Ghanaians working for Chinese

Yesterday was Friday, and I went to the Chinese Embassy in town to get a document done. While some embassies have already closed down shops around 12:30PM, the consular section at the Chinese Embassy opens until 5pm on every Friday. Their hours opening to the public are Monday, Wed and Friday, three hours in the morning and 2 hours in the evening.

Entering the waiting area, two young Ghanaian ladies were manning the two windows, one on the left is for document submission, on the right is payment and collection. There were three people in total in the whole waiting room: two customers stood at the left. Was it due to the fact of Friday afternoon close to five or that less Ghanaian interests in going to China?

While since there are actually no seats available, so I flipped through a local Chinese language papers while on my feet. My turn came, and I walked up to the window and turned in my document. However, besides the files they listed on the website, the lady asked for additional documents, such as identification for my relatives, invitation letters. The obtaining of the documents will require substantial back and forth communications. I determined to present my case, remembering well it's a Chinese run facility and even she is a Ghanaian, after all, she is working for the Chinese.

After much explanation, and after she had to go back to her Chinese boss to explain my case, finally, the lady asked me to write a letter in Chinese, instead of the document. Something like an application but with all the information on where and how long for my stay, who I see and their address and contact information.

I then was told to pay a fee for the document, which is higher than the fee charged for the same document in Washington, USA. When I inquired about the extreme of the fee, given the income condition in the country as Ghana, the lady said, they charge more for people to go to the U.S. I have yet heard the reasoning. China is now the It place to visit, even for Ghanaians?

Then I realized that next Friday will be Dec. 24th, the Christmas Eve and here is very religious, 75% of population are Christians. Yes, I was told that the two ladies will be here and the office will be open, just as another Friday workday.

Wow, when did the Ghanaian working for the Chinese become so much more like Chinese, workaholic and effectively intense?