Back in Finland. I came back a little more than a week ago. I gave myself the one week to recuperate but I don't think it's quite enough. I mean, jetlag is a good excuse to be tired the first couple of days and after that I guess I'll just have to keep repeating the magic word "culture chock" indefinitely.
Getting out of Venezuela was a lot harder than I thought - and the ones of you who know me well know that usually I prepare for the worst (like all true realists). You might remember that I had a visa extension pending and that I paid a guy almost 200 000 in order to get the extension in 15 days. So...exactly 15 days after leaving the papers in Onidex (4 days before my flight to FIN) Jose and I went to Onidex to ask for my passport. Surprise surprise, Mr. Pedro did not have it. He made a phonecall to somebody and told us to call him the next day around one (we got his cellphone number - two of them). On Saturday Onidex was naturally closed and Mr. Pedro was not answering the phone - any of them. On Monday Onidex was open as normal but Mr. Pedro wasn't working. And surprisingly the other guy working on visa matters was totoally incapable of telling me where my passport is situated, so we had to wait until the next day (one day before my flight) to enquire about the matter.
I was in class the next day when Jose drove to Onidex and sent me a message saying "they still don't have it". I don't know how I managed to stay calm and finish my class. Immediately when the class was over I dashed to the nearest centro de comunicaciones (where one can make chep phone calls) and called the Finnish embassy. I was told that they can not really do much - just call Onidex and pressure them to give me my passport back - but they told me to go back to Onidex and refuse to leave until I have my passport. I guess the lady at the embassy didn't know where Mcbo is situated, cause it would have been impossible for them to get me my passport from Caracas before the office closes. Nonetheless, we went back to Onidex and explained one more time that my flight is early the nest morning and that I really need my passport in order to travel. Mr. Pedro started to sweat and make phonecalls. Meanwhile I called the guy in Aiesec Caracas (Risho) who is normally responsible for all the visa stuff and asked if he could get my passport from Onidex in Caracas and bring it to the airport the next morning. He agreed to do it. I owe him BIGtime. So, Risho went to Onidex, picked up my passport, I screamed out JAAAAAAA in relief and headed for the next obstacle.
Maybe ca 10 days ago I had made a reservation for a flight from Mcbo to Ccs for Wednesday morning. I decided to call the airline to inform them that I would be traveling without my passport and ask again if I understood correctly that I can check in only 20 kg of luggage. Boy was I surprised when the person I spoke with told me that I have no recervation. And man did I panic when she said the flight was full and I'd have to take a later flight. I made a reservation to the later flight thinking it's better than nothing and started calling all other airlines to see it I could get an earlier flight with them. No such luck. At this point Jose decided that we should drive straight to the airport to pay for the ticket, before they sell it to someone else or do something else unexpected. At the airport I explained my situation again and they told me that if I'd come to the airport early I'd probably be able to take the early flight in case some passengers don't show up.
We went to the airport at 4 a clock the next mornging, there was space on the flight, I cried my eyes out and lost my ticket in one of the passport controls, found it again and made the flight. I Ccs I waited for Risho and tried desperately to finish the Venezuelan novel I've been reading for the last six months. I did not finish the novel but Risho did show up with my passport. Then I just had to check in (a process that took 2 hours of standing in line) and spend my last bolivares. I bought some chocolate. I wanted to buy rum (spelling?) but the guy in the shop told me I can't take liquids inside the plane. later my (disapointed) brother told me the guy was lying. Anyways, I made it to the plane to Paris and I made it to the plane from Paris to Helsinki and my family was at the airport waiting for me. We drove home to Kirkkonummi, ate some (Finnish) meatballs and strawberries and went for a long walk. It feels good to be back home.
Getting out of Venezuela was a lot harder than I thought - and the ones of you who know me well know that usually I prepare for the worst (like all true realists). You might remember that I had a visa extension pending and that I paid a guy almost 200 000 in order to get the extension in 15 days. So...exactly 15 days after leaving the papers in Onidex (4 days before my flight to FIN) Jose and I went to Onidex to ask for my passport. Surprise surprise, Mr. Pedro did not have it. He made a phonecall to somebody and told us to call him the next day around one (we got his cellphone number - two of them). On Saturday Onidex was naturally closed and Mr. Pedro was not answering the phone - any of them. On Monday Onidex was open as normal but Mr. Pedro wasn't working. And surprisingly the other guy working on visa matters was totoally incapable of telling me where my passport is situated, so we had to wait until the next day (one day before my flight) to enquire about the matter.
I was in class the next day when Jose drove to Onidex and sent me a message saying "they still don't have it". I don't know how I managed to stay calm and finish my class. Immediately when the class was over I dashed to the nearest centro de comunicaciones (where one can make chep phone calls) and called the Finnish embassy. I was told that they can not really do much - just call Onidex and pressure them to give me my passport back - but they told me to go back to Onidex and refuse to leave until I have my passport. I guess the lady at the embassy didn't know where Mcbo is situated, cause it would have been impossible for them to get me my passport from Caracas before the office closes. Nonetheless, we went back to Onidex and explained one more time that my flight is early the nest morning and that I really need my passport in order to travel. Mr. Pedro started to sweat and make phonecalls. Meanwhile I called the guy in Aiesec Caracas (Risho) who is normally responsible for all the visa stuff and asked if he could get my passport from Onidex in Caracas and bring it to the airport the next morning. He agreed to do it. I owe him BIGtime. So, Risho went to Onidex, picked up my passport, I screamed out JAAAAAAA in relief and headed for the next obstacle.
Maybe ca 10 days ago I had made a reservation for a flight from Mcbo to Ccs for Wednesday morning. I decided to call the airline to inform them that I would be traveling without my passport and ask again if I understood correctly that I can check in only 20 kg of luggage. Boy was I surprised when the person I spoke with told me that I have no recervation. And man did I panic when she said the flight was full and I'd have to take a later flight. I made a reservation to the later flight thinking it's better than nothing and started calling all other airlines to see it I could get an earlier flight with them. No such luck. At this point Jose decided that we should drive straight to the airport to pay for the ticket, before they sell it to someone else or do something else unexpected. At the airport I explained my situation again and they told me that if I'd come to the airport early I'd probably be able to take the early flight in case some passengers don't show up.
We went to the airport at 4 a clock the next mornging, there was space on the flight, I cried my eyes out and lost my ticket in one of the passport controls, found it again and made the flight. I Ccs I waited for Risho and tried desperately to finish the Venezuelan novel I've been reading for the last six months. I did not finish the novel but Risho did show up with my passport. Then I just had to check in (a process that took 2 hours of standing in line) and spend my last bolivares. I bought some chocolate. I wanted to buy rum (spelling?) but the guy in the shop told me I can't take liquids inside the plane. later my (disapointed) brother told me the guy was lying. Anyways, I made it to the plane to Paris and I made it to the plane from Paris to Helsinki and my family was at the airport waiting for me. We drove home to Kirkkonummi, ate some (Finnish) meatballs and strawberries and went for a long walk. It feels good to be back home.
posted by Larubia at 1:25 PM
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