Like Last Year, But A Bit Worse

• Mandy13082's Profile
• About this blog
• Entry from Alexandria

Trip Start May 10, 2007 Trip End Jun 25, 2007 Next
Entry

  Alexandria, Virginia, United States
Saturday, May 12, 2007

Wow, so, I don't even know where to begin.
First off, I'm NOT in the Philippines.  My flight was TWO DAYS ago.  I do not have a Passport or plane tickets in my hand, as of today.
Let's rewind to May 2006...
As a student at UNCW participating in a JMU Study Abroad group, naturally, I sent my Passport up to the Philippines Embassy to obtain a Visa.  Johnathan (my JMU professor) sent everyone else's as one big package at the same time I sent mine.  He received his back a number of days before we left... I had not... so I kept giving it another day.  FINALLY, when I was in NoVa a few days before I was to leave, I contacted the Embassy to see what was taking so long.  They claimed they had no record of my application.  I had a confirmation number from FedEx that they had received it, so something was missing.  After a day of trying to emphasize the importance of this Passport, we decided it was time to contact our Congressman, Jim Moran.  A wonderful man by the name of Spoon quickly assisted us and sent a letter to the Passport Agency to issue me a new Passport.  On our way into Washington, D.C., the Embassy called and said they had found my Passport... oh, just in the knick of time.  I still made my flight the next day.
Over the next 365 days, I have been dreaming of my return to the Philippines...
Stop in February 2007: At a reunion dinner at JMU, I physically handed my Passport off to Johnathan so he could send it as an entire package and we wouldn't go through last year's debacle.  Smooth sailing from here... or so we thought.
May 8, 2007: Driving to JMU from NC... it was 3-4 EXTRA hours of driving to go through JMU to pick up my Passport [with Visa] and plane tix from Johnathan, and my car was running in a very uncomfortable way.  I called Johnathan on my way out of town and we both agreed it was in my best interest [car/time/money-wise] that he should just FedEx my Passport and tickets to my parents' house in Northern VA.  Yeah, no problem.  Why wouldn't that work? 
He overnighted the package so it would arrive nearly 24 hours before my flight in case there was any delay.  Noon on Wednesday, May 9th came and still no package.  I was to leave my house at 4:45AM Thursday morning to catch an 8AM flight from Dulles International airport.  I checked the tracking numbers and found it was still at a sortation center in Dulles.  Immediately Johnathan phoned [he's clairvoyant and knew I was deliberating over this situation already] and he was shocked the package had not arrived.  We both called FedEx and they said they would check on it.  After a few hours of people not really wanting to help us and only checking their computer screens [as opposed to the actual warehouses], we reached a very helpful T. Bass at FedEx.  Here it is, Saturday, and she continually calls up with updates [though, it is never "we found it!"].  The way FedEx works is that each individual item gets scanned into the computer as it comes into a station, but when it leaves the station packages are thrown into bags and just the bag is scanned.  How do you know which bag your package goes into?  Mine could be on its' way to S. Africa for all I know!  Two managers at the Alexandria station, which is where my package would be delivered from, searched under conveyor belts, DROVE out to Dulles and even offered to drive to JMU to pick it up, if for some reason it had never left Harrisonburg.  All this help has been over the course of 3 days. It was slow on the first day to REALLY get them to understand the importance of this package, but now that I've missed my flight and my group is missing 1/2 their leaders they realize that I'm not just Any Ol' Somebody.  Regardless, FedEx has still royally messed up their JOB.  Delivering packages in a safe and timely manner is why they're in business.  LOSING a package altogether is not what they get paid to do. GRRR.
Wednesday evening we told FedEx to call us in the middle of the night and we could even come pick up the package if they find it.  It was a quiet night.
0400 Thursday:  I woke to shower and be sure that I was prepared to jump in the car if a miracle occurred within an hour or two.
0445 Thursday, May 10th: Asleep.
At 7AM (yes, I know I'm not consistent with my time clock styles, but it's for effect really), my mom headed to work and I got up to make some phone calls.  Still nothing.  Johnathan's group flew at 10:45AM that day, so he and I discussed options for what would happen next.  Hopefully they would find it that day and I could head out Friday, etc. etc.  Around noon, my dad decided it was time to "Call our Congressman", as my friend in the Army so kindly reminded me that that's the way to get things done.
Again, Spoon answered our call!  He also faxed a letter to the Passport Agency in Washington, D.C. to issue me an Expedited Passport that day.  By the time the talks with FedEx wrapped up and I got all my paperwork & Passport photos taken care of, my dad and I headed into D.C.  We arrived at 4PM, just enough time to at least put the application in and have it ready for a Friday pick-up.  I went to the address given to me and asked the security guard where to go for a Passport.  She said "Go next door" and I said "But this is 1111", and she still said to go next door.  So, I went next door and next door was LOCKED.  Another security guard opened the door and asked what I needed.  I explained i had a letter from Congressman Jim Moran's office .. yada yada yada.  She said "We closed at 3.  Come back tomorrow."  THREE?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?  Who the hell closes their office at 3PM on a weekday in D.C.!?!?!?!?!?!?  GRRRRRRR.
So, I called my Dad before he parked and he pulled around to let me hop in the car again.
