The conference I was at was sponsored by a sort of subdivision of the World Bank (IFPRI), plus it was a very large conference (over 800 people). So they requested participants get business visas before hand, and they issued us a letter. Turns out most people didn't bother with that and just got a tourist visa on arrival. In my case, the Ethiopian Embassy in DC screwed up and issued me a 1-month visa starting the day they processed it, not the day I was supposed to arrive in country. We noticed the error and called them, and they said not to worry about it, it was fine. By the time I arrived in Addis, my visa was set to expire the next day. To make a long story short the conference people also told me not to worry about it, but indeed at the airport last night there was a huge problem. They refused to issue me an extension or anything, and told me to cancel my flight and go downtown to immigration on Monday! It was partially related to the official nature of the business visa. At first I figured, "oh we can work something out", but a couple supervisors later and still no change in the "you can't leave this country tonight message," I started to panic and the water works started in full force, except it wasn't a tactic. This mama bear had been away from her boys long enough! There was also a really nice Anerican woman who passed by as this was happening, and spends a lot of time dealing with visa issues for kids she works with in an orphanage. She dropped someone's name and started dialing her phone. Something in what she said or I did finally turned the corner for Mr. Stubborn Immigration Boss, and he agreed to issue me a new, backdated tourist visa for two days, enough to allow me to exit properly. The funny part was that the cost was only $20 for the visa and $20 penalty. It was above board too bc they gave me a receipt! I was so thankful, you have no idea! Worst case scenario would have been that I'd be stuck in Addis for two more days, so it's not that dire, but still.
Ok so, in Frankfurt airport now, waiting to transit to a flight to Dulles. Here's a few thoughts on the last couple days in Addis.
1) by the third day, the conference did indeed turn into a snooze fest, and I was amazed that the egos of the academic types allowed their own heads to get through the door. Nonetheless, I think I still got a lot out of it.
2) Addis Ababa has NO traffic. I've never seen such a thing in an African city!
3) my dream (a sad pathetic I work for a non profit dream) is to one day have one of those laptops or tablets that you can write on just like a note pad and it translates your chicken scratch into types notes. In the meantime, tomorrow morning's going to be super boring as I type up about a dozen pages of notes.
4) I have no more insights for this trip. Addis was underwhelming, the conference was worth the trip, and kenya was awesome. And now I just need a shower, some good food, and hugs from my boys!!
On on...till the next time!
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