Posted on 20-3-2003

Mid-East - The Exit
From Jon Marston, getting out of Rhyad

I am in Dubai, I got my visa at the last possible minute which involved a
fast taxi ride from the hospital to my apartment to get my air ticket which
no one at the passport office told me I needed until they had my passport
in their hand at 1600 when they were due to close for the weekend.

The women behind the counter waited for me to go and come back and then I
got the magic paper. Today would have to have been the most stressful in a
series of days when nothing seemed to be going my way and all I meet were
obstacles at every step of the very long way to leave Saudi Arabia.

It has been a very sad leaving despite my relief. I had been so busy today
trying to swim through molasses that I didn't get the chance to say goodbye
and thanks to some very good people. The scenes at the hospital were fairly
dramatic with people rushing, crying and storming around in grim
determination to get away. Clearly it has been worse for a lot of the
people who have been at the hospital for a long time and were leaving some
long term friends. The expats I left behind were looking decidedly
uncertain about their decision to stay and some had been out buying in a
lot of groceries to weather the possible backlash once the fighting starts.

Back at the apartment I had an hour to pack,shower etc and say goodbye to
the people there. I am feeling rather shattered at the moment and look
forward to seeing a familiar face in Bangkok.