure continues
tomorrow – I hope.
[PS: I’ll only add that this
is coming at a rather inopportune time, since I am very busy with work. I
will have to work all weekend to get ready for Monday and Tuesday’s
duties. Meanwhile, last week my schedule was entirely flexible, and for
most of the summer I have not been overly busy (as I had a rather light
teaching load). But I shouldn’t complain. The paperwork from Yew Wah had
advised against shipping things to China – mind you, we didn’t see that
paperwork until we had already contracted with C&F and ISS about the
crate. We knew there were risks involved and decided that we wanted more
than we could carry anyway. (And when I think of the hassles we had and
narrow stairs we had to climb in HK with all the luggage we DID carry, I
am still glad we didn’t drag along twice as many bags.) However, I don’t
think I’ll try this again!]
Sept 1. At 8:45 AM,
Leo’s wife called to report on what she had learned from the company
listed on the “exchange certificate.” She said that they are the people
who have our crate, but they have to wait on a Customs preauthorization
before they can release it to clear Customs. This, ostensibly, is what I
could get at the Customs office I visited yesterday. She said the man
asked her several questions which she didn’t have the information to
answer (crate size, etc.), and she suggested I have someone else call from
SIS once I got the required Chops from Frank.
I arrived at SIS at 9:00.
Frank was not in, and I told the receptionist (May) that I didn’t want to
bother him by phone before 9:30, so I sat to wait. At 9:30 she
called his cell number - he was not going to be in today, but he kindly
offered to allow his assistant to Chop my documents. This assistant
complied with my requests, including Chopping various additional documents
which Melissa suggested I have Chopped. I then asked if someone could help
me make a phone call or two, and he said May could do it. I proceeded to
explain the situation to May, showing her a photo of the crate and all the
papers and addresses gathered yesterday. She found that I did need to
return to the so-called Customs office today, but that I had better have a
Chinese person with me because there will be many things to do and they
will certainly overcharge a foreigner, but a Chinese person can barter
with them to get a better price. I called SP but he said something had
come up and he wouldn’t be free for at least an hour or two.
According to May, once
Customs grants a provisional release, then we can go to the place where
the crate is. She was unsure about when the truck would be needed and
didn’t seem to know how to inquire about a pallet jack, so we left those
things undecided. She seemed to think that overall, we should expect to
pay 3000 RMB or more before all the fees would be satisfied. By now it was
10:45, and I decided to walk home and wait there for SP to be free.
Half-way home I changed my
mind and returned to SIS. I called Elsie (another Chinese Yew Wah Admin
Asst.) and asked her if she would call Lei-Lei and try to find out what I
would get for the 1000 RMB she had mentioned yesterday, and see if she
would give us a lower price. Lei-Lei wasn’t in, and wouldn’t be in until
1:30, but it took Elsie until 11:30 to get this information. I
asked her to call back and see if someone else could help us. She also
volunteered to call SIS (upstairs) to find out who normally takes care of
these things for incoming SIS teachers (remember that I really work for
the sister organization, Yew Wah, and Yew Wah has never dealt with this
before). A little later Elsie called me back to say that SIS does not deal
with this either (it is up to individual teachers if they decide to ship
things). Meanwhile, back at the Foreign Service Corporation, a man said
that based on the size and volume/weight he had been told, the price of
their services would be 1300RMB, not 1000. This still didn’t include a
significant number of other fees. Elsie further offered to call someone
who supposedly works with importing things to get an opinion and maybe
some help. She called back to say he couldn’t help. So, I called SP again,
and he said he was now free. We arranged to meet at the Custom’s
office/Foreign Service Corporation - he would drive himself and I’d take a
taxi.
With the help of an office
worker, I hailed a cab, but he couldn’t figure out where I wanted to go
(even with the Chinese help), so we hailed another. The trip lasted from
12:21 to 12:35, and cost 23RMB ($2.75). I walked to the
door, only to find a sign which said they were closed for lunch from 11:30
to 1:30! (You would have thought someone would have told this interesting
fact to May or Elsie, but never mind.) SP wasn’t there yet, so after
walking around the building to check other entrances I sat in front of the
Customs door, much to the amusement of some of the Chinese on a bus parked
nearby. The parking lot attendant came over and tried to use sign language
to tell me the office was closed for lunch. (One small note here: I
realize that most foreigners here don’t speak Chinese at all, and so this
“sign language thing” is an understandable reaction. But these people
don’t even catch on when I ask them in Mandarin to explain. This drives me
crazy! Some may not be able to speak Mandarin, but most just can’t seem to
grasp the concept of a foreigner being able to understand. For this
particular gentleman, it took several attempts on my part to convince him
to finally use Mandarin to try to communicate.) I told him I didn’t mind
waiting, and once he realized I could speak Mandarin he actually became
very polite. After sitting there for a while, I decided that SP may have
gone to the wrong door (see yesterday’s adventure), so I went back around
the building. Inside, I called him from a pay phone and he said he was on
the way. I decided to wait for him at the main entrance – at least it was
air conditioned in there, even if the construction across the street made
it almost impossible to hear yourself think! As I waited, I kept opening
the door for everyone going in or out. After four or five minutes of this,
a uniformed man (building security) who had been watching me came over and
told me (smiling) that I needn’t open the door for people. I think he was
embarrassed to have a foreigner who was acting like a doorman. I told him
that in America opening the door for others was polite, so I didn’t mind.
