| Visiting China has always been on top of my priority | | | | anything I have seen before. |
| travel destinations. I switched jobs recently and | | | | Unfortunately, somewhere in between the multiple |
| became close friends with a colleague of mine, Ni | | | | hotels and airports Ni lost her bag with all her |
| Quian, who was born in China and came to Toronto | | | | documents and credit cards. We were supposed to |
| five years ago as a permanent resident. Last | | | | go back to Toronto in a week, so the most pressing |
| summer, when she told me that she was spending a | | | | matter was to get a valid travel document to replace |
| month with her family in Luanping, and invited me to | | | | her lost permanent residence card. |
| travel with her; I realized that this is the opportunity I | | | | Ni contacted the Canadian visa office in Beijing with a |
| have been looking for. So on July 17 we packed our | | | | tale about her misfortune and was required to submit |
| bags and boarded a plane to Beijing. | | | | relevant documents, including proof for permanent |
| To say that my stay in China was fascinating would | | | | residence in China. Now this was the problem - she |
| be an understatement. I attended a wedding | | | | had lost all her documents. Failing to report the loss |
| ceremony in one of the villages bear Luanping, of | | | | to the police, she failed to provide a police document |
| course the famous tea ceremony, then Ni took me | | | | about the circumstances of the loss. The situation |
| to Xi'An - the ancient capital of China with its famous | | | | was very grave as Ni was risking her job in Toronto |
| Buddhist temples. The last step of our trip around the | | | | and her permanent residence status. |
| country was the Great Wall of China incomparable to | | | | |