Written on Aug. 6. 2008
Since we skipped the Spring this year, and part of the Fall, I guess only half of the song is useful. But bref...
Woke up at 5:30 to catch a flight from Easyjet to Paris, for only one piece of paper from the Embassy. On the S-Bahn to Flughafen Schönefeld, I somehow got a bad feeling about this. Maybe it was because I had a hang-over, or because I had not slept for 3 days straight, but I sincerely doubt my sensibility of the Sixth Sense.
Got into the check-in line, went through the first Security Check, and the second. Once I got to the waiting area, there was about 45 minutes left until the Boarding. The original flight was scheduled at 8:35. Sat myself down at a nice café and accidentally spent 10 Euros on my breakfast. It is alright, I told myself, I would need the energy to cut through the red tape, physically or not.
The first announcement said the flight was delayed for an hour, the second one said it was delayed for two hours, and the third one, was given around 10:30am, asking the passengers go to Gate 59. All of us rushed over -- and guess what? The gate was closed, we found ourselves in the basement, facing a closed blue door.
I phoned P. he said that he would call the customer service line to find out what was going on. There was no one we could speak to, and the only news we got from a woman was : "You guys have to wait until noon, and then we will tell you when the flight will take off (if it ever will?!)" P. got kicked off the line.
We turned upstairs and all of us got 4,5 euros worth of refreshment. The water costs 3.50, and a tiny croissant cost 1,90. That, was the moment, the only moment I miss Neukölln backeries.
The screen shows the flight info: Delayed, 13:00, 12:30. "§$%&, 11:35 ... I got myself another coffee and thought about leaving the Airport and take another flight.
My plan was:
Arrive in Paris at 10:20AM.
Arrive at the Embassy at 11:40AM.
Turned in my application before they close at noon.
Or even go there during their afternoon hours between 14:30 and 17:00.
Pick up my document the next day morning or early afternoon.
Take the over night bus back to Berlin.
Now, since I would not be in Paris on time, no point to go after the Embassy closed because I would be obliged to stay another day, or two, because the Embassy does not work on Thursday afternoon.
Phoned P, asking him to check other flights for me.
This is the only flight out of Schönefeld to Paris, and even in Tegel, there is nothing, I can afford.
All the sudden, around 12:00, the "delayed" signed changed into "Boarding, gate 63." I called P. again. "We are boarding."
"You are joking. I am dialing the fax number to send them a complaint."
"Well, we are boarding."
The take-off and landing was rough, it was windy. But the rest was ok. The flight attendants said the original plane was kaputt all the sudden, and they were the replacement crew, with a replacement plane. During the flight, the plane made some funny noises, which made some of us nervous, esp. right before taking off, more than 4 mechanics worked inside and outside of the plane. Anyway, we landed in Paris in one piece, at 1:35PM.
Considering it was the N°th times I was there for bureaucracy, or transportation obligations, I know the metro system quite well. It took me almost an hour and 20 minutes (as I had planned) to get to the Embassy at George V. I came straight to the information desk to ask for the forms to fill out. Next to me was a security-door, disabled, a man with a Kebab sitting at the desk and eating it as if it were his last meal... super.
The info. girl told me that it was impossible to get the paper (Let's call it "L") or any paper at all from this Embassy, because I would need to:
Sign a Handlungsvollmacht and send it to my mom ask her to take the L from the district,
then, go to the Governmental Notary and have it approved,
then, go to the Provincial Foreign Affair's department to have the same paper approved
then, make an appointment with French Consulate in the area and have the same sucker approved again
all of these should be done in 90 days
then, I will have to make another appointment at the Embassy in Paris to have it a-p-p-r-o-v-e-d again
of course, I have to pay for it too
WHAT THE FUCK?
The first time she said it, I did not understand a word for I never heard of these terms like "Provincial Foreign Affair's department", and she spoke really fast. I took out a pen and asked her nicely to repeat the department's name so I can write it down. She threw me a scorn, a dismay sigh, and said:" WHERE are you from? Go to the end of the hall and copy the information from the wall. Next."
