The tale starts way back when in early May before coming to Mozambique. I had left my passport in Canada with Cowater to get my visa done while I ventured around Portugal. My passport magically travelled from Calgary to Ottawa, Ottawa to Washington, Washington back to Ottawa and finally Ottawa to Lisbon. When it arrived it had a shiney new visa and a letter from the Mozambican government, office of public works, inviting me to work in Zavala. I spoke with my colleague in Ottawa who arranged my visa and she said she had spoken with the people in Moz about which visa to get. I had a 6 month multiple entry visa that expired in Nov. I asked some questions but she said it was fine and I could use it like a normal in and out as I please visa for 6 months. That was what the embassy in Washington had explained to her.
So sad.
In August, I decided to start asking about renewing my visa because it expired at a time that was going to be busy for the program. As soon as we arrived there I knew something was wrong. The lady behind the desk left and when she came back she had a big guy with her. We were escorted to another building across the street to a small room with two chairs and a desk.
It was in this meeting where I really, truly thought I was going to be deported immediately. But thankfully, he just wanted to give me an outrageous fine. Turns out with the multiple entry visa you HAVE to leave every 30 days. Which I did not and had not for an extra 65 days over the original 30 days. My colleague and I told him and his supervisor that we could not pay anything without speaking to our boss and left.
When we got to the office my boss said he'd talk to the director of the office of public works and we would figure something out. I also skyped Ottawa and they said they would check with the embassy. I relaxed thinking there'd be a solution.
Last day.
A few weeks went by and I had heard nothing except that the director of public works did speak with the director of migration and a reduced fine was paid (Still a hefty amount though)! I had to went until my boss was back from his holidays in October for him to tell me that unfortunately the director of migration had made it clear she was not going to give me a new visa and that I could either leave of free will before October 22nd or be forcefully removed on October 22nd. Alas, there was nothing to be done. I was in shock. I kept trying to come up with solutions but my boss said at least point it had become a "political" situation. I was done. Contract finished. I had two weeks to finish what I was doing, help plan the next phase and leave.
My baby
Needless to say, I was and am still heart broken to not continue with the program. I really hope it is successful and that the community of Zavala likes it.
Maezinha
When I left Moz for Johannesburg the customs officer said, okay your visa is now valid again, you can come back anytime. Then he gave me his number for when I came back. But seriously! After all that drama and sadness I am just allowed back anytime! So it was just the director of migration in Inhambane that was making things so difficult... politics and bureaucracy.
My customs officer
So, I stayed 9 days in Johannesburg with a friend of a colleague of mine from when I lived in Lisbon. Paul was kind enough to even pick me up from the airport, give me a lift to meet two friends and, most importantly, drove me through one of the most dangerous areas of Joburg- Alexandria- at night. I had a great time chilling, seeing old friends and making new ones.
Paul decided he needed to make a trip to Nelspruit for some business so I caught a ride down with him saving me 4 hours on a bus. Again he took me on some back roads and middle of no where Africa adventures at night. We arrived just in time (0200!) for me to hop on the bus to Maputo. After a delirious ride, I awoken at the boarder to cross at 0600. Absolutely no problems at the boarder. In fact, I had to wait a looooong time for the bus and everyone else to cross.
Well groomed boarder.
You can buy anything at the boarder. Really, they sell the weirdest stuff.
Maputo in the distance
Longest bus ride ever
I arrived in Maputo at 1030, hopped on a chapa for Inhambane. Buuuuuut it didn't leave for another 2 hours so I bought cookies, a drink, an Apple and chupar an Orange. And napped. Then I continued to nap as we left. .. somewhere along the way I realized I hadn't peed since a pit stop with Paul sometime around midnight. And that I had had a bottle of water, a latte, an orange, an Apple and a soda. And now I was really in pain. So I asked the cobrador (guy who takes the money, opens the door and finds space for the random things people transport like chairs, sacks of food, piles of wood etc) if I could go to the bathroom and he said Next stop, Macia. I was like okay, no problem. Except that I had already waited way past that point so I literally was sweating trying not to pee. Then I undid my belt, then the top button, then the zipper a bit, then it was hurting so bad I was breathing like I was in labour. The cobrador had fallen asleep and I so I asked the driver and he said Macia. I said I'd try but wasn't sure I could wait. Another 55 days later (or in normal time about 10 mins) I see a sign that says Macia is 35km away. I tell the driver to stop, really, right now, I can't wait, à sério, não aguento...! And he stops. Finally. I wasn't even out the door and I was taking off my pants and peeing right in front of the chapa on the side of the road. The driver was nice and pulled up a bit. But I didn't care. That was the longest, best pee of life.
Made it the rest of the way to Inhambane in one piece. Made it to my new home. For now.
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