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  1. #1
    Insert something witty here.. yogestee's Avatar
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    Big Trouble in Big China

    It appears Amanda's recruitment to the Trace Foundation has been under false pretenses. Late in September we made our way to Sertar in the far north west of Sichuan Province China to begin work with the Tibetan community there. Upon meeting with the Director of Education of the Sertar County he was unaware a project had been designed and was at the stage of implimentation. He has also never heard of the Trace Foundation. Alarm bells started to ring.
    Amanda was assured her employment with Trace was secure by her manager. On Friday her contract was terminated leaving us high and dry without employment in China. Things got worse when our belongings we brought from Australia, mainly heavy clothing will be difficult to ship back home because Trace issued us with business visas not working visas. In effect we are in China illegally.

    We are making our way to Laos in the next week or so.

    Jurgen
    of no fixed abode
    Falang dung nyai

    Please don't edit my images without my permission.

  2. #2
    Firefighter Tyson L. Sparks's Avatar
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    Re: Big Trouble in Big China

    Did I miss something? What are you talking about, why are you in China? What does this have to do with photography?

    How can I be lost
    If I've got nowhere to go?

    Sony a55 16-50mm 2.8 ssm Minolta 50mm 70-300 dt 5.6

  3. #3
    Firefighter Tyson L. Sparks's Avatar
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    Re: Big Trouble in Big China

    Your Pbase gallery is beautiful, great work.

    How can I be lost
    If I've got nowhere to go?

    Sony a55 16-50mm 2.8 ssm Minolta 50mm 70-300 dt 5.6

  4. #4
    project forum co-moderator Frog's Avatar
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    Re: Big Trouble in Big China

    He told us he'd be going to China/Tibet a while back, Tyson.....maybe you missed it.

    Damn, Yogestee...that sucks big time. I googled Trace Foundation and it seems to be legit http://www.trace.org/ Perhaps its the Chinese government that doesn't like it. Can you contact The Trace Foundation? Something sure does smell fishy and I hope you run into no more trouble.
    Thoughts and prayers are with you and Amanada.
    Keep Shooting!

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  5. #5
    Film Forum Moderator Xia_Ke's Avatar
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    Re: Big Trouble in Big China

    Tyson, check HERE and HERE for the background story.

    That's messed up Jurgen. Sorry to hear about your troubles. Are you 2 going to be able to make it home safely? Have you contacted your Embassy yet? Keep us updated if possible and I hope your travels are safe and without incident.

    Aaron
    Aaron Lehoux * flickr
    Please do not edit my photos, thank you.

  6. #6
    Moderator Didache's Avatar
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    Re: Big Trouble in Big China

    My thoughts and prayers are with you both in this appalling situation. Above all, be safe.

    Mike
    Mike Dales ARPS
    My website: www.mikedalesphotography.co.uk

  7. #7
    Senior Member readingr's Avatar
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    Re: Big Trouble in Big China

    Jurgen,

    My thoughts are with you and hope you can resolve the situation quickly and safely.

    Roger
    "I hope we will never see the day when photo shops sell little schema grills to clamp onto our viewfinders; and the Golden Rule will never be found etched on our ground glass." from The mind's eye by Henri Cartier-Bresson

    My Web Site: www.readingr.com

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  8. #8
    Senior Shooter Greg McCary's Avatar
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    Re: Big Trouble in Big China

    Jurgen, If you need help just let us know. We will do all we can.
    I am like Barney Fife, I have a gun but Andy makes me keep the bullet in my pocket..

    Sony a99/a7R

  9. #9
    Learning more with every "click" mjs1973's Avatar
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    Re: Big Trouble in Big China

    That doesn't sound good at all Jurgen. :s I hope everything works out for the two of you. Keep us posted if you can and the best of luck to you both.
    Mike

    My website
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    "I thought that because fewer wolves meant more deer, that no wolves would mean hunters' paradise. But after seeing the green fire die, I sensed that neither the wolf nor the mountain agreed with such a view."
    Aldo Leopold

  10. #10
    Ex-Modster Old Timer's Avatar
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    Re: Big Trouble in Big China

    Can't image being in a country like China and having the troubles your having. Good luck making your way out of the country. All of us here at PR will be thinking about you and praying for your safe and speedy exit from the country.
    Don't forget about the Gallery. Are your photos there??


    Nikon Samurai #13

    "A photographer is known by what he shows not by what he throws. The best photographers have the biggest trash cans." Quote from Nikon School sometime in the early 1970's.

