So yesterday morning I woke up excited to spend a night in London and visit some good friends. I boarded my flight to London-Stansted through Ryan Air. Everything was going smoothly until I arrived at the Visa control counter. The conversation started as most do:
Man: What is the purpose of your visit?
Me: To visit friends...
Man: And when do you leave?
Me: Tomorrow evening...
Man: Where will you be staying?
Me: With a friend, near Stratford
Man: We need and address
Me: Ok, one second (check iPod) Here!
Man: When did you arrive in Italy?
Me: In mid-April
Man: And before that, where were you?
Me: I went to Turkey
Man: For how long?
Me: About 3 days
Man: And before that?
Me: I was in Italy
Man: And do you know how long you're allowed to remain in Europe?
Me: Ummm....
Man: You are allowed to stay 90 days
Me: Oh... I thought... I must be confused. You can stay 90 days, but if you leave Europe you can stay another 90 days, right?
Man: Right, but "leave Europe" means go back to your home country. [This isn't actually true... Americans can stay 90 days in any given 6 month period]
Me: Oh...
Man: So you're leaving the Shengen area to evade the 90 day rule?
Me: Umm... that wasn't my intention.
Man: Are you employed in Los Angeles?
Me: No
Man: What's waiting for you when you go back to LA?
Me: My entire family and friends
Man: Husband?
Me: No
Man: Boyfriend?
Me: No
Man: Have a seat, please.
This guy asked way more questions that I can't remember right now. By the end of it I'm pretty sure he knew my whole life story. I go to sit down and he hands me a piece of paper. It says:
So, I'm not sure at this point what will happen. About 30 minutes later, two women came and guided me to a room to take my fingerprints. Then they sat me in a room by myself and told me I could help myself to any food or drinks they had. There was a TV showing some horrid morning talk show...
About an hour later a man walks in with a cowboy hat, cowboy boots, and a friendly smile. He introduces himself and we share stories. Poncho is a Mexican man traveling to spread the word of an indigenous people. These people are struggling to save their sacred land at risk of becoming a gold-mining site. He says, "Have you seen the TV show Lost?" "Yes," I say. "Do you remember when they find the guy in the capsule and he's pushing the button, or else the world ends?" "Yes," I say. "Well, that's real." I'm puzzled. "The indigenous people, the first people on planet Earth have been making pilgrimages to sacred lands... I've seen them go to a place with... how do you call the place that hasn't had rain in a long time?" "A drought?" "I've seen them go to a place with a long drought, and the night they arrive to pray... it rains. They need to go to these sacred lands and pray, or there will be no rain. But all the companies care about is gold. In 50 years when there's no more rain, will the gold help us to eat? Will we eat the gold?" Then he tells me about his shaman who he's traveling with. "We have peyote ceremonies... have you heard of peyote?" "Yes," I say. And he begins to tell me about his experience with ayahuasca. "Have you ever tried it?" "No," I say. Then another detainee walks in. Another American! We share stories again. We eat some free sandwiches and soon we put on a movie, "True Romance."
Finally, a woman comes and interviews me. After a bunch of questions she says, "You've overstayed your visit to the Shengen area, so we are unsure if Italy will let you back in. That's why we must put you on the next flight to Italy. I'm not sure what will happen once you get there. You will definitely be questioned and decide what to do from there. Your flight is at 7:05pm."
I go back to the room and continue to eat free food, watch movies, and chat with my fellow detainees. By now we have more company: an Albanian guy and a few Brazilians... Finally, after 8 hours I go to board my flight to Bergamo. I'm waiting at the gate with me chaperon and the flight is delayed one hour. Talk about Murphy's Law. Finally I get on my plane, and it was fairly uneventful.
As I step off the plane, I'm met by two Italian cops who have my passport. After a while of waiting they sit me in a room and ask questions. He apologizes for his poor English but he gets his point across. "You are an overstayer. This is a BIG PROBLEM." And he starts talking on the phone in Italian. When he gets off the phone he says, "Did you understand what I said?" I did, mostly. "I must go to the Office of Immigration?" "Yes, and you must stay at the airport tonight."
You are liable to be examined/further examined by me or another immigration officer. I am detaining you. I have also detained your passport, identification card or travel document. Reasons for detention: I have further enquiries to make and more questions to ask you.
