the perils of bureaucracy, the story begins
I went to London today.
Not to visit the queen.
But to get my volunteer visa sorted at the S.African Embassy which, if you ever need to go, is sandwiched quietly between a postcard shop and an old pub, so it's very inconspicuous. I managed to completely miss it and end up at Downing Street before I realised I was going the wrong way...
I don't like Embassies anymore.
The British Embassy in Rome was ok when my passport was stolen because I was whisked up to a nice cool office and helped quickly.
There was no waiting around today, but the whole atmosphere in there is one of stress, with people all around you almost pleading with uniformed clerks, saying things like 'But he died 36 years ago' and the like...
The clerk, who was supposed to help me, was less than helpful.
He refused my 'medical report' because it reported on my medical history and 'gave too much information'. Apparently they don't want to know that, they just want a letter saying I am fit and well. He wouldn't believe me telling him that I was. Held my tongue.
Then he disputed my bank account, telling me that the amount of money in there wasn't enough to live on. Of course it isn't, that's what monthly sponsors are for...
By now I was getting a bit fed up.
And then he came out with the 'have you got your £600 deposit?' which is apparently 'in lieu of a return ticket' and not optional. The fact that I had a return ticket right in front of him didn't make any difference. Hmm, oh yes have it out of my pocket money sir!!!!! Like I could just whip out that amount of money from my wallet and hand it over.
So not a good experience all in all. :(
Pray that it gets sorted out soon, and preferably without that massive payout- which would be more than I paid for the flight in fact....
Not to visit the queen.
But to get my volunteer visa sorted at the S.African Embassy which, if you ever need to go, is sandwiched quietly between a postcard shop and an old pub, so it's very inconspicuous. I managed to completely miss it and end up at Downing Street before I realised I was going the wrong way...
I don't like Embassies anymore.
The British Embassy in Rome was ok when my passport was stolen because I was whisked up to a nice cool office and helped quickly.
There was no waiting around today, but the whole atmosphere in there is one of stress, with people all around you almost pleading with uniformed clerks, saying things like 'But he died 36 years ago' and the like...
The clerk, who was supposed to help me, was less than helpful.
He refused my 'medical report' because it reported on my medical history and 'gave too much information'. Apparently they don't want to know that, they just want a letter saying I am fit and well. He wouldn't believe me telling him that I was. Held my tongue.
Then he disputed my bank account, telling me that the amount of money in there wasn't enough to live on. Of course it isn't, that's what monthly sponsors are for...
By now I was getting a bit fed up.
And then he came out with the 'have you got your £600 deposit?' which is apparently 'in lieu of a return ticket' and not optional. The fact that I had a return ticket right in front of him didn't make any difference. Hmm, oh yes have it out of my pocket money sir!!!!! Like I could just whip out that amount of money from my wallet and hand it over.
So not a good experience all in all. :(
Pray that it gets sorted out soon, and preferably without that massive payout- which would be more than I paid for the flight in fact....
posted by Caroline @ 6:56 pm
14 Comments:
At Monday, 17 July, 2006,
Anonymous said…
How awful. You must be distressed. What sort of bureaucrat was this man? Doesn't he, a man from a country where 1 in 3 people are infected with HIV, know he should always believe an english lady's word, especially your's. Of course you are in good health. Stupid man, how exasperated you must be. I hope you got his name and reported him there and then.
As for the question with regard to you having a spare six hundred pounds, why? You have a return ticket, what more does he want? A bribe? Oh you know how it is with these underdeveloped nations. I mean, heavens forbid you could get mugged and your passport and other essential travel documentation stolen from your rucksack one darkened night in Durban, or burnt in a house fire or lost in a car crash. Well I wouldn't want to hang around in a country like South Africa I'd be straight out of there like a shot with my return ticket. You are so courageous going there, I'll pray for you against these savages.
Now one thing I didn't understand was the monthly sponsor thing? Is that a South African reference for a salary? Surely since you are going to work out in KZN you could show this man a letter from Heather Reynolds of GGA herself outlining you have employment there as her leading administrator and van driver? Isn't that proof you have work and a salary out there?
I cannot believe how infuriating things must be, how can people be like this in this day and age of globalisation.
