Operation NZ

after waiting patiently for 4 weeks (faithful that there is no reason to worry although there is only a week left before my flight), we still haven't heard from the NZ embassy. I called a day after the 4th week only to be brushed off with "refrain from calling us, we'll call you" (reminded me a little bit of job follow-ups). it would have been ok to wait if we didn't pay for the flight already so he decided to try calling the embassy and also had to go through the endless waiting and put on hold just to be cut off or disconnected or not be able to talk to the appropriate person. by monday of the next and crucial week, he was at last able to talk to the visa officer handling my application and a promise of an email within the day. i was already home when he called to say he got an email saying "he's not authorized to follow-up on my behalf" which was really frustrating and annoying because it was such a waste of time to have to wait for that.

i was so annoyed i wanted to give up. again, it isn't that they're asking so many things but the way they're processing it. after sobbing and cursing and feeling helpless, i felt mad. mad enough to be brave to promise i'd call the visa officer myself.

thankfully i did the right thing. i was able to talk to the visa officer directly, was able to explain to her what the urgency was all about and she decided to interview me right then and there.

i knew i was going to go through an interview so i was expecting most of the things she asked me and i believe i answered her questions straighforwardly and honestly.

after the interview, she asked me for contact numbers to verify information on my application.

i felt really good about it. i thought the worst was over.

later in the afternoon, i received a phone call from her (visa officer) advising me to reply to the email she just sent me as soon as possible so that she can decide on my application.

i checked the email and got nervous when i read it. there were issues she raised there that seemed so hard to answer. i hoped martin was online but i know he's home and probably wouldn't expect me to be online. i had no choice but to call him. i had to cancel shopping for souvenir items to answer the very important email. my visit to NZ depended on it.

as soon as i hang up the phone, i rushed to the nearest internet café. he was already online and had read the email, and already have some very good points for each issue raised.

i felt so tired after clicking the send button. it might be the fan hitting me with warm air or tiredness from not knowing what will happen next.

the next day arrived without fail. it's thursday, my flight is saturday but i feel like NZ is still a blurry dream.

after a few hours, i got an acknowledgment from the visa officer and said she will process my paper that day. the only consolation we have for ourselves is that no matter what her decision is, this will be over before the day ends!

thinking that she's got all the she needs, i decided to go out for a walk but right when i was walking out the door, she called asking for additional documents, which we already have anyway but just decided not to send. after these were emailed to her, i got an SMS advising me to call the embassy. she then told me to ask martin to provide them a proof of his citizenship and his work.

these were also promptly sent to them providing them with martin's company website and phone number of his boss in case they still needed to verify the information.

silence after that.

the day went by without a word from her. i continued doing my work as if nothing's going to happen any minute.

i packed my suitcase the night before (through martin's encouragement), just in case. but i haven't done anything final yet like my carry-on bag that i will take to the plane or the authority to travel letter signed by the college president. i even forgot to get my salary because my mind's too busy thinking of non-thinking.

it was almost 5pm. i'm not losing hope but im not so optimistic either. i know she works late.

1o minutes before 5, my cp rang.

"hello?"
"hello. may i speak with feneline?"
"yes, ma'am..."
"yes, feneline, ok na. approved na ang visa mo. oh, good for 2 months yan, ha? siguro naman ok na yan."
"oh, yes, ma'am! thank you!"
"ok, bye."
"thank you, ma'am!"

yyyyyyyyyyyEEEEEyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!