(Actually, it was kind of fun to see the expressions as people entered,
and this helped to lighten my mood!) When this culture starts to drive you
crazy, I’ve found the best thing to do is find a way to serve someone!
Anyway, we talked for a minute, and I said I was waiting for Customs to
open and a friend to show up. I asked if he would direct my friend around
to the other door if he showed up, and then I could wait at the Customs
door. He was glad to help, so I was off to my post at the other doorstep.
By now, two or three Chinese had gathered, apparently equally surprised to
find the door closed (this is rather rare these days, though it was almost
universal in the old days).
At 1:15 the doors
opened, but SP wasn’t there yet so I continued to wait outside. He showed
up a few minutes later, and once I explained the situation we went in. He
went up to the uniformed Customs officer (where the Customs lady had been
yesterday). This man refused to look up at us, but SP was persistent in
politely asking for his attention and he finally grunted that we needed to
talk to the people at the Foreign Service Corporation (at the next desk).
There was Lei-Lei and an associate. For about a half an hour, SP talked
with them in Shanghai dialect, occasionally stopping to ask me a question
or translate something. The gist of it was that I should pay 1300 RMB,
plus the other fees, and they would clear my goods through Customs and
deliver them to our apartment complex. According to SP, they were rude to
him, and insisted that he convince me to use their service. If he tried to
help me with the arrangements himself, they guaranteed that we would have
a lot of difficulties and would not save more than 200 or 300 RMB. Every
once in a while, the Customs officer looked over at us with a knowing
smirk on his face. In the end I capitulated, and even produced the
authorization form she had given me yesterday, duly Chopped by Yew Wah. At
this, Lei-Lei’s demeanor changed 180 degrees. SP even commented on the
remarkable change later. She became very polite, and said the thing would
be delivered on Tuesday, adding that they would bring them up the stairs
to our apartment for the same cost. I asked how much I owed them. “Nothing
now,” was the reply, “you can pay when things are delivered, because we
don’t know how much the taxes and other fees will be until then.
Altogether it should be around 2000 or 3000 RMB.” I said that I could not
be there Tuesday (I have to work), and my wife doesn’t speak Chinese. At
this, SP said he would come over to translate for Vivian and help show the
workers where to put things. Lei-Lei took his number (and my other numbers
– they already had photocopies of every document I could come up with),
and we left. It was now 2:00 PM.
This is where the story
stands. One can only speculate on what will happen Tuesday (or more likely
Wednesday, since things are rarely done on time here). SP says this is an
obvious example of a company created to make life easier for a State
Agency. Customs officials have decided that they do not want to deal with
the public, and especially foreigners, so they created an organization
which acts as the go-between and basically give us no choice but to work
with them and pay whatever they ask.
I’ll write more as the story
develops, or hopefully concludes, next week.
An interesting side note: SP
and I went across the street to eat lunch after this was settled. It was
an interesting lunch. He told me that a friend in Guangzhou (Canton) had
just killed himself a few days ago. They had been classmates in college,
and thus the man would have only been around 25 years old. SP said the man
was gay, and last week he had finally told his parents. They basically
disowned him, and said he shouldn’t come back to see them. SP continued to
tell me that many college students and “most” faculty members are now gay,
even though the government does not condone this behavior. Many people in
the army are also gay, according to SP. He asked if the US government
condones it, and I had to admit that they both condone it and promote
homosexuality as a valid alternative lifestyle, especially promoting it in
the public school system – though in the US army it was officially still
not condoned. My Chinese isn’t good enough to point out that the Bible and
history indicate that a tolerance of homosexuality is a primary indicator
of the impending collapse of a civilization, but I imagine that the topic
will come back up in the future.
