Visas, Flights, and Jet Lag… OH MY!| 4 min read

Long story short on how and why my trip has been sadly delayed, and some tips and tricks for traveling around the world!

After weeks and weeks of battling with visa companies, airlines, and the Chinese Consulate…

I am finally off on my second Co-Op!

I’ve been asked plenty of times when I would be leaving, why I’m not in Beijing yet, and how I could deal with all of this stress…

So here’s a little blurb on what the dealio is!

The Visa

After applying, re-applying, and applying all over again, I have finally been rewarded with an X2 Student Visa for my time in China.

What most people don’t realize is how often the terms and qualifications on who can and who cannot receive a certain type of visa changes!

For instance, last year I was given an F Visa which allowed me to leave and return to China at my own leisure, allowing me to travel freely around Asia.

This year, I initially applied for this same visa, though I was rejected a numerous amount of times.

Why is this though?

Is it because of the political and economic tension that currently exists between the PRC and the US?

Or, did the representative working at the consulate that day just decide to reject my application for the heck of it?

Truth is, we probably will never know the true reason, just that is really is a game of chance!

The Flight

After venturing on various 12+ hour flights, I wanted to share some tips and tricks that I’ve learned along the way for those of you who are potentially planning to embark on a long journey in the sky…

• Where to sit-

  To be completely honest, the only way to have a comfortable long flight is to pay the extra thousand dollars to be in the business class where you get a cubicle to yourself and a huge, full reclining chair.

  But for those of you who are on a budget like myself, the economy is the only option.

  Personally, I always prefer a window seat.

  That way, you never need to worry about being disturbed to let someone out of the seat to use the restroom, and you also have a little wall space to rest your head.

  Sitting in the aisle also has its perks, since you never need to ask someone to move if you need to get up.

  But this also means you don’t have a place to rest your head without fearing you will doze off and accidentally place it on your neighbor’s shoulder (trust me, I’ve been there).

  Either way, you can’t go wrong. But if it’s avoidable, NEVER take the middle seat.

  That way, you won’t face the anxiety of not knowing which armrest is rightfully yours.

• How to plan your sleep schedule-

   

  If you’re anything like me, you’ll know that sleeping on a long flight is nearly impossible.

  But, if you’re lucky enough to get the chance to get a little shut-eye, make sure to do it between meals.

  On such a long haul, you’ll receive a meal an hour into the flight and one with about an hour and a half left in duration with a little snack in between.

  If you can help it, be awake when the meals are being handed out, or you’ll miss your shot at the only hot thing you can consume for a while.

• What to bring in your carry on-

   

  ALWAYS bring an empty bottle in your carry on. That way, once past security, you can fill it up at a drinking fountain before your flight.

  While attendants tend to pass out complimentary beverages throughout, your mouth will dry out faster than you think when 30,000 feet in the air.

  You won’t regret this!

Jet Lag

This is definitely the WORST thing about traveling to a country that has a 12 hour time difference.

Jet lag is like being hungover without having the enjoyment of going on a night out the night before.

The best way to beat this sucker is to stay up and to try to follow the local time as best as possible.

Just arriving 3 days ago, I am still struggling. From my experience, it takes about a week or so to finally get used to the time zone you’re in..

I’m so excited to finally start my journey here as an intern at QBPC, and cannot wait to share my new journey with all of you! Until next time, xoxo