Thursday night.  Waiting for time to pass.
Friday, 7:30AM: We head BACK into D.C.  This time I go into the "door nextdoor" and it is a room PACKED with people.  I've never seen so many people packed into such a room other than at concerts.  Luckily, security guards were asking who had appointments.  When it was my turn, I explained the letter from Moran and they said "Go next door. Upstairs. 212."  WHAT?!  The same place I had gone to yesterday told me to go next door!  I had no idea this 212 place EXISTED!  So, was it potentially OPEN on Thursday at 4PM when I come on my first visit???  I still don't know.. I never saw any signs for hours and forgot to ask in the whirlwind of getting a new Passport, but my Dad said he thought they closed at 4:30.  boo.  I went nextdoor, upstairs to Room 212.  A small room with a few clerks.  I stood in line and talked to a lovely couple going to Antigua for their 10 year anniversary.  How nice.  I can't imagine being married for 10 years already.  Hmm, anyway, we don't need to talk about my personal love life and the way I avoid it. ha.
... hmm, yeah, anyway. Back to MADNESS 101.  The lady at the window seemed somewhat unexcited to help me, but I'm sure she deals with lots of unhappy people trying to get a Passport ASAP.  She said we had to fax Moran's letter again and fill out this form or that form, so I sat down and filled out some paperwork.  She did, however, give me priority for when I was done.  Too bad when I was done with the forms, the line had completely dissipated.  At least I wasn't cutting in front of anyone, and I avoided the dreaded "No cuts, no buts, no coconuts!".  After the paperwork was signed, sealed [well, not sealed], delivered, I was told to come back at 1:30PM to pick it up.  Would there be a wait when I returned?  Apparently 9 out of 10, there would be a wait. GRRREEAT.  At 1:30PM, however, I waltzed into the Special Issuance Passport Office and was handed my Passport immediately.  I guess my check for $157 was acceptable!  Fabulous.
Off to the Philippines Embassy: Within 5 minutes we pulled up to a parking meter at the Embassy and I frantically finished filling in my paperwork.  I went into the Consular's Office and was greeted by a face I knew from last year.  She didn't remember me, but that's to be expected... despite last year's drama.  I explained my situation and that Hermie said it would be ready in 24 hours and this lady, whom I now wonder if SHE was Hermie, said, "No, not 24 hours".  WHAT?!  She said "We're closed on Monday and we're extremely busy, so 4PM Wednesday, it will be ready".  WEDNESDAY!?!?!?! WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!!!!!!!!!!!  Omg, I was in near tears.  I am debating if I should have cried and gotten on my knees, but they could just had easily said "No, we don't want someone like you visiting our beloved country".  Anyone could've turned me away.  So, I accepted her answer and left.  As I was walking away, a man about my age called after me and said that they needed me again.  I RAN back inside and she asked if I had come up from NC [that is what my current residence is, remember!] for my Visa and I said "YES" [hoping she would get it done in 1 day].  She took my application to the back room to speak with the Visa Officer, Mennie I believe is her name.  I waited and waited, thinking/hoping/praying that I would have my Visa ASAP and could fly Saturday.  There was a small boy in the office and he was talking talking talking to me, wanting me to button his shirt because it wouldn't stay buttoned.  The young man who called me back in was going home to see his girlfriend in the Philippines for 3 weeks.  I mean, I'm Queen of Long Distance Relationships, but I couldn't do it half a world away while I was in college.  Good luck to them, seriously. Eventually, the lady came back and said "Wednesday at 4PM"   GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Crap.  So, I was drained of resources and left.
Nothing I could do.
Angry.
Miserable.
Sad.
Helpless.
This means no Banaue, no Elvis, no rice terraces, no volcano, no waterfall, no hiking, no Malate, no rice festival, no IRRI, no group bonding, no help to Johnathan.
Absolutely helpless.
It's one of the hardest feelings to cope with.  I feel like my life has spiraled away from me in the last few days, really the last year.  I meet people that I can't be with and take on projects that have left me feeling this way.  I used to have such good luck.  I know things will turn up.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not the kind of person to dwell and be angry.  That takes too much effort.  I know I need to have a bit of time to be upset, but time also passes and I'll heal.  My anger will subside, because why bother living like this?  Take life with a grain of salt.  Everyday you learn something new and experience something new.  My life will never be mundane; I would just like to regain a bit of control every now and again.
Eh, whatever.  That's how I feel.  Now that I have a few extra days at home, I am able to see friends and family.  Attend a funeral for a beloved woman, the mother of a childhood friend.  I can spend time in NoVa that I wouldn't have otherwise had.  I'll take that fairly happily.  Everything happens for a reason.  Why that time was now, I'm not sure, but I'll grow tremendously from this experience and I thank my Dad, especially, as well as the other people who have truly been supportive and caring towards me while I feel so helpless.
I doubt I'll write again until after I actually ARRIVE in the Philippines, next Friday sometime.  My new flight is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday at 10PM, so 21 hours of flying and I'll be in the Philippines after the group returns from the rice terraces.  Maybe I can visit my family in the Philippines?  Vernie, Annabelle and Macky, would you like a houseguest? :)
Cheers and ciao,
Mabuhay!

Print this entry Share Alexandria hotels

Next Entry