Jumping through Hoops at Fudan

I haven't even started classes at Fudan yet.

But, I have been jumping through their various hoops, and am beginning to learn from this.

First there was trying to get accepted into the University. I first applied at Christmas time, having missed their Dec 15th or something deadline. I was told it was too late. Then I rocked up to Hong Kong, and some people who knew some people got me in.

Then there was registering at the Uni. I thought I was supposed to go to the Foreign Students Office, but in fact I needed to go to a Dining Hall at the north east of the complex. At the hall, there were about 5 stages of form filling to be done. I was quite proud to find that my name had been hand appended onto the end of the student lists the staff had. Ah... clearly it must have been a Big favour to squash me into the course so late in the day. Just as well the beauracracy (sp?) turned me away in the first place. Many of the staff didn't speak English (or Cantonese). Cunningly they had student helpers on the other side of the hall to help. Even more cunningly, they didn't speak English at all. So there I was, trying to fill in one particular form which was all in Chinese. I didn't know what the boxes were, and I didn't know at all what the form was for. But, you learn to just do as you're told, and not ask questions.

Thirdly there was getting a student dorm. I applied in January for one, but was told the e-booking was full, and that I should apply for one in person. I was assured all along the way that there would be single rooms. Having queued and filled in more forms at the dorms, I was then told that there were no more rooms. I didn't really know what to believe... A new friend Kellog told me that he had a double room with no roomie, and suggested I try again the next day. Which I did, and there was no problem.

The room I got was facing the road on the 3rd floor. The balcony (where laundry is hung to dry) was super filthy with muck from the road. A lovely french girl Sophie told me that I could easily change to another room. Amazingly, the staff didn't have a problem with readministering me into another room (including inspecting my passport again, even though they'd done this 10 minutes ago to give me my original room). Interestingly, I observed a senior administrator coach the administrator looking after me to keep the room-swap sheet hidden from my view, lest I think I should see what rooms were free. I paid my 200 rmb deposit and promised to come back the next day with lots more cash. (I thought 9000 rmb would be enough to get started, but they wanted 12150 for the full term. It's 90rmb a day, ie. just over 50 pounds a week)

Then I found out that apartments in the area are way cheaper (thanks to Tek). So I went back to Fudan, and wanted to pull out of the dorm. I thought I'd enlist some help first though. My friend back in Hong Kong U gave me the name of the officer who looks after Hong Kong U students in Fudan. On walking through his door (Mr Yu, room 202 in the Foreign Affairs Office), I was warmly greeted "oh you are the one from hong kong, welcome!" (in mandarin). Helpfully Mr Yu doesn't speak English or even Cantonese. His assistant William does speak English, so we got through.

Together, we managed to find out where and when the afternoon placement test was. It had already begun, and so William walked me over to the building (#2). Afterwards, Mr Yu looked into my accomodation situation. I explained how I thought it was a major ripoff. Mr Yu investigated a number of options. a) asking someone else to pay for it (an interesting option but sadly this didn't work, perhaps because I'm not really from HKU or yet a HK citizen) b) negotiating the rate (sadly also didn't work, but I appreciate the attempt), and c) pulling out of my contract. We went for pulling out, and Mr Yu wrote me a note to that effect to hand to the Dormitory Polizei.

At the Dorms, the changeover went very smoothly. No complaints, not even a murmur of a grumble at the paperwork or needing to check the room. With a wink, the lady even refunded my 200rmb deposit, and only charged me a night's rent, even though I had expected to at least pay 2 nights if not lose the deposit altogether. Interestingly, this is the same lady who I quietly cursed for telling me that there were no rooms on the first day.

Kellog jokingly suggests it's to do with the fact that for the last two days I have been wearing a suit for interviews, and that the staff seem to respond well to it.

On Saturday, I went back for my medical. I shouldn't need one on the basis of my 6 month course actually being much less than 6 months, but because I came to China once in February, my total 'stay' requires me to have it done. I think.

The nurses had a production line set up in the Uni, which was darned impressive. First I had form filling to do, including running out into the street to get a passport photocopy. Some photos, barcodes, and lots of laptops ensued. I was most impressed that nurse #2 took a digital photo of my, and it appeared at nurse #5's laptop with my name and some details. Clearly they do not want to mix things up. Impressive connectivity given they were camped in the dorm foyer.

After the production line, I gave some blood and was encouraged to take a seat. I had no idea what I was waiting for. Having waited a few minutes, I enquired. Something to do with the bus outside was what I gathered. I had to leave for lunch in about ten minutes - a lunch I had organised! Miraculously, a translating teacher was on hand. Together, we tried to find out from the chief nursey where the bus would take me, and how long it would take. But chief nursey really wasn't going to explain a lot. Her response was along the lines of 'don't lunch', sit and wait. I agreed to come back on Monday in the end. It makes Monday tight. I have classes in the morning (I'm assuming - no timetable), and a friend's press conference in the afternoon - I'm going to have to do medical tests etc. at lunchtime.

All I know is that getting anything done at Fudan is very tiring. It justifies my cab rides in and out of town (25-30rmb) instead of buses (2 x 2rmb), on the basis that I need the extra time to fit in all the administration.