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Immigration...Immigration...Immigration
Entry 44 of 81 | show all | print this entry |
After an Immigration scare in Singapore and again in Australia I have made it to Christchurch, and I currently call Kay and Jenny's couch home.
In Singapore I had some chewing gum in my bag in order to keep my breath so fresh and so clean during my two days getting from point A to B. In Singapore gum is illegal, and there are heavy fines for having any. After some discussion with his friend, the immigration officer gracefully let me into the county. I had to convince him that I in fact was going directly to the airport in order to avoid a behind-the-one way-window-interrogation-session. He let me into the country, suprisingly with my gum.
In Australia the immigration process is incredibly strict, perhaps even intimidating. I was so used to crossing places like the cambodia-thai border where someone in the middle of the desert, sometimes in uniform, looks at your passport and talks with his buddies for a bit and then usually lets you in. In Australia I was immediately confronted by white people with tremendous authority over my immediate situation. I must have had my embarkation card and my passport examined by 10 different people, and the signs posted all over the lobby for heavy fines or prison for failing to declare ANYTHING werent helping. The people who work at Darwin immigration are not happy people either. They scowl at each and every person who passes by. I thought a lot about what it might be like to try to have a holiday or god forbid immigrate to a country like the states as a foreigner. Australian restrictions and laws are a lot more slack than ours. Id like to apologize for any foreigner who finds it intimidating while legally and rightfully entering our country weather it be for holiday, work or for life.
Ive been in New Zealand for less than a day. Ive already got my tax ID number, a good job(thanks Jenny), and a bank account. The only thing left to do is to find a place to live. That should be taken care of in the next few days.
Thanks to all of you for reading, keep reading. I plan to post interesting stories and updates when I do something interesting or update worthy. Ill be a leech on this economy for as long as I deem necessary then off again for round 2.
All my love and good thoughts to you all!
Latest Comments (4)
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nice reflection (reply)
Dec 2, 2007 00:40 EST by babbrook
Hey, its interesting to see you take your own reaction to a difficult border experience and put it in the context of your home country.
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hi hi hi (reply)
Feb 26, 2007 02:33 EST by kateeh9
...hi! i'm glad to hear you're safe, i just spent the last hour or so catching up on your life! it's so much more exciting (though i continue to be happy as a clam up here in poughkeepsie). why is gum not allowed in singapore? what's the governments stance on such a dangerous substance?
i just wanted to stop by and say hello and i love you and miss you. i can't wait to hear about w... show all
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Gum, huh? (reply)
Feb 21, 2007 17:11 EST by alooney
Is that what you kids are calling it these days?
Glad you made it through. So what's the job? Can't wait for pics of NZ!
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Stir-crazy (reply)
Feb 21, 2007 12:37 EST by blor
Herbs... are you going to be able to stay in one place so long? Hehe. Glad to hear you're well; hope you have fun with some familiar faces!
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