  11. #11
    has-been... another view's Avatar
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    Re: Big Trouble in Big China

    This is just crazy - wishing the best for you two, and be safe! I really can't offer any advice but I think contacting the Australian Embassy (there is one, I assume/hope) is a good step. Please check back in with us when you have a minute, but of course we understand that it isn't priority #1 and web access may not be available everywhere. I hope this gets resolved very soon...

  12. #12
    Insert something witty here.. yogestee's Avatar
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    Re: Big Trouble in Big China

    Thanks everyone for your well wishes..As I am writing this we are sitting in a really nice hotel room in Bangkok,,,arrived tonight the 4th November..A few days of R&R in Bangkok will do us good..We are making our way back to Laos which we treat as a second home..Amanda has a few irons in the fire here and a second job interview for a gig with Australian Volunteers International for Hanoi..Keep everything crossed for her..We managed to get out of China without any real difficulties but the passport control guys looked at our passports/visas real closely,,lucky..Our only regret is we didn't get a chance to work with the Tibetan community although we did make a few close friends with the Tibetans in Chengdu..

    We will be using Laos as a base for the meantime..People here who know me, understand I have fallen in love with the country..

    I'll keep you all posted as things progress..

    Last Saturday we did the tourist thing a spent the morning at the Chengdu Panda Research Institute...Awesome!!

    Jurgen
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Big Trouble in Big China-panda01.jpg   Big Trouble in Big China-panda02.jpg   Big Trouble in Big China-panda03.jpg  
    Last edited by yogestee; 11-04-2007 at 08:37 AM.
    Falang dung nyai

    Please don't edit my images without my permission.

  13. #13
    Film Forum Moderator Xia_Ke's Avatar
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    Re: Big Trouble in Big China

    Good to hear from you Jurgen and glad you made it okay. I'll keep my fingers crossed for Amanda and the job in Hanoi. Enjoy your R&R while you can

    Aaron
    Aaron Lehoux * flickr
    Please do not edit my photos, thank you.

  14. #14
    Senior Member mn shutterbug's Avatar
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    Re: Big Trouble in Big China

    At least you got some great photos while there. I love the panda shots. I certainly hope things work out for you and you have no more complications. Good luck.
    Mike
    www.specialtyphotoandprinting.com
    Canon 30D X 2, Canon 100-400L, Thrift Fifty, Canon 18-55 IS 3rd generation lens plus 430 EX II flash and Better Beamer. :thumbsup:

  15. #15
    Insert something witty here.. yogestee's Avatar
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    Re: Big Trouble in Big China

    Being the hubby of a development aid professional ain't always easy!!!

    Jurgen
    Falang dung nyai

    Please don't edit my images without my permission.

  16. #16
    Film Forum Moderator Xia_Ke's Avatar
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    Re: Big Trouble in Big China

    Quote Originally Posted by yogestee
    Being the hubby of a development aid professional ain't always easy!!!

    Jurgen
    At least it'll make for lots of stories to tell the grandkids
    Aaron Lehoux * flickr
    Please do not edit my photos, thank you.

  17. #17
    MJS
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    Re: Big Trouble in Big China

    Sorry to hear about the problems. Had friends stationed in China for four years with CNN and they had a great experience, too bad yours didn't work out. Glad to see you semi-caught up and back on your feet again.
    Michael
    Nikon Samurai #8
    Avid Editor
    Sony Shogun

  18. #18
    project forum co-moderator Frog's Avatar
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    Re: Big Trouble in Big China

    Glad to hear you're safe!
    Keep Shooting!

    CHECK OUT THE PHOTO PROJECT FORUM
    http://forums.photographyreview.com/...splay.php?f=34

    Please refrain from editing my photos without asking.

  19. #19
    Senior Member readingr's Avatar
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    Re: Big Trouble in Big China

    Glad your safe and love the panda shots.

    Best of luck with the job hunting.

    Roger
    "I hope we will never see the day when photo shops sell little schema grills to clamp onto our viewfinders; and the Golden Rule will never be found etched on our ground glass." from The mind's eye by Henri Cartier-Bresson

    My Web Site: www.readingr.com

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  20. #20
    LRPS Alison's Avatar
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    Re: Big Trouble in Big China

    Oh Jurgen I am so sorry!
    I wish there was something I could do. Good luck with EVERYTHING!
    Take care.
    x

  21. #21
    Insert something witty here.. yogestee's Avatar
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    Re: Big Trouble in Big China

    Quote Originally Posted by Alison
    Oh Jurgen I am so sorry!
    I wish there was something I could do. Good luck with EVERYTHING!
    Take care.
    x

    Thanx Ali
    Falang dung nyai

    Please don't edit my images without my permission.

