Fear and Detaining in (Las) Heathrow

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Trip Start Jun 04, 2008 Trip End Ongoing Next
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  London, England, United Kingdom
Thursday, June 5, 2008

This is written 4 days later detailing my wonderful experience at Heathrow Airport.
I managed to get 2 hours sleep on the flight to Frankfurt from L.A. I got to the airport at 10.30am which meant I had a 6 hour layover. I hit the casino and lost 10 Euros, tried to sleep and cursed at myself for buying a flight that was scheduled so long after arriving. The flight from Frankfurt to Heathrow was delayed by an hour and a half so I rang Matty to let him know Id be an hour and a half late to the pub we were going to meet at. I arrived at Heathrow and walked towards the immigration desk. I chose a gentleman who looked like a welcoming Englishman. Someone who would be glad to see one of his own return to the homeland after 200 years in the harsh settlement of Australia, I was wrong. I was asked if I had a ticket out of the UK. Rather than lie I gave the truth, "No". I told him our plan, a rather vague one I do admit, to travel around Europe after buying a car in the UK. After being asked many Gestapoesque questions I was politey told (as only the English know how) that the United Kingdom suspected that I was intending to stay in the UK illegally. Thinking I must still be in the United States I looked around the terminal only to see many old men in tweed jackets. Yes indeed I was in London and godammit this was going to be another long day. I was asked to wait for a couple of hours in front of their one sided mirror. Thankfully picking your nose is not illegal in the UK because that was the most eventful thing that occured until a sexy immigration girl came and walked me to my luggage. She went through it all and managed my resists at flirting. It looked as if my good looks were not going to gain me entry afterall and I started to contemplate the thought that I may be deported tonight. After more waiting I was taken into another waiting room. In the room I met Hasif, a nice Pakistani fellow down on his luck. He had been working illegally in the UK and was about to get a free flight home after 6 years abroad. He was leaving an unsuspecting wife and family behind. I truly felt for the guy. He informed me that he had seen 6 other people enter the room that day, he also informed me that every one of them was deported.  I went backstage for my interview which thankfully was with a pretty nice lady. I beasically just told her the whole story and after a few umms and ahhs she decided to give me the benfeit of the doubt. I had to wait in the room for another forty minutes but they gave me free sandwhiches so I was kinda stoked. Finally I got given the green light and I walked out of the terminal down to the subway. The whole way I felt like running, as if they would come and grab me at any second and change their mind. Of course they didn't and my adventures in Europe began....

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