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.
|