It was a magical day. I’m getting on a plane. I thought this day would never happen. And to make things interesting, they were predicting a massive snowstorm with at least 6 inches of snow. But I wasn’t going to let a little thing like the weather stop me from leaving, not after I had beaten so many other obstacles.
Over 100 flights from the local airports got cancelled. My flight was delayed an hour or two. But only because the plane was coming from somewhere with worse winter weather and couldn’t get out on time.
I didn’t realize that sitting on a plane for a long period was a skill that was use it or lose it. I haven’t had an issue with being on a plane for 4 hours since I started traveling internationally shortly after I graduated college when a 4 hour plane ride became insignificant, relatively speaking.
I was in one of the few rows that was full. All my neighbors, or at least those that I could see, were the only ones in their rows, or there was someone at the window and someone else at the aisle. But, I ate my ‘snack pack’ and watched a movie and eventually we were in San Francisco.
Now, find my luggage, BART, a burger, and my bed.
My room is way nicer than I was expecting. I have a separate living room with a couch and bedroom, both with a TV! Who has 2 TVs in a single hotel room? And the couch is fairly comfy. Perfect for a nap.
After a quick 8 hour nap and some hotel breakfast, it was time to go to the city and get my COVID tests. San Francisco wanted all travelers to quarantine for 10 to 14 days upon arrival, but they were allowed to go get COVID tests. So, that would be the only place I would go while there.
Well, I guess I did get a little ‘lost’ on my way to the testing site. I somehow managed to climb way too many stairs and found Coit Tower, which was closed due to the pandemic. On the way up, every time I climbed up a set of stairs, I thought that I was done with stairs, that there would be no more. Then, I’d walk five steps, and there’d be another set waiting for me. I think the staircases were laughing at me. I do not enjoy climbing stairs, especially when they are endless.
Evil stairs 
View from Coit Tower 
Coyotes? In SF? 
Coit Tower
After a few quick pictures and a sign about how there are coyotes nearby, I pulled out my phone for directions to the testing site and somehow wound up at Pier 39 and saw the sea lions. And almost no people. I’ve never seen Pier 39 so empty. It was weird.
Pier 39 crab 
Sea lions 
Where the sea lions should be
Oops. Third time’s the charm, right? So, again, I pulled out my phone for some directions. Made doubly sure that I was going the right way.
And I made it to the testing place, about 15 minutes before my appointment. I wasn’t allowed into the building until 5 minutes before. So, out came the phone again, but this time for some entertainment and to figure out where in the building I was supposed to go.
Once in the building, on the right floor, I had to find the correct office. Just off the elevator, I saw a sign for COVID tests, and, no other directions. After following the arrow, it was the wrong office. I also hadn’t seen the correct office number on my journey.
Back to the elevators to try again. I found the correct office, check in, and get asked to wait in a waiting room all by myself.
A short wait later, a nice gentleman in a paper/plastic medical hood comes by and shows me to a room. He explains the whole procedure. Then, proceeds to shove a funny cotton swab up my nose, spin it around, and leave it in there for what feels like way longer than 10 seconds, while I try really, really hard to not sneeze. We then repeat the whole thing with the other nostril. It was extremely unpleasant. I now understand why people call it a ‘brain swab’. It really does feel like they’re trying to poke my brain.
Next up, with the blood draw for the antibody test. I’ve had to give blood a couple times in the last few years. One person was unable to get any blood, the other did it extremely easily, quickly, and painlessly. This time, it was somewhere in between. I wound up with a fairly large bruise on my elbow, but he got the blood out first try. At least, I didn’t have to turn into a pincushion to get the blood out.
Now that the only reason I was allowed out of my self-isolation was done, I had to go back. On the way, I got a little lost and passed an Indian restaurant and picked up some food. Yum!
The results from the tests were guaranteed by 5pm the next day, but often would arrive earlier. Once I got my results, very early the next day, around 11am, I had to apply for a HDC from the local Chinese Consulate. So, online I went to fill out a form and upload all the documents the form asked for.
After waiting for a few hours, I was denied. I was missing a few forms – my flight itinerary, receipt, and reason for going to China. Only one of those was specifically asked for in the online form, the flight itinerary. And they asked for the flight day and number, not a picture of the itinerary. Also, which receipt? The receipt from the COVID testing or the flight?
As I don’t want to be denied again, it was after 3pm and I didn’t know if there’d be enough time to submit my form a third time, I just uploaded everything I could think of. Luckily for me, one of the things the other consulate asked for when I was trying to apply for my second visa a few months ago was a letter from my employer about why I need to go to China now, not after the pandemic is over, and it was just the thing to upload here as to why I need to go to China.
Less that 10 minutes after I saw that it was denied, I had resubmitted the form for a second attempt.
An hour later, I had my green QR code.
I was allowed to get on the plane! Now, to sleep, pack, and get back to the airport.
My TEFL Adventure 