Second Chances
Chapter Two
written by: Jianan Z
Driving from the airport home takes about an hour. The car moves steadily, and it’s quite warm inside with the heating. There are no turbulence announcements in Chinese and English, starting with a ‘ding’ to ask passengers to fasten their seatbelts. Jiayi somehow feels calm and cozy, as if he can briefly forget about the visa. He takes his phone out of his jeans pocket. When the screen lights up, there is no signal. So, no internet connection. He then opens Signal and clicks on the conversation with his best friend, Ernst. Scrolling up and down through the messages from the last few days, Jiayi takes a deep breath and exhales slowly.
“Man, tomorrow morning I’ll be in Munich. In case I need your help (I don’t even know what or how), can I reach you in an emergency?”
“Sure, I should be available tomorrow.”
“I’m illegal now anyway…”
“Just landed in Munich.”
“Man, I’m extremely nervous…”
Four days ago, Jiayi was told by a lawyer in Vienna that he was currently “double-illegal” in Austria and the Schengen Area. Therefore, he must return to China as soon as possible to avoid getting himself into a worse situation. The lawyer also told him that the border police might fine him some hundreds of euros, and that his illegal stay would be recorded in the system, which would affect his future travel to the EU. Jiayi started trembling. Seeing that he was scared, the lawyer poured some water into Jiayi’s glass and told him the best thing he could do now was to leave.
Go home. Before it’s too late. That is the way.
Jiayi carried 970 euros in cash with him for the potential fine. It’s pretty well-known through the news that Chinese tourists often take large amounts of cash with them, which makes them targets for robbery and theft around the world. So, was Jiayi like a Chinese tourist? Yes – sarcastic enough, he felt he was, even an illegal one.
Right before receiving the official RSa letter from MA35, the Municipal Department 35 of Immigration and Citizenship, Jiayi, enrolled in the seminar “Representing Tourists and Tourism in the Media.” In the first session, he shared his experience in China after 7 years of continuous stay in Europe: feeling like a stranger and even having to learn how to buy a bus ticket with his phone. So, you don’t have to be a “de facto” tourist to feel like one.
“If they reject your student visa application, try to apply for a tourist visa to pick up your things,” said the lawyer.
Perhaps it’s just a coincidence – joining a tourist seminar, then leaving as an illegal tourist, later applying for a tourist visa – or perhaps it’s just fate.
Among the messages between him and Ernst, Jiayi sees two calls. The second one is about 40 minutes after the first one.
He called Ernst before getting into the queue to meet the border police.
“Man, if anything happens, I might need your help.”
“No problem. Although I don’t know exactly how I can help, I wish you luck!”
“That’s enough for me. Thanks, man! I really need your support now. I prepared all the documents! My diplomas, rental contract, bank statement, student card, academic transcript, insurance, cash, and my blood donation certificate.”
“You don’t need to show the police your blood donation certificate. I don’t think they’ll care.”
“Alright, I’m just too nervous…You know, I could have transferred in Budapest, but I thought if I had to choose a place to die between Germany and Hungary, I would prefer Germany cuz I lived here for 11 years. Germany is like my second homeland…Anyway, man, I’m now going to meet the police, and I’ll call you afterwards if I can.”
“Sure! I wish you great, great luck!”
Jiayi ended the call, pulled his suitcase towards the queue, and started moving forward, step by step.
“Sir, you know you are illegal now, right?”
“Yes, I know, my lawyer has told me already. But I went to Vienna last September from Germany and immediately applied for a student visa at the immigration office, and they just asked me to wait for their colleagues’ letter, email, or call. I waited for 5 months, during which my previous German visa expired. And now I have to go back to China to apply for a new visa. I’m just a student…” He took out his documents from his suitcase and passed them to the officer. The officer checked Jiayi’s documents one by one, then picked up the phone and called for about 10 minutes, holding Jiayi’s passport, looking at it again and again until he hung up.
“I just called my boss, and he said you’re legal. So, for me, you’re legal.”
“Oh, my God! Thank you very, very much! Officer!”
“You’re welcome, and have a nice day. Auf Wiedersehen.” The officer smiled.
Jiayi, quickly and excitedly, collected his documents and turned back to put them into his suitcase. He suddenly noticed that everyone else in the queue was looking at him, and the queue had by now become much longer.
“Man, I passed! There’s no problem! I have no idea what exactly happened, but the police said I was legal!”
“Oh, really!? Congratulations! I’m so happy for you! Now you can relax! By the way, did you show the police your blood donation certificate?”
“No, I didn’t!” Jiayi laughed.
And yes, Jiayi was relaxed in the Munich airport. He was as relaxed as he is now sitting in the car.
He wakes from the nap, and the car just arrives at his home.
Jiayi is now home, home.
READ THE PREQUEL HERE
- Second Chances: Chapter Two - April 16, 2026
- Second Chances - January 5, 2026
