A LITTLE OF MY STORY
Week II – Day 7
1st Farewell –
7/30
7/30
So this one time, in Uganda….
We woke up early, packed our bags, and called Uber to pick us up
and take us to the airport in Entebbe. We said our farewells to the gracious
hotel staff, and set out for the 45 minute journey. The ride was very smooth
and went by faster than the initial drive we took on our entry.
and take us to the airport in Entebbe. We said our farewells to the gracious
hotel staff, and set out for the 45 minute journey. The ride was very smooth
and went by faster than the initial drive we took on our entry.
Once we’d arrived at the airport, we had to walk all of our bags
up a hill using push carts because the departure entry had changed from the
ground level to the upper level of the airport. We made it to the entry door
where passports are checked along with the flight ticket to ensure that one
belongs inside the airport. After entering, we then had to put all of our bags
on the security belt to have them x-rayed before getting to the airline
check-in line. Did I mention that Michael had been blessed with 8 laptops and
that we had been carrying them with us the entire time? Anyway, we had to take
each laptop out and place it in its separate bin to be checked.
up a hill using push carts because the departure entry had changed from the
ground level to the upper level of the airport. We made it to the entry door
where passports are checked along with the flight ticket to ensure that one
belongs inside the airport. After entering, we then had to put all of our bags
on the security belt to have them x-rayed before getting to the airline
check-in line. Did I mention that Michael had been blessed with 8 laptops and
that we had been carrying them with us the entire time? Anyway, we had to take
each laptop out and place it in its separate bin to be checked.
We were questioned about the laptops and the jump-rope and the a
few other things but, we cleared the line. Now comes the exciting part…
few other things but, we cleared the line. Now comes the exciting part…
We get to Air Ethiopia check-in counter and the young lady asked
if we had visas to enter South Sudan. Annette Holmes, if you are reading this,
now is the time to say, “I thought I asked you about that and you said that you
didn’t need a visa.”
if we had visas to enter South Sudan. Annette Holmes, if you are reading this,
now is the time to say, “I thought I asked you about that and you said that you
didn’t need a visa.”
Well, I wouldn’t be writing this story if I didn’t have it to
share. I told the young lady at the counter that we indeed did not have visas
and that it was my understanding that we did not need one to enter South Sudan.
She quickly pulled out a book on my smart ass and showed me in black &
white that in fact we did need visas and that the only thing she could do was
to send us upstairs to ask for permission to enter the country by way of a
passport check.
share. I told the young lady at the counter that we indeed did not have visas
and that it was my understanding that we did not need one to enter South Sudan.
She quickly pulled out a book on my smart ass and showed me in black &
white that in fact we did need visas and that the only thing she could do was
to send us upstairs to ask for permission to enter the country by way of a
passport check.
Remember that check-in process just to get to the airline counter?
Well, if we both left out, then we would both have to go through unpacking all
those laptops again so instead, I chose to go upstairs alone. You know the
title of this update was supposed to be “Michael’s Idiot Wife” but, I didn’t
want y’all thinking that I was not very smart.
Well, if we both left out, then we would both have to go through unpacking all
those laptops again so instead, I chose to go upstairs alone. You know the
title of this update was supposed to be “Michael’s Idiot Wife” but, I didn’t
want y’all thinking that I was not very smart.
Upstairs, I found Ethiad Airlines but no one is in the office. I
was beginning to get frustrated when a man said, “Call the number and see if someone
is on site.” So, I called the number and the man waited with me. The first
number did not work so, I called the second number. I was able to get in touch
with someone but, she was down in cargo and gave me the number to someone else
for help. Smart Saree that I am (MIW – Michael’s Idiot Wife), I took the number
down on my phone and when I called it, I heard a message saying that I’d dialed
the wrong number.
was beginning to get frustrated when a man said, “Call the number and see if someone
is on site.” So, I called the number and the man waited with me. The first
number did not work so, I called the second number. I was able to get in touch
with someone but, she was down in cargo and gave me the number to someone else
for help. Smart Saree that I am (MIW – Michael’s Idiot Wife), I took the number
down on my phone and when I called it, I heard a message saying that I’d dialed
the wrong number.
So, I called the lady down in cargo again and got the number. This
time, when I dialed the number, the person who answered said that I had the
wrong number. So I called the lady down in cargo one more time, apologizing
profusely for wasting her time, and finally got the right number. It turned out
that I was calling Ethiad Airlines when I should have been calling Ethiopian
Airlines! By this point, I’m close to tears and feeling really stupid. The man
that was helping me, Innocent, continued to assist me by walking me over to
Ethiopian Airlines and making sure that I was able to speak with a representative
in person before leaving my side.
time, when I dialed the number, the person who answered said that I had the
wrong number. So I called the lady down in cargo one more time, apologizing
profusely for wasting her time, and finally got the right number. It turned out
that I was calling Ethiad Airlines when I should have been calling Ethiopian
Airlines! By this point, I’m close to tears and feeling really stupid. The man
that was helping me, Innocent, continued to assist me by walking me over to
Ethiopian Airlines and making sure that I was able to speak with a representative
in person before leaving my side.
As I began to share the situation with the Ethiopian Airline
representative, she immediately cut me off and said that there was nothing that
she could do. I had to go back to Kampala and apply for a visa before Ethiopian
Airlines would allow us on a plane.
representative, she immediately cut me off and said that there was nothing that
she could do. I had to go back to Kampala and apply for a visa before Ethiopian
Airlines would allow us on a plane.
The 30-minute ordeal left me feeling exhausted, defeated, and
really really stupid. With head hung low, I went back down stairs and let
Michael know that we would not be traveling to Juba, South Sudan. We then commenced
to walk all the luggage back down the ramp to find a taxi to take us to a
nearby hotel to wait until Tuesday to take us to Kampala for the visa. Ugh!!!
really really stupid. With head hung low, I went back down stairs and let
Michael know that we would not be traveling to Juba, South Sudan. We then commenced
to walk all the luggage back down the ramp to find a taxi to take us to a
nearby hotel to wait until Tuesday to take us to Kampala for the visa. Ugh!!!
Thus began our VBI (vacation by idiot) or the first farewell.
Thank you for taking the time to read this post. Stay tuned for more updates!
- Reé
Autumn
08/13/2017I, ahem, have also done this trying to get into Mozambique. Sometimes the universe doesn't want you on a plane or a bus and you just get on a different one. 🙂 :). Love to you both!!
Autumn
08/13/2017No idea why this is calling me Autumn…this is Sarah
Saree Mading
08/13/2017So glad to know that I'm not the only one who's made such a HUGE mistake!
Saree Mading
08/13/2017So glad to know that I'm not the only one who's made such a HUGE mistake!