Pre-algeria the beginning

Well I had wanted to start my Middle Eastern excursion prior to launching this little blog of mine. But the months came and went and no Saudi. Here’s a quick recap…

Virginia to Atlanta to Ironton Ohio to my parents place in RI back to Virginia to Zeeland Michigan to Palm Beach Florida to Ft Myers Florida back to Atlanta. No Saudi yet; I get a phone call from the boss’s boss“How do you feel about Algeria?” I hear it’s the worst place on Earth…. Let’s do it. Off to Tenerife in the Canary Islands then to Middlesborough England back to RI for one day through Newcastle, Paris and Amsterdam, then off to DC to go to the Algerian embassy…

Algeria

Before I begin this tale I should preface everyone unfamiliar with Muslim culture and most Arabic people (especially the men) are very two-faced. Meaning they will shake your hand when you walk in the door and spit on you when you turn your back. For the most part they think of westerners as inferior in almost everyway. I’m not going to get into way that is here, they are not a mean spirited people; quite the contrary actually; its just that there is no room for western ideals in their way of life. Anyway the point is that you have to become accustomed to the fact that they lie to westerners and sometimes it seems they lie for no reason at all. This is how my day at the Algerian embassy in DC went:

Me: Hello, I need an emergency work visa for Algeria.

Consulate: We usually don’t take walk-ins.

Me: Umm is that the point of the embassy.

Consulate: ….OK give me your form. Goodbye.

Me: Umm I was told to wait here until the visa clears.

Consulate: That is not allowed. Goodbye

Me: Well, what is the waiting room for?

Consulate: Who is paying for your stay here in DC; Algerian company or US company?

Me: US

Consulate: Great goodbye we will call you.

So I leave and about an hour later I see a voicemail on my phone it is from the same guy.

Consulate: Sir the invitation letter is from US company. I need the letter from Algerian company. Please have them fax letter to ### ### ####.

I get this straightened out and call them the next morning after it is faxed; no answer so I take a cab back down there.

Me: Is my visa ready?

Consulate: Who are you I don’t know you?Me: What? I had the company fax the letter over.

Consulate: Not possible there is no fax machine here.

Me: You personally left a message on my machine saying to fax the letter over.

Consulate: ….Oh OK I got the letter…(unbelievable, it gets better)

Me: ….OK, do you have my visa?

Consulate: No it is not ready.

Me: OK I’m going to wait here until it is.

Consulate: (pauses for 10 seconds and looks at me blankly)….Here is your visa

It was in his pocket the whole fucking time…..