25 April 2013
08 March 2012
Deported.
From Boston I took flight once again but this time to Buffalo, New York. Little did I know, it would not be the last time I would be in this neck of the woods. In Buffalo, my Mom, Aunt & Uncle came and collected me after my summer of adventuring. We went out to eat and then crossed boarders to Canada where my mom