Discount.

So the issue is resolved apparently. The fine was supposed to be 5,000 RMB, then Fudan fought for us and got it reduced to 2,500 RMB. And after we left Fudan this afternoon, the fine now stand at 2,000 RMB. We got it reduced further after having a nice chat with the police officer in charge, and to be honest, this ‘bargain’ is the best one that I’ve ever done in Shanghai, and the wonderful thing is that WE, the NUS students, are the ones who managed to bring the fine further down. NUS’s role in this whole farce? Pay the fine.

Putting the whole issue into perspective, I actually realised that NUS really should have done a better job in taking care of us. I mean, they literally dump us here in Shanghai and left us to find out every piece of information on our own. Hello, we are new to this place and there are many things that we have no idea about, especially things that have got to do with the authorities. These are the issues that they should give us more information about, and not say things like ‘rules change here everyday’ and avoid the entire issue. Rules may change quickly, but at least do feed us with what you know and not let us find out all the time. If your aim in us coming is to gain experience and exposure to the business world in China, then do us a favour by sparing us the nightmare of handling the often-highly-difficult-to-handle Chinese authorities. How difficult is it to keep track of our arrival in China, when our visas are going to expire, whether we have applied for the necessary documents, etc? If they have acually bothered to do such little things, we won’t be in the situation that we caught ourselves in.

I hope the people up there can learn a lesson or two out of this whole thing. I would want to call them blockheads, but it’s not very nice to be saying such things about people who are actually sponsoring us for this trip, so I’ll leave it as it is. Kids coming to Shanghai in July, you’ve been warned. The moral of the story is: even though NUS is supposed to take care of you, you still have to depend on yourselves, for all you know, they will dua you big time when you least expect it.

At least I get to sleep slightly better tonight. If everything goes smoothly from paying the fine to applying the visa, then I think I can finally sleep well.