Spain/China 2023, continuing (27)

[aadler]

Thirteenth day in China – July 24 Monday

Up about 7:15AM to shower and shave. Susan woke at 7:30. We went downstairs to have breakfast at the place where I got coffee for Susan the other day … but, once again, Alipay wouldn’t agree to let us complete the transaction.

Back up in the apartment, I texted Kevin and he had breakfast delivered to us (this time from KFC). He came over around noon with a bag lunch from McDonald’s for all three of us, and said he thought maybe Bank of America was, while we’re in China, setting its limits based on the number (rather than the total cash amount) of transactions in “Processing” status. Based on that, he was ready to follow up on his previous inquiry.

He and I took a taxi to the nearest branch of China Construction Bank, which he had established is the local partner for Bank of America. Their ATM recognized my card, but didn’t offer a withdrawal option. He checked with the clerks, and found that their ATMs were currently empty of cash … and the clerks themselves could push through transactions only for their own bank. (In fact, they didn’t themselves know they were supposed to be partnered with BoA, and called higher headquarters to confirm.) With the systems the way they were, nothing could be done there, but they did find another branch which had ATMs that looked like they were working and properly stocked with cash. Taxi to that one, and yes, things were operating as they should. Because of some automatic withdrawals and some online bill-pay I’d done, current balance was just under $1,300. I like to leave a margin just in case of anything unexpected, so I only withdrew ¥3,000 (around $425 American), which should allow us to cover immediate expenses until Susan’s next deposit goes through in two days.

Back to the apartment, some further light visiting, then Kevin left to get back to his business.

Susan was talking again about the possibility of living in Shenzhen for a bit. She said something about Amber staying with us — since she already spends so much time with her Chinese grandparents — and Kevin said, “I’m trying to think of a way of saying this that won’t hurt your feelings … but they wouldn’t let her stay with you unless one of them was along.” He went on, “If there was an emergency, you wouldn’t know who to call. If you had the emergency number, you wouldn’t be able to talk to the people on the other end. If you had everything already written out, there might be something in the situation that the pre-written information didn’t cover. They’d just never be willing to take that chance.” He added that he’s barely allowed ever to take his own daughter out without supervision. “ ‘Every time we let you do that, she comes back with a bruise.’ ‘That’s because you only LET me do it when she’s headed to the playground, and that’s where she gets bruises.’ ” They are quite protective of their/our grandchild, which is a good thing. Except for the part where she’s also being protected from our presumed incapacity. Okay, could be worse.

We did this and that through the afternoon, and I did another reading and revision of my summer_of_giles story. About ready to go, I’d say, and I’m feeling good about it.

Around 5:30PM, Susan and I went to the Yins’, had our usual dinner there. Kevin came back to our apartment with us when that was over, visited a bit, then returned to his family. Susan went on to bed almost immediately; I read over online stuff till 11:00PM before calling it a night myself.