I don't always lose my Chinese bank card. But when I do, it's around the time the Chinese government has started up some new, weird regulation making it harder to bank in China. Essentially making the Chinese banking system more bullshit than it already is.
On this particular Tuesday, I realized I didn't have my bank card. So, being that it was my day off, I decided to take a trip to the bank. Normally, you'd have to take a number and wait for it to be called. Since my Chinese is very hit and miss, I decided to wait in line at a desk and explain the situation. The first thing they did was take my passport. They do absolutely nothing with it. But they have to make a copy each time. So if you lose your card while you're getting your visa renewed, you're kinda screwed. I don't understand the point.
Anyway, they did the usual paperwork, but then out of nowhere stopped. They'd told me that because I used my passport number I had to wait seven days. I'm not sure if it was because I told them that it wasn't happening, or because I had my Foreign Expat Certificate, but with a little patience and very strong, "No, I'm not borrowing money from other people when I have money" I managed to get a new card.
I'd like to say it was cause I never once changed heart and kept telling them no, but I'm not sure that was it. I'd like to say it was me FEC that saved me from going a week without money, but I'm not sure. Either way, thank goodness for my pride. One thing I hate more than anything is being in a situation where I might have to ask someone for money. It's a pride thing. So if I'm actually asking someone for money, I'm really hurting.
One of the big mysteries, maybe, will be what got me to win the system. Or with my luck, someone will read this and tell me exactly how I did it. Either way, it sounds like a shock to most people when I tell the story. Random bit of pride for the win!
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