As I was being encouraged to get to China as soon as humanly possible, I bought the first flight I thought I could make, with what I thought were China’s current COVID testing requirements. I was set to fly just after Thanksgiving. Along with millions of other people who decided to travel for the holiday.
You can probably guess, I did not double check the COVID travel requirements. China had changed them when I wasn’t looking. My flight did not meet those new requirements. And I didn’t realize it until after the 24 hour cancelation with refund deadline had passed. I was now out a lot of money with nothing to show for it.
The flights that did meet the requirements were at least twice as expensive as the one I had just cancelled. Some were $10,000!
I had to find a flight that would not stop in another country, wouldn’t cost me an arm, leg, and everything I had in the bank, and take off before my visa expires in February. Normally, there would be tons of flights that would meet these requirements. I live just outside a major city and flew from there direct to Beijing years ago when I went for a vacation.
However, it’s 2020. There were only a handful of flights to China I could take. And none of them are any time soon. I chose the first one that met the requirements. I would have to change planes in San Francisco and it was in February. 5 days before my visa expires. But I had a flight. For now. If, for any reason I don’t make this flight, I’d have to get a 3rd visa and wait a few more months!
Now, all I had to do was hope and pray that China didn’t change its restrictions too much and wait. Two more months of waiting. With nothing interesting happening.
Oh, well, I guess that’s why there are squirrels. And they got an early Christmas present…
Eventually, Christmas came and went. I acquired a stalker – Baby Yoda. But, later, we played Hide and Seek and became best friends. Ok, I lied, we never hung out again. And he didn’t quite find me when we were playing. But, he tried. I guess that counts for something..?
And, China changed their requirements. Again. Who’s surprised? Raise your hands. No one? Good.
Now, I would have to take a PCR test (not a rapid test) and an antibody test in San Francisco at one of 2 doctor’s offices before I could board my plane to China.
My layover is only 90 minutes.
Hmmm…
There was over a month before I left and China had changed the requirements last month, too. Were they going to change again in January? If I changed my flight now, would I have to change it again next month? Would the airline charge me for all these changes?
I couldn’t answer any of these questions.
I decided to wait until closer to my departure to change it so that I would only have to change it once.
Back to the waiting and squirrel watching for me. And, for a change, I made a happy snowman. Well, it was too cold to actually make a snowman and it didn’t really make it up to my knee. But, I had fun. And that’s the important thing, right?
Eventually, it was a couple weeks before my flight and I’d need to figure out how to change my flight soon. But, before I had the chance, the airline called me first. They wanted to make sure I had seen the ‘new’, aka December’s, testing requirements. I was able to quickly and easily change my flight to SF. I would leave home 3 days before my flight to China, get tested the next day in San Francisco, and finally, at long last, board my flight to China. And, for more good news, I would be able to check 2 bags for free on both of my flights. Something was going right! At last! Maybe 2021 would be a better year.
Now, I just had to fit my life into a few small suitcases.
Luckily, I was already mostly packed from my previous attempts to leave the country. I spent an hour or so checking my luggage and making sure I had everything I would need to spend at least a year in another country but nothing I didn’t.
I still overpacked. I always overpack. I try not to, and then I still do.
Oh, well. I’m getting on a plane soon! Maybe.
My TEFL Adventure 