Payday

I finally got my first "paycheck." They only pay once a month here. Nobody told me in advance that they pay in cash unless you set up an account at one particular bank where my work is willing to do direct deposit. I had already set up an account at a different bank where I was told they could do direct deposit. Apparently, that was only for 20% of my salary which is paid by the hiring agency so I got the rest in cash.

People don't use checks here at all, it is really weird. Also, the largest bill they have is a 100 yuan note which is worth about $15. I obviously had quite a thick wad of cash. I thought only criminals carry that much cash around but I guess not in China. A lot of people here just use cash. I wonder if people also don't use banks and just hide their money in their mattress or something. No wonder they have this whole weird thing with collecting fapiao (receipts with official tax info that I need to collect for reasons I don't fully understand.) I think everyone gets paid in cash under the table.

I was sort of terrified to carry all the cash around with me. I took a cab home and had Danny walk me directly to the bank.