Visa!
Fiji-time, island-time, it's all kind of the same thing: not quick.
Today, the national director and development director, and Fiji ambassador for Homes of Hope all met with the director of Fiji Immigrations Office--the climax of the weekly journey that is, rather now has, been my visa application process. Now, to bore you with all the delicious tedious details below! :)
It all started back in early August when my visa application was started by HoH. After the second trip, and second money deposit, the HoH staff was told to instruct me that when I come in to Fiji: put on my arrival paperwork that I am visiting Fiji on a 'business visit', which gives me 14 days. After arriving in Nadi, I would need to visit the Fiji Immigration office in Suva and complete my application for a 3-month visitor's visa.
Upon landing and going through customs process it all went fairly smoothly: which was a bit of a shock to everyone here at HoH, especially since I was carrying three laptops as my 'personal items'. The smoothness ended upon my first visit to the immigration office two days later. After taking a number, waiting over an hour we were met with a mildly displeasing results of "everything is in process, don't worry about anything". Three or four visits later, we had been given the run-around regarding more paperwork that is necessary, forms that are still in process, or that other gov't employees were working on the application and we needed to ask them. .... needless to say, it was looking worse with every visit.
Four weeks into my stay (which is 2 weeks past my 'business visa') on of our Fiji Ambasadors, who recently retired from a fairly prominent governmental position within the Fiji gov't, was visiting our campus, heard about the issues and therefore helped us get a meeting with the director of Fiji Immigrations--and attended the meeting. That meeting was late AM today. Before leaving the campus, I gave my passport to the director in hopes that something may be able to happen during the meeting.
With much thankfulness, the director heard the case (and two other cases of long-term volunteers with HoH with even more drama) and was in full agreement that what we had been experience in the "process" was not satisfactory. ... among receiving proper instruction on how HoH will proceed with future long-term volunteers, my 3-month volunteer visa was stamped! Praise Jesus! I am now not illegal!
As for other updates, life has been continually an adventure, being able to keep pace with migrating the resident database (personal information regarding all of the moms/residents that have been aided by Homes of Hope) into an MS Access SQL database; a few building projects around campus; on-going computer maintenance and support; various functions and evenings with other staff members. It is such a blessing to be living in a community that focuses on other's well being. You cannot really go anywhere without sharing a smile and usually a laugh with someone. Very life-filled!
... alright.. that is probably enough for this update. But... if you made it this far... you are obviously a good reader, so this will be a more enjoyable part: a humorous joke:
Highway Speed Trap
A state trooper pulled over a car going just 19 miles per hour on the highway. As the officer approached the car, he noticed it was two elderly women and they both looked very pale and wide-eyed.
"Good afternoon ladies. Do you know why I am pulling you over?" asked the trooper.
"I'm terribly sorry if I did something wrong but I know I was not speeding" said the driver.
"Well, that is true, you weren't speeding...but you were going entirely too slow on a highway and that is equally as dangerous."
"No, Officer. I was going exactly the speed limit...19 miles per hour!"
The trooper laughed a little to himself. "Mam', this is Highway 19. That is not the speed limit, but simply the name of this highway."
Very embarressed, the elderly driver grinned and thanked the trooper over and over for informing her of the mistake.
"But before I let you go, I have to ask... are you guys feeling okay? You both look awfully shaken."
"Oh sure, we will be fine. We just got off of Highway 120"
Today, the national director and development director, and Fiji ambassador for Homes of Hope all met with the director of Fiji Immigrations Office--the climax of the weekly journey that is, rather now has, been my visa application process. Now, to bore you with all the delicious tedious details below! :)
It all started back in early August when my visa application was started by HoH. After the second trip, and second money deposit, the HoH staff was told to instruct me that when I come in to Fiji: put on my arrival paperwork that I am visiting Fiji on a 'business visit', which gives me 14 days. After arriving in Nadi, I would need to visit the Fiji Immigration office in Suva and complete my application for a 3-month visitor's visa.
Upon landing and going through customs process it all went fairly smoothly: which was a bit of a shock to everyone here at HoH, especially since I was carrying three laptops as my 'personal items'. The smoothness ended upon my first visit to the immigration office two days later. After taking a number, waiting over an hour we were met with a mildly displeasing results of "everything is in process, don't worry about anything". Three or four visits later, we had been given the run-around regarding more paperwork that is necessary, forms that are still in process, or that other gov't employees were working on the application and we needed to ask them. .... needless to say, it was looking worse with every visit.
Four weeks into my stay (which is 2 weeks past my 'business visa') on of our Fiji Ambasadors, who recently retired from a fairly prominent governmental position within the Fiji gov't, was visiting our campus, heard about the issues and therefore helped us get a meeting with the director of Fiji Immigrations--and attended the meeting. That meeting was late AM today. Before leaving the campus, I gave my passport to the director in hopes that something may be able to happen during the meeting.
With much thankfulness, the director heard the case (and two other cases of long-term volunteers with HoH with even more drama) and was in full agreement that what we had been experience in the "process" was not satisfactory. ... among receiving proper instruction on how HoH will proceed with future long-term volunteers, my 3-month volunteer visa was stamped! Praise Jesus! I am now not illegal!
As for other updates, life has been continually an adventure, being able to keep pace with migrating the resident database (personal information regarding all of the moms/residents that have been aided by Homes of Hope) into an MS Access SQL database; a few building projects around campus; on-going computer maintenance and support; various functions and evenings with other staff members. It is such a blessing to be living in a community that focuses on other's well being. You cannot really go anywhere without sharing a smile and usually a laugh with someone. Very life-filled!
... alright.. that is probably enough for this update. But... if you made it this far... you are obviously a good reader, so this will be a more enjoyable part: a humorous joke:
Highway Speed Trap
A state trooper pulled over a car going just 19 miles per hour on the highway. As the officer approached the car, he noticed it was two elderly women and they both looked very pale and wide-eyed.
"Good afternoon ladies. Do you know why I am pulling you over?" asked the trooper.
"I'm terribly sorry if I did something wrong but I know I was not speeding" said the driver.
"Well, that is true, you weren't speeding...but you were going entirely too slow on a highway and that is equally as dangerous."
"No, Officer. I was going exactly the speed limit...19 miles per hour!"
The trooper laughed a little to himself. "Mam', this is Highway 19. That is not the speed limit, but simply the name of this highway."
Very embarressed, the elderly driver grinned and thanked the trooper over and over for informing her of the mistake.
"But before I let you go, I have to ask... are you guys feeling okay? You both look awfully shaken."
"Oh sure, we will be fine. We just got off of Highway 120"
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