June 2012
Things got really awkward at work when I got a visa
appointment date. Doc was like, “Were you serious about this US thing?” Yup!
“Miss Brook, what am I going to do? I didn’t hire someone else hoping you’d
stay!”
The visa day went something like this (if you’ve been
following my blog for a while, you will remember how my previous visa post
went. Not too fun):
The appointment was at 09:00. I left the house at 07:00
walked the 30 minutes to the stop. I’d already asked around how to signal for
taxis to Sandton, which is where the American Embassy is. I signalled for a
taxi, 3 fingers up! It took me about ten minutes to get a taxi. I hopped on and
greeted the driver. He asked me how I was doing .I told him I was so nervous, I
was going to the embassy. He was like then why did you take a taxi to Tembisa?
Uhm, what? How do I signal for Sandton taxis? He showed me exactly the same
sign I made. How’s that different from what I did? Sisi, it’s going to be hard
for you to find taxis to Sandton here. I was in Fourways, a suburb of the
greater Sandton, you’d think it would be easy to catch a taxi to Sandton from
there. Plus I was right outside Monte casino, a very busy spot. I asked the
driver to let me get off. He told me to hang on, he would drop me off later. I
assumed he would drop me off where I could catch the right taxi, nope, he
wanted to chit chat. Yup! Believe me! No respect for someone else’s time at all!
‘I had to walk all the way back to square one. I still had a little more than
an hour to get to the embassy.
I asked around if anybody knew where I could catch a taxi to
Sandton, everybody just walked away. That’s where I used to wait for my taxi
everyday when going to work, like P, they probably thought I was stuck up. Oh
well, too bad, too sad. I asked around until one guy replied in a language I’ve
never heard before. I’m sure it’s one of the 11 official languages of South
Africa, but I mean, I don’t speak them all. I asked if he didn’t speak Zulu,
Xhosa or English. His friend pitched in, he tried to explain what his friend
was trying to say in exactly the same words, same language. I thanked them and
went and asked an Indian couple. They told me they were also going to Sandton.
The best way would be to take a taxi to Randburg get stuck in traffic to
Randburg, then from there take a taxi to Sandton and get stuck in that
traffic again. They told me it would take me an hour in total to get to the
final destination by taxi then another ten minute’s walk to the embassy. I
looked at the time and was like, you know what! I don’t know if I have enough
time anymore. I waited ten minutes for a taxi, it had enough space for the
couple. That sucked! I had to wait some more! Heaven knew how long I’d have to
wait before I got a taxi. I called ZS to share the dilemma I was in. She
suggested I take the other car and drive there, rather. I looked at the time
and wondered if it would’ve been worth it to walk another thirty minutes back
to the house to get the car. I did it! I ran back to the house, halfway, I saw
the security guards that work at the boom gate, I asked them for a lift, they
told me they didn’t have petrol (gas), another one asked if I forgot something
behind, while the other was asking me if I wasn’t going to work that day. I
just couldn’t be bothered with their small talk, Time was money. Time IS money!
I got home, P was mopping the floor, awkward moment, I had
to walk on her wet floor, another reason for her to think I am mean to her, oh
well, I just apologised, got the car keys, started the car, IT WOULDN’T START!
A few minutes later, it did! It had to! I didn’t have another 30 minutes to go
to the taxi. There was no petrol in the car! I had to start at the garage (gas
station). I rushed there, waited my turn, got my petrol and then the car
wouldn’t start. GREAT! I pumped the accelerator and pumped for what seemed like
forever until it started. I almost knocked a car that was parked in front of
the store in front of me. Ugh, Gosh! I only had 45 minutes to get to the
embassy and I didn’t know how to get there.
