No I haven't talked with the teacher in person. We have just been exchanging emails. And we haven't used her yet either. If anyone knows of a cheaper translation service I would like to know it. I know one thing for sure. And I have heard it here over and over again. The sooner you can get her away from the agency translator the better. We have been fighting a lot about EMF fees lately but that's a story for another thread.
I should also post this info in another appropriate thread.
For long distance phone service I have come across a few solutions. I chose a couple of them mainly for cost and convenience.
The one I use here for me is called localphone. I call a local number in Colorado and it magically rings her cell phone in China. It also allows you to call other numbers and use the service like a calling card.
http://www.localphone.com/The rate to call China is $0.012 per min. Not a bad price.
The one I have in China does the same thing in reverse. She calls a local number in Beijing and it rings my cell phone here in Colorado. Cool huh! they are called send my call.
http://www.sendmycall.com/en/login-1.html It is a bit of a hassle to set up but it is worth it. You have to send them a copy of your passport and wait 48 hours for approval from Chinese authorities. You pay a $10 monthly charge and 1.2 cents per minute.
So from her end or mine we are just a local phone call away.