My prayers are with you. It will get better.
:-)
Anna -x-
At Monday, 17 July, 2006,
Anonymous said…
£600 don'T look so bad with £328 lEss.
I stop teasing now, I have talk with work colleagues, we help you maybe.
Thank praises for EU. I thought South Africa was in CommonWealth and they like EU with work permits.
Piotr
At Monday, 17 July, 2006,
Anonymous said…
You tell lies. Your nose will grow fat. South Africa has no embassy in London, it has hIgH Commission! I see big Flag of AfriCa in Trafalgar sQuare near Nelson's big Column. You go to immiGration office on Whitehall, not embassy.
Perhaps story be eVen funnier if you cRazy lady turn up at the Polish Embassy for SouTh African Visa. I would laugh all day but you tell funny story toDay so I laugh any way.
Piotr.
At Wednesday, 19 July, 2006,
Caroline said…
have checked. do have to pay ;(
oh well, God will provide!
At Wednesday, 26 July, 2006,
Anonymous said…
The Bible also states we should use our talents. What talents do you have which can help us out of this situation?
Peace be with you.
Marek.
At Saturday, 29 July, 2006,
Caroline said…
which situation exactly?
At Sunday, 30 July, 2006,
Anonymous said…
The situation you find yourself in at the moment where you have no money for the £600 deposit and a lack of monthly sponsors.
What talents do you have?
Marek.
At Sunday, 30 July, 2006,
Anonymous said…
Further to my last posting. How much many are you trying to raise for yourself personally (ie to support Caroline Horn feed herself and undertake her adventures in Africa, not how much do we donate to the orphanage) and how far adrift are you from your targets.
If we know how much you are short then we, your weird cyber-friends (and we do seem a bright intelligent bunch if only a lot weird) can work with you and bounce ideas off each other.
Together we will help the orphans.
Save the world, feed the people. Stay alive.
Peace be with you.
Marek.
At Sunday, 30 July, 2006,
Caroline said…
Thanks for your concern Marek.
Having not been out there yet, I prayed and set an initial budget figure which I think I'm not far off in terms of money from monthly sponsors, I'm not 100% sure as some people have taken details, said they will sponsor, but not told me how much yet.
However, this is an initial figure and any money that is given to me over that figure will go to good use during my time there, you never know what unexpected costs may arise. It's Africa, land of unpredictability.
God knows though, and he will raise up people to donate money so that I can do my job. As I work for him, he will provide.
I have the £600 for a visa and several people as monthly sponsors - Praise the Lord!
If you feel led to donate money to me personally or to GGA, please do so. You can't outgive God and he loves a cheerful giver. I'm not going to say no to offers of money as I know God might well give me more than my finite brain has come up with, for those surprise moments... It will all get used to help out the orphans, be assured of that.
email me if you want to discuss practicalities - check out my profile for email.
At Monday, 31 July, 2006,
Anonymous said…
When I was working in Cape Town, last year in a similar setup, I found £250 a month was adequate. It'll be cheaper over in Durban I'd go for £150 a month, especially given the fact you will be living in the orphange and not in a hostel like I did, so I had to pay rent. It seems a low figure but I was amazed at how low the cost of living was out there, 75p a beer, big pizza meal for £4.
Marek.
At Tuesday, 01 August, 2006,
Anonymous said…
£37.50 a week? What were you living on? Oysters? Marek you always did have big tastes!
When I was surfing down on the Cape last year, it was £25 + rent; even less when I was on the reserve up in Pilansburg. The big spend went on things like the internet cafes and telephone calls (don't use a mobile, it will bankrupt you before the second week! Food, easily about £12 a week if I cooked myself. Pizza and burgers, easily about 3 to 4 quid (don't go to McD's, think English prices). But if you are confined to barracks, orphanage, each week, go for the big spend on the saturday, you will need the release.
Get relatives to send you books and newspapers, don't buy out there and don't go sprouting God/Bible all the time, the locals and other workers will find you extremely irritating, take it from personal experience!
A good tip is to try and live for a week on your projected budget before you go and then you'll see what you can and can't live without.