ZS sent me directions via BBM Voice notes. I kept playing them and
playing them until I got there. I had to park at Sandton city as they, for some
weird reason, don’t have parking at the American Embassy. I took the first
parking I got and was lucky that the first guy I asked for directions knew
exactly where I was going and was good at giving directions. I arrived at the
embassy at 08:56. Four Minutes early! I still had to get Visa photos, I asked
the security where I could, he directed me really nicely, I ran back to Sandton City, got my pictures, met a nice lady that was also going to the embassy, she
didn’t know where it was, I took her with me. We chatted and chatted while in
line, she’s very nice, from Uganda .
The nerves were killing me inside! I felt like I was the
only nervous one, everyone else was so laid back. I had to get my visa the
first time, I was so ready to leave! We went in, had to switch off our mobile
phones and I was like wow, this is really happening. I could be going to
America very soon or not! I literally meditated on the positive! I wouldn’t
even allow myself to think that there was a possibility I wouldn’t get the
visa. Not an option!
I went to 3different desks and was assisted by a white lady,
an African lady and by an Indian Gentleman. Talk about affirmative action. Very
South African! The last person is the one that did the actual interview. It
lasted no time at all, then he said, “Okay mam, your visa’s been approved”
whut! Whut! Too happy! I just said thanks, and went to join my friend, whose
visa had also approved and the lady that was behind us in line also had hers
approved. Good times were had by all. WE got outside and screamed, and danced
and hugged and rejoiced and and and.
My new friend treated me to a nice branch.
I called ZS and
told her the news, she came over to Sandton City as soon as she could and
treated me to a nice lunch! Very nice lunch actually J
She was going out of town that evening. I hadn’t told any of
my family about the visa and the US or anything, I didn’t want to jinx it! My
sister called me up to ask if I wanted to spend the weekend over at hers,
perfect timing because I wanted to see them as well. I hadn’t seen them since I
moved to Fourways. ZS and I took some pics at the Nelson Mandela Square, fun!
Fun! Fun! I had to break the news to Doc, that wasn’t fun. He called ZS and
asked her what he’s supposed to do without me. He said he didn’t want anybody
else but me. It was cute and sad at the same time. He cried L He did tell me that he
and his friend were praying the whole morning that I wouldn’t get the visa. J
ZS didn’t have time to drop her car off, I found myself
stuck in Sandton City with two cars. I took the Merc home first. Let me tell
you! People treat you differently on the road when you drive a fancy car. I’ve
driven the Merc a few times and I noticed that! The moment you turn your
indicator (flicker) on, they start moving, making space for you. Nice but so
unfair! I dropped that car home, got my overnight back and WALKED THE THIRTY
MINUTES TO THE BUS STOP. Third time that day! I bought a Gautrain ticket, and
took the Gaubus to Sandton. This is what I should have done in the morning when
going to the Embassy! I almost missed the bus, while running towards it, my
toes cramped, my leg locked up. I got such a fright! I was like my gosh I’m
getting old, what’s happening to me L
I drove the other car to Melville, back to normal driving on
the road, nobody cared if I wanted to change lanes, no more Mercedes Benz
luxuries! I told my sister news! She knew though! Kinda! That’s the thing with
my family, they’re an intuitive bunch. She told me she had a feeling I got a
job overseas and wanted me to bring her up to speed. That’s one of the reasons
she asked me to come over. Oh well, she was happy for me either way. I slept over
and broke the news to my nephew and niece the following day. I also got to see
my nephew’s new place. I picked ZS up from the airport Sunday evening and
called it a day. I went to work on Monday to resign, super duper awkward! It
sucked to be precise. I was there for half of the day. I needed to go to SARS.
That was my only chance. I took a taxi to Johannesburg, walked all the way to
the end of the world to SARS, I wasn’t aware they moved from Carton Centre.
Anyway, I was assisted by a very kind gentleman. They had told me I owed them
R5 000 ($600). I wasn’t chuffed about that, but I had to address it before
I left.
You are going to the US!
ReplyDeleteAwesome Brook, now i have no excuse not to visit :p
LOL
ReplyDelete