If I were in the Scrubs, I would pull out a rifle, shoot a gigantic bullet right through her pie hole.
I went to the end of the hall, copied down the information, phoned my mom, told her the procedure, she simply said it was Imfuckingpossible.
Now, there was no point for me to stay in Paris. I tried so hard to cancel the hotel... "But you did not cancel 24 hours before, we are charging you for the first night."
"But I am only staying for one night and because of the cancellation of the flights, I would not even be in Paris. It is a bit silly."
"Fine, but pay attention the next time."
"Never underestimate the power of lying."--- Fritz in American Beauty.
Found a place to charge my cell phone. P. called, asked me to come back to Berlin. I would book the first thing available, even a camel.
Went all the way to Gallienti for the bus, even though on their website it said there were seats available but the first one was at Friday night.
Tried my luck in Gare du Nord, the trains to Berlin were full until the next day afternoon. Unless, I wanted to spend more than 220 euros on a train requiring two changed, once in Karlsruhe and once in Frankfurt. And it takes more than 18 hours.
Bollocks.
Just for that one piece of luck I felt, I stood in line for 45 minutes to see if during this time anyone cancelled the train ticket. While I was in the line, P. phoned and asked me what I would do. I could:
-be lucky and get a ticket now and leave in two hours.
-stay in the Station all night and wait for an early train.
-get a hotel near the train station if I have enough cash and if there was any room available.
-go to CDG airport and sleep there
-hitchhiking
"I don't like the idea you are hanging about in the train station, in France."
I know, lived there for three years, it was not like I ever want to "hang out" near the stations.
P said that he had been checking online for carpool, and there might be one leaving from Chantilly at 11pm and he would go through Paris around midnight. I said that I would try to get a ticket anyway.
It was my turn. "The next train for Berlin please."
"Lucky you someone just cancelled. It leaves at 20:46, no changes, 116 euros."
SWEEEEEEEET
"Is it refundable?"
"No. Are you unsure?"
"I am waiting for a call concerning car pool."
"When is he or she calling?"
"I don't know. that is the thing."
"Well, if they call you before your departure, I will try to fix it for you, just come and see me."
She made my day.
Decided that I totally deserved a good meal, near the station, well, a Chinese restaurant. I happened to forget that they sold the dishes by weight, so I ended up being quite broke at the end of the afternoon... but it is ok. I was well fed, had a ticket in hand, and above all, I was LEAVING Paris!
19:30, P called "Are you on the train?"
"No."
"Why???? WHY???"
"Because it leaves in 75 minutes..."
"Oh... just concern about your safety, making sure you can come back."
"Thanks."
We spoke a few times during the ride. I past my 4th sleepless night, he fell asleep around midnight I guess. I was at no mood speaking to others, if I were anti-social before, that was the day to be a radical anti-social. I stood in front of the open window, behind my iPod, wishing the strong wind would clear out my mind a bit. I am doomed.
5AM, Mom called. Bad reception. I called her back half an hour later and she told me that she had called the apartment, but she and P could not communicate.
"Does it surprise you? There is no common language you both speak. And I am still on the train."
"Yeah yeah, I might get the paper for you."
"Cool. Thanks man. I will call you once I get to the apartment."
Buzzed P like I promised, between 6 and 6:30am.
"Your mom called in the middle of the night. I don't know what she was talking about."
"Yeah, she called me too."
"I am picking you up from the station."
"Cheers mate."
Then it was the beautiful sunrise, and the train became less crowded. There were people sleeping at the corridors all night.
Missed the school today, I am totally kaputt. Then the car pool guy called around 1PM today, asked me where to meet up in Paris.
Not sure how the red-tape would be cut through, but I am still here, making (trying anyway) to make the best out of this Fall.
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