This Green passport life

 It's just a crazy thing innit..?

So, three days ago, I’m lying down on the couch thinking of my life and this reminder just pops up on my phone to re-emphasise the misery which my thoughts are directed towards.

For the second year in a row, I’ve been unable to travel to Barcelona for our annual summer party because, unlike most of my colleagues who can up and go at the drop of a hat, I’m limited to alternative process requirements which involve applying to different embassies to get visas and permissions to travel.

This year’s own is just a clusterfuck of shenanigans.

So earlier on in the year, around May, the company brings out a list of deserving staff who have been selected to spend a week at our HQ in Spain, and I’m on the list. Yaay!!.. So Chioma and I decided to tick off items on our travel bucket list and do a tour of Europe. We still have lots of travel credit (graciously given to us as a perk last year) so we start making plans. Chioma applies to the Spanish embassy for a tourist visa, and since my company usually helps us with the process, I wait to hear from them. Meanwhile, other staff who are going on the trip start making plans and nailing down itineraries, but us Nigerians and Africans who need the visa can’t start doing anything yet.

Nevertheless, with faith, Chioma and I apply and are granted leave from the office and proceed to book flights and hotel bookings in 3 different countries (seeing as there seemed to be no unforeseen issues previously). We plan to spend the week in Barcelona, fly to Rome, spend 3 nights and then go to Milan. Then, 2 days later, fly from Milan to Paris and spend another 3 nights and afterwards return back to the UK.

Now the wahala starts.

The agency which was supposed to help with the process delays for a bit before inviting us to travel to London for a data capture exercise. I take the day off (On my birthday, no less) and embark on a hectic trip to get this done. Meanwhile, Chioma had to apply separately for her visa earlier and pay for the express service.

That’s how we started waiting for the bloody Spanish consulate to approve the visa.

We were supposed to travel on July 6th to Barcelona, and Chioma’s own came in around the 1st. However, as I type this, the fuckers are yet to approve or return my passport. 

That’s how I missed out on the Barcelona part of the plan and I’m praying it comes in today so we can at least make alternate plans in order to be in Spain where our flight to Rome HAS to originate.

Dear God!!

If i say I’m not tired of this shit ehn…na lie. Last year it was a passport renewal issue, this year it’s delay from Spanish embassy.

Not funny at all.

In all of this, it's Chioma I really feel for as her own has come about, but she won't or doesn’t want to travel alone. 

Prayers are still up and hopefully…I can update later if all goes well.