Kicked Out

We live in China on Residence Permits, which must be renewed annually. The current permits expire on Sep. 30. That is, they expire on Thursday. Usually, Uncle H-- takes care of these things and we think nothing more about them. Human Resources asks for our passports and some phots, we hand them over, and then we get them back a week later with our permission to stay.

This time, not so much.

Because China suddenly requires original and authenticated birth certificates for the girls and marriage certificate for me. This takes over a month to obtain in the states, on top of being mailed to China. We won't have those until next month.

Because we moved a month before our expiration, and a few important documents sad in boxes in a warehouse in Guangzhou for a few weeks, postponing our application.

The reasons are not so interesting, really. Interesting is that we've got to get out of China, and fast. Interesting is that our visas expire on Thursday, and Friday begins a week-long national holiday. Interesting is that Dave has no work and the girls have no school for one week. And also interesting is that Hong Kong and Macau, although both part of China, do not require visas to visit, can distribute tourist visas to China easily to anyone who happens to ask, and are a simple ferry ride from our home.

And so, we are off. Thursday evening, we will head out for a few days in Macau. Sunday we will head to Hong Kong. And Wednesday we will return as tourists, until our Residence Permits can be fully processed.

A journey is always exciting. A last minute journey, all the more exciting. And the best? A journey prompted because you've got to get out of the country!