While living in Shanghai I bought a ticket from a Singaporean travel agency to go to Xi’an. Trying to return from Xi’an I was told my air ticket was no good, there was no flight there never was a flight, there never will be a flight. I then tried to buy an air ticket but found that they did not take visa at the Xi’an airport and in fact most of Xi’an companies including hotels did not take visa at that time. I did not have enough cash to return home.
Finding myself in a serious predicament, I called a Chinese friend in Shanghai that I traveled with frequently, hoping they would have some idea of what to do. They called a former classmate who called a former classmate in Xi’an. I waited in a net bar having no other recourse. Someone came to the net bar, asked me if I was ‘Badaling’ handed me a big wad of cash and said please call your friend. I did and confirmed that I received the money and he left.
When I got home I thanked my friend and took her to dinner, repaid the money and she passed it on etc. The Chinese classmate system is an unbelievable support network. It brings the saying “a friend in need” to a new level.
Tags: China, Networking