Sunday 8 September 2013
disclaimer
last 2 posts were from my smartphone. pls excise the typos while I transition to a personal laptop over the next few days.
ok visas done. It went through a long and excruciating process involving multiple sessions with bank contact centres, app reviews, legal departments, emails, phone calls, etc. Painful and expensive especially during these student times.
The experience reminded me of some of the equally involving yet colourful interactions I've had with border officials in Africa. Ever had to surrender travel docs whole plain clothed 'officials' in Burkina Faso spent 2 days scrutinizing every detail? How about paying 20 dollar 'fines' to avoid additional yellow fever vaccinations at Lagos airport? What about being picked up by one of those dark and tinted ViP vans by the infamous protocol agents right outside the aircraft - 10mins later, the agent has completed customs and baggage claims for you while you down a chilled Cola in a Congolese arrivals lounge? Me? Yes.
TIA - This is Africa.
The experience reminded me of some of the equally involving yet colourful interactions I've had with border officials in Africa. Ever had to surrender travel docs whole plain clothed 'officials' in Burkina Faso spent 2 days scrutinizing every detail? How about paying 20 dollar 'fines' to avoid additional yellow fever vaccinations at Lagos airport? What about being picked up by one of those dark and tinted ViP vans by the infamous protocol agents right outside the aircraft - 10mins later, the agent has completed customs and baggage claims for you while you down a chilled Cola in a Congolese arrivals lounge? Me? Yes.
TIA - This is Africa.
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