So of course I have delivery tracking for my visa, and I’m not saying that I’ve been refreshing that page obsessively, but yesterday morning, I saw it left the center in Durham and was on the final leg of the journey to me. I stayed in the apartment, doing a little packing and cleaning, but mostly just bouncing around waiting for my visa’s arrival. Because I’m going back to China! Did I mention that?
Around 4, I got an email saying the delivery had failed because no one was around to sign for the package. But… but… but… I was here and no one came…. well, anyway, I called FedEx customer service. and a really nice man explained that once in while that happens, and not to worry, my package wasn’t lost, and it would be redelivered tomorrow. That wasn’t exactly reassuring, since I didn’t have any reason to think tomorrow’s driver would ring the bell, knock on the door, or call, either (adding still more days to my visa wait, and making my express shipping fee an even sillier waste of money). But! I could also go to the FedEx center and pick it up. And look, I have the center’s address right here because I’ve been obsessively refreshing the page.
“It’ll be there at 5, and it’ll take a few minutes to check everything in, so you can come get it about 5:30. Have a great night.” It really was going to be great as soon as I get my visa!
Of course it wasn’t there.
“Not here.” I could actually see “没有” appearing in subtitles as the cashier spoke to me.
“Do you know where it is?”
“It’s still on the truck.”
“Do you have any idea when it might be here?” (Ok, Meg, don’t freak out, I’m sure every package that comes through here is someone’s really important something. Stay calm and polite.)
He got on the phone, and found out that the truck was expected back around 7:30. I reminded myself to unclench my teeth, and relax my shoulders, and to politely confirm that they would indeed be open at 7:30 and be able to hand me my package then.
The cashier mentioned that it was the driver’s second day on the job, and I went from feeling the fury of YOU HAD ONE JOB! to a much more sympathetic reaction. Everyone screws up sometimes! You have a lot to remember on your second day at a new job! And it’s not like my package got destroyed or sent to Timbuktu! Everything is about to be fine!
“Maybe you could let the driver know that next time, they could ring or call or knock, so I’d know there was a package for me–”
“They always do that.”
“No, see, I’m here trying to pick it up because no one knocked or rang — ”
“That’s impossible. Our staff doesn’t do that!” I’m not entirely sure what he expected me to say there You’re right, I’m sure your coworker did everything properly, but hearing the doorbell is really complicated, you know? And I might have messed it up or maybe he was expecting It certainly seemed like I was sitting at home waiting for a package all day, but you’re right, I might have actually entered another dimension. But sure, the new uy running several hours late definitely didn’t skip a step anywhere, and I’m a weirdo who pays for express delivery, refreshes the tracking page all day, but ignores the doorbell so I can come to the FedEx center for kicks.
Since we had some time to kill, we went and picked up some comic books and action figures, and here we is a special pronoun that actually means my husband, Harold. (Did you guys see how I worked “my husband” seamlessly into my post about getting my visa? Being married is so awesome!)
When we came back, I wasn’t actually sure if I would ever get my package or if I would find out that they’d closed at 7 and it was impossible that any staff had told me differently. But, no, my package was there! And inside that was my passport! And inside that was my visa!
My visa is for the correct type, correct entry date, correct name, correct passport number. I was about to take a photo, so I could share how beautiful it is, after this long wait, but then I thought the better of posting my passport number and visa number online. But trust me, it is lovely.
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