  22. #22
    Senior Member JamesV's Avatar
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    Re: Big Trouble in Big China

    Sorry to hear of the troubles that you encountered. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Fingers are crossed with the new job.

    James

  23. #23
    Grumpy Old Man Overbeyond's Avatar
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    Re: Big Trouble in Big China

    It must be a nice feeling now being back "home" where you can gather your thoughts and go forward from there.. Good luck with everything. Nice to see the pandas!
    Tom
    http://www.overbeyond.com


    I have a total lack of respect for anything connected with society, except that which makes the roads safer, the beer stronger, the food cheaper, and the old men and old women warmer in the winter and happier in the summer. Brendan Behan

  24. #24
    Insert something witty here.. yogestee's Avatar
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    Re: Big Trouble in Big China

    Quote Originally Posted by Frog
    He told us he'd be going to China/Tibet a while back, Tyson.....maybe you missed it.

    Damn, Yogestee...that sucks big time. I googled Trace Foundation and it seems to be legit http://www.trace.org/ Perhaps its the Chinese government that doesn't like it. Can you contact The Trace Foundation? Something sure does smell fishy and I hope you run into no more trouble.
    Thoughts and prayers are with you and Amanada.
    Thanks Frog,,,,Trace is legit in the States but not in China,,they are not a registered in China as a business..Which is bad as their sphere of influence is the Tibetan Autonomous Regions in China with the Tibetan community..When establishing a business in Asia the first thing one needs to do is find a local partner,,Trace have failed to do that hence they can not be registered in China..

    The alarm bells really began to ring when Amanda was asked to open up a personal bank account with the Bank of China for the project..Trace can not operate finacially in China and can not open a bank account..20,000USD was deposited into "her" account for operating the project..In China foreigners can not exceed 50,000USD in bank transactions..Where she had a problem was drawing the funds out to return them to Trace..The branch we went to didn't have 18,000USD (the balance of the account) and electronic transfer was difficult..Trace wanted the funds returned BEFORE Amanda was compensated and payed out..It took 3 days to organise the funds to be returned..

    The CEO of Trace is Andrea Soros Columbel,,she is the founder and benefactor pumping 5 million USD into Trace yearly..Does the name Soros ring a bell??Google Soros and you will understand why we can not fight this..In effect Trace has bent us over a table and sodomised us!!

    Jurgen
    Falang dung nyai

    Please don't edit my images without my permission.

  25. #25
    Senior Member readingr's Avatar
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    Re: Big Trouble in Big China

    Quote Originally Posted by yogestee
    Thanks Frog,,,,Trace is legit in the States but not in China,,they are not a registered in China as a business..Which is bad as their sphere of influence is the Tibetan Autonomous Regions in China with the Tibetan community..When establishing a business in Asia the first thing one needs to do is find a local partner,,Trace have failed to do that hence they can not be registered in China..

    The alarm bells really began to ring when Amanda was asked to open up a personal bank account with the Bank of China for the project..Trace can not operate finacially in China and can not open a bank account..20,000USD was deposited into "her" account for operating the project..In China foreigners can not exceed 50,000USD in bank transactions..Where she had a problem was drawing the funds out to return them to Trace..The branch we went to didn't have 18,000USD (the balance of the account) and electronic transfer was difficult..Trace wanted the funds returned BEFORE Amanda was compensated and payed out..It took 3 days to organise the funds to be returned..

    The CEO of Trace is Andrea Soros Columbel,,she is the founder and benefactor pumping 5 million USD into Trace yearly..Does the name Soros ring a bell??Google Soros and you will understand why we can not fight this..In effect Trace has bent us over a table and sodomised us!!

    Jurgen
    Jurgen,

    Can you withold part of the money owing as compensation? Is this legal or what other legal avenues can you use?

    Roger
    "I hope we will never see the day when photo shops sell little schema grills to clamp onto our viewfinders; and the Golden Rule will never be found etched on our ground glass." from The mind's eye by Henri Cartier-Bresson

    My Web Site: www.readingr.com

    DSLR
    Canon 5D; EF100-400 F4.5-5.6L IS USM; EF24-70 F2.8L USM 50mm F1.8 II; EF 100 F2.8 Macro
    Digital
    Canon Powershot Pro 1; Canon Ixus 100


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