After we left, we visited a
large bookstore where I purchased a second copy of the Flying House VCDs
(in Chinese). Andrew had found this remarkable series a few days ago.
These are Christian programs produced by the Christian Broadcasting
Network in the US, where children go back in time to participate in
stories from the Bible. I bought the second set of 12 VCDs (24 episodes?)
so that we can loan them out a few at a time to Andrew’s friends. We also
knew that when you find something like this, you had better buy it NOW –
such treasures rarely stay on the shelves and if you wait the best finds
are rarely still there when you go back to get them. [As of 2009 – nine
years later – I've never seen them in China again.]
Finally, he took me to
America’s Eyes to pick up the pair of bi-focals I had ordered as my own 40th
birthday present. They were supposed to take less than a week, and it had
now been eight days. Alas, they were still not ready. It had been a day of
disappointments, and this seems a fitting place to end this essay. (I DID
get the bifocals the next night, just before English corner.)
Sept. 6. Monday and Tuesday
came and went. There was still no sign of the crate. I work late on
Tuesdays, so when I got home I called SP. He had also heard nothing, but
he said he would call them in the morning.
Wednesday morning was very
busy at work. By noon we had heard nothing, so I called SP. He called the
FSC (Foreign Service Corporation, or is that Fleece Shanghai’s Citizens?),
and then called me back. “They told me that they forgot to take care of
your things!” he said, sounding as incredulous as the remark seemed to me.
“Forgot?” I replied. “Yes, they forgot” (Dui bu qi. Women wang le). “They
said they will call me back after 2 PM." We spoke about this for a moment,
and I could tell he felt bad for me and for the way we were being treated.
After three PM or so he
called them back and reported that they would try to come in the morning.
Later he called back to say he would come over at 8:30 because they said
they would be here around 9. (I will be at work.) The bill, ostensibly,
will be 2200 RMB. He will translate for Vivian in directing the workman as
they bring up the boxes.
Perhaps Vivian has the
hardest role in this Saga. While I am busy at work, she has been sitting
at home waiting for a ring on the phone or doorbell (probably from someone
with whom she can't communicate). With each promise comes new hope; with
each loud truck noise (and these are MANY!) the heart races as she heads
for the window; but with each glace from our fourth story perch and with
each sundown there is yet another disappointment. It is enough to drive
anyone to the edge of composure.
I wrote to the Beijing
friend who had helped me visit the shipper about a month ago. He thinks
the fee is way too high (as does Leo’s Chinese wife, whom I saw this morning), and
he suggested I turn this story over to a friend in the media, so she can
do a story about how hard it is for a Foreign Expert Guest to get things
shipped here from abroad. I may take him up on the offer!
Maybe the story will
conclude tomorrow?
Sept 7. The big day actually
arrived. A van pulled up at 9 AM, loaded with our things. No crate, but a
van full of boxes and other bulky items. SP had not arrived yet, so Vivian
had to make a few calls to get a translation of what the driver wanted (he
wanted money!). SP arrived before she had finished making the calls, and
the men started to bring our things up the stairs. (Interestingly, one man
brought things up the first two flights of steps, another man brought them
the rest of the way, and a third man stood around telling the others what
to do.) The total bill (today) came to 2,192 RMB ($266US). In half an hour
the van was empty (Michael arrived from work soon after this). As far as
we can tell, all of our things are here, and none of the boxes look like
they were opened by Customs, including our boxes of video tapes and
reading material – and we are glad of this.
As soon as he got home,
Michael typed up our good report to E-mail friends while scarfing down a
BiLo Fruit and Grain Cereal Bar (from one of the boxes). Vivian went right to work with the task
of sorting things and trying to remember what we considered so important
three months ago!
Thus ends the Great Crate
Caper. What actually happened to the wooden box? As the Chinese say:
“Heaven knows.” It will probably end up as a bookshelf in someone’s
office. (We did ask about this, and the reply was: “What? How were we
supposed to get such a big box all the way over here?”) But our things
have arrived and we can finally settle in with all the tools and trinkets
we need to serve here effectively.
In a month we will have
forgotten all about the trouble incurred of late (that’s why I’ve written
it down). New challenges will have transpired to make us perspire. But
hopefully we will remember enough to make us think twice before trying to
ship a crate overseas. At present I don’t know what it is, but there HAS
to be a better way to send things half way around the world!
See photos/account of the next time we shipped things
WITHIN China (Shanghai to Xi'an) on our "Life in China" page,
and photos of the damage from Xi'an to Kunming
here.
© 2001 Michael Krigline. As far as I am concerned, people are allowed to print
or copy
this article, or link to it, for personal or classroom use.
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