Sadly forget Starbucks it costs the same there as it does here, that's if you can find them!
Rick
At Tuesday, 01 August, 2006,
Caroline said…
Thanks for the advice guys. Will bear it in mind, although I might save my money for the occasional good coffee, being as I don't eat pizza, burgers or any other such processed rubbish. Have to watch what fuel I put in my body if I want it to run properly...
At Tuesday, 01 August, 2006,
Anonymous said…
Hey don't start on the food - coffee, hey sensory wipeout, sleep disorders and headaches with the caffeine here we come (besides a really good burger or pizza isn't processed, that's the cheap muck plebs buy down at the supermarkets in the value packets; you gotta try Skabenga's in Noordhoek, food to die for)!!
The point we're trying to make is save your money for a good blow out at the weekend for something stronger than good coffee (and we don't mean the old booze), you do eat in restaurants don't you? You're gonna need a blow out to get away from the day to day frustration of dealing with the bureaucracy of the authorities, the spartanism of the orphanage, the lack of facilities.
Forget all this romantic dreaming of the little guys greeting you each day with a smile, it don't happen; they'll rob you of knick-knacks and go off and join the street gangs. I know, I had those dreams too before I worked out in the Cape. You know for twenty losses, there might, just might be one who will grow up to be a respectable member of society but that's not the stuff they put in the brochures or in the talks - why should they? They want the volunteers!
First two weeks, it's exciting because it's new. After two weeks the novelty will wear off, after four you'll find friends and think it'll be alright and then at 6 ~ 8 weeks >KAPOW!!< you'll be wanting to come home, you would have had a few barnies with people, you'll miss your friends, the church, everything and don't forget Christmas, that's when it'll hurt. You may think God will protect you, nope, don't work that way, if you have any sense or intelligence you'll recognise, you've got it good, God has protected you all your life, God has sent you there to do His work. You'll just know God is protecting you, God will now want you to be doing the work to help these poor kids out. God will tell you to stop the sycophantic grouppie-ism you have towards Him and get on and do the hard work. Yup, God is good, we know that, we don't need to be told but wait, what are these kids doing here suffering? Help them is what He's telling you.
One day, you'll look at yourself and recognise how shallow, arrogant and empty your life was back in the uk before going out to help, that's how I felt, but you won't feel bad because by then you'll know you're doing His work and only then will you find happiness within yourself; and it ain't the sort of happiness you'll be bragging about or celebrating with your friends; it's a sort of glow you'll get from within and one only you can rejoice in. It's really hard to explain but only when you experience it will you know.
And you know what? When you get that feeling it's the best in the world and it's a very private feeling.
I know I've been there, I wish I could do it again and I'm not alone. Go ask your friends who've done the long term stints.
(and it's a darn good way to lose weight)
Rick.
At Wednesday, 02 August, 2006,
Caroline said…
I'll remember to check out that restaurant, although any coffee I drink will be decaff. Sadly, I really can't indulge in any pizza, no matter how home-made it is, being kinda allergic to the white bases... ;(
But enough about food.
I don't know how long you were out working in s.Africa for, but long enough to experience the normal culture shock it seems. I've been there before, I've lived in several other countries for extended periods of time and understand completely what you are on about. It helps to have had some training in dealing with it and that is why I'm grateful for those times abroad before. I'm under no rose-tinted spectacled illusion that it will be wonderful all the time.
I'm glad you had a warm feeling of contentment for helping people, it's good isn't it. I'm sorry you haven't sensed God's protection over you.
There is little chance that I won't speak of Father God, or Jesus, or the Holy Spirit. He is my entire life, I have given up loads to serve Him and will probably be asked to give up more too at some point. When you have that amazing relationship with someone who loves you unconditionally, forgives all your mistakes, knows all your faults and walks with you every minute of every day of your entire life and fills you with peace, joy, love, hope, patience, gentleness, kindness, self-control and faithfulness, it's not the kind of thing to hide. I am so excited to be sharing that love with these people, or with anyone I come across. It's my reason for being and I couldn't stop it if I tried.
Now that feeling is a private feeling, and you'll only understand it when you experience it, and you won't want to keep it to yourself!
Post a Comment
<< Home