So we got a last minute phone call from the embassy last night that if we could be at the ministry by 5pm the Secretary would meet with us. It was after 4pm. We left immediately and arrived there by 4:30. Shocking by Nepali standards. I'm sure he thought we would not make it and they were all surprised to see us. They acted as if they had not heard of us or our case. It was great. We were very polite and drank the tea offered. Rule number one: Always drink the tea!
Anyway, after feigning ignorance and asking our file number repeatedly he requested to see some documentation that we had about our file and then he declared that all is clear with our file but the legal secretary has to sign it and then the undersecretary must sign. Easy Peasy you say. Well the legal secretary has been reassigned so they must appoint a new one (same problem that we had the first week we were here. What happened to that guy you may ask) and the undersecretary is leaving for Italy on Saturday so we may have to wait until he gets back on the 18th for him to sign. Of course today is a holiday and nothing can be done in one day. Maybe we will get it signed Sunday or Monday. Maybe not and perhaps we should stay at a cheaper hotel until the 18th. Anyway it is all out of his hands now.
Ok, so for the good news. That is one less signature we need. And one less Secretary we must deal with. It is possible we will be signed on friday or sunday (the embassy is working on it) and at the worst one of us will have to stay only until the 18th or so which is better than the last estimate of after the elections on April 15th. So we have moved forward Nepali style.
It is aggravating but the embassy seems determined to get us out and we are grateful to have them on our side.
Our last friend is leaving today and we are a bit sad but we plan to go searching for more Americans as we have heard that there are some in the same boat as us. WE hope to band together. They have not contacted the embassy as of yet and they may be only a rumor as so many things are here in Nepal.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Oh man! Nothing like doing things the hard way...
AARRGHHH!!!
Hope it doesn't come down to Mark leaving with Ben...somehow I don't think the "Benster" wil sit too well with that. If he had his way all these "criminals" would be in jail with that mad doctor!
KAYCHOY CHOP CHOP KICK!
Maybe they make the tea from pot leaves to help you relax?
Post a Comment