So, I'm not sure at this point what will happen. About 30 minutes later, two women came and guided me to a room to take my fingerprints. Then they sat me in a room by myself and told me I could help myself to any food or drinks they had. There was a TV showing some horrid morning talk show...
About an hour later a man walks in with a cowboy hat, cowboy boots, and a friendly smile. He introduces himself and we share stories. Poncho is a Mexican man traveling to spread the word of an indigenous people. These people are struggling to save their sacred land at risk of becoming a gold-mining site. He says, "Have you seen the TV show Lost?" "Yes," I say. "Do you remember when they find the guy in the capsule and he's pushing the button, or else the world ends?" "Yes," I say. "Well, that's real." I'm puzzled. "The indigenous people, the first people on planet Earth have been making pilgrimages to sacred lands... I've seen them go to a place with... how do you call the place that hasn't had rain in a long time?" "A drought?" "I've seen them go to a place with a long drought, and the night they arrive to pray... it rains. They need to go to these sacred lands and pray, or there will be no rain. But all the companies care about is gold. In 50 years when there's no more rain, will the gold help us to eat? Will we eat the gold?" Then he tells me about his shaman who he's traveling with. "We have peyote ceremonies... have you heard of peyote?" "Yes," I say. And he begins to tell me about his experience with ayahuasca. "Have you ever tried it?" "No," I say. Then another detainee walks in. Another American! We share stories again. We eat some free sandwiches and soon we put on a movie, "True Romance."
Finally, a woman comes and interviews me. After a bunch of questions she says, "You've overstayed your visit to the Shengen area, so we are unsure if Italy will let you back in. That's why we must put you on the next flight to Italy. I'm not sure what will happen once you get there. You will definitely be questioned and decide what to do from there. Your flight is at 7:05pm."
I go back to the room and continue to eat free food, watch movies, and chat with my fellow detainees. By now we have more company: an Albanian guy and a few Brazilians... Finally, after 8 hours I go to board my flight to Bergamo. I'm waiting at the gate with me chaperon and the flight is delayed one hour. Talk about Murphy's Law. Finally I get on my plane, and it was fairly uneventful.
As I step off the plane, I'm met by two Italian cops who have my passport. After a while of waiting they sit me in a room and ask questions. He apologizes for his poor English but he gets his point across. "You are an overstayer. This is a BIG PROBLEM." And he starts talking on the phone in Italian. When he gets off the phone he says, "Did you understand what I said?" I did, mostly. "I must go to the Office of Immigration?" "Yes, and you must stay at the airport tonight."
Now up until this point I have been calm, cool and collected. I waited over 9 hours in London, but when I heard this news I began to cry. I started wondering what I was going to do? Would I be arrested? Fined? Deported? What about all my stuff in Scanzorosciate? I quietly nodded and waited while he filled out paperwork.
It's about midnight now, and news of the American girl is slowly gaining attention among the cops. Soon, 4 Italian cops are all arguing over what to do with me. "Isn't there something you can do? You can't make this pretty American girl stay here all night like a criminal..." Two different officers are searching the rule book for any loophole to let me go. The main officer looks strict and doesn't want to change his mind. I hear them say, "Article 10!" But I don't want to get my hopes up. Finally he puts two sheets of paper in front of me and says, "Sign here, and you can leave." Gasp. It's almost 1am, I've been stuck in airports for over 12 hours. The paper I sign tells me to go to the immigration office in the morning at 11am. Suddenly, a weight has been lifted. At least tonight I can sleep in a warm bed until my fate is decided.
It's about midnight now, and news of the American girl is slowly gaining attention among the cops. Soon, 4 Italian cops are all arguing over what to do with me. "Isn't there something you can do? You can't make this pretty American girl stay here all night like a criminal..." Two different officers are searching the rule book for any loophole to let me go. The main officer looks strict and doesn't want to change his mind. I hear them say, "Article 10!" But I don't want to get my hopes up. Finally he puts two sheets of paper in front of me and says, "Sign here, and you can leave." Gasp. It's almost 1am, I've been stuck in airports for over 12 hours. The paper I sign tells me to go to the immigration office in the morning at 11am. Suddenly, a weight has been lifted. At least tonight I can sleep in a warm bed until my fate is decided.
Woah, this wasn't a blogpost, this was a movie script!!!!! Glad you were able to evade a "deportation."
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