Heading to Fiji Via The Vortex of Drama

The drama of my movie like life was over the top...even for me today. Let me start at the beginning. I have a friend here--Luke, that is has started a Trust (similar to a non-profit) to help people in Figi. Him and his family went to Fiji on a resort vacation and ended up making friends with some of the employees at the resort. He quickly saw the dramatic difference between how they lived and how tourists lived in Fiji. He has taken a few trips there and has started a Trust to have a way to help move the culture forward, through building projects and bettering the villages he has contact with.

He his heading to Fiji in August and asked if I wanted to go and see what he was doing. I decided why not? I am on this side of the world, I love that I will get to play with little kids with dirty clothes, I love that I will see people's lives affected by a few people's giving, I love that I will get to watch my friend Luke meet with Coup leaders (don't worry I will be safe...and have adventure!), and I mostly love that it will be HOT there!!! I haven't felt my toes for two days now!!

On Thursday last week I called United to see if I had enough frequent flyer miles to be able to go. I wasn't holding my breath, but I knew that the only way I could go was an air mile ticket. Suprisingly, it took less air miles to fly to Figi than it does to fly from LA to Redding...what the heck? I tell Luke that it looks like I can go with them. He reminds me that I am on a visa and to check to see if I can re-enter NZ if I leave. Oh...hadn't thought of that.

I check my visa on Saturday (why I did it on Saturday and not on Friday when the immigration offices are open--who knows?) As I read my visa my heart drops when I read the line--"your visa is valid until Sept 15 or until you leave the country." OH NO! After looking at the immigration website over and over I am so bummed, and frustrated because my ticket is only on hold until Sunday and I can't call immigration until Monday to double check. United would not extend my held ticket until Monday, but said there is heaps of tickets and you will be able to get a ticket on Monday easily....famous last words!

On Monday I call immigration and have them tell me that there is no way I can leave the country and re-enter unless I apply for a multiple entry visa. Which I "might" be able to get before the trip, but there is a loop hole. What is that you ask? Wait until 5 days before your flight and then go into the immigration office and they will process your visa right there. (risky!!)
I planned on booking another ticket and placing it on hold while I figured out what I wanted to do, but I forgot because I was having a pity party for myself on Monday. (it was a good one...balloons and streamers and all...Rochelle it wasn't a real party :) hehehe)

Tuesday rolls around and Luke thinks I should call one more time and ask immigration. I do and they tell me that I would be able to re-enter on a visa agreement that Americans have with NZ, I just would only be able to stay til my current visa is valid. What the heck?! My heart continues on the roller coaster of emotions--excitement again that I might be able to go. I quickly call United. At this point Luke and another friend have booked their tickets--around the dates I was able to get with my frequent flyer miles. I am so excited that I am able to go and wait patiently (well, those of you that know me know there isn't much patience that was probably being exhibited but i was trying!) for United to process my ticket, she comes on the line saying, "Oh I am sorry we have no flights for the 9th available." WHAT?! "The next available flight is on the 11th." WHAT?! There was HEAPS of seats! I tried everything I could to get her to help me, but nothing!

I was SO mad as the roller coaster headed down again. I text Luke saying it might not work I can't get out on the day they are arriving. (and since they are heading into villages I don't think it will work). Wednesday morning I try calling United one more time....same answers. I pulled all the shanagins I could to get them to find me a flight on the 9th to the 19th. NOTHING. Luke worked it out that I could still get there on the 11th and he could do his meetings in the airport city while they waited for me. I called United one more time. They had the ticket on the 11th-19th.

Roller coaster up....with a quick down! Why you ask? Right as she was about to give me my confirmation number she says, "hold on I can't fly you out on the 19th. The next available day I can fly you out is the 21st." YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!!???!!! I actually asked her that--not quite with that intensity. She said, "yes ma'am we can fly you out on the 11th and return you on the 21st." I had her hold the ticket so frustrated. I called Luke and said welcome to being my friend and entering the vortex of drama...my life really is a movie, but this is shocking even for me! He just gave me a nervous laugh...

Talking to Luke he suggested I try and get out on the 18th (instead of me staying in Figi by myself of 2 days (I'm all about adventure but that didn't sound like the coolest plan). Yet one last time I call United and had them retrieve my held ticket and ask them to switch it to the 18th from the 21st and I will buy that. I am not holding my breath at all at this point, positive that there will be no flights on the 18th. He finds a flight and then says, "there is a flight on the 19th, is that the date you would like?" WHAT?! Oh my heck!?!! You have got to be kidding me!?!! I double check numerous times that he said the 19th and that I could really have it. He says yes numerous times and I begin heading up the roller coaster, saying I will take that ticket--please purchase it! Then I add, "just for fun will you check the 9th for me?"

He checks and responds with, "yes I have a seat on the 9th for you." REALLY?!?! This has got to be a joke! So I double check quite a few times with him that I can purchase that flight and tell him buy it for me please!!

So in all...I spent 4 days on the emotional roller coaster of Fiji...hitting all time drama/movie like highs in my life to end up with the EXACT same ticket I had put on hold on Saturday!!!!

My friend text me tonight, after I let him know that I am back to departing and arriving with them, saying "Wow that was a lot of drama--this trip should be interesting with you on it." I am going to choose to take that as a compliment :)

So all that to say I am off to Figi for 10 days to do who knows what??? But the journey to Fiji was as dramatic and emotional as most of my trips overseas and I haven't even left yet! We will see if I really will be able to get back into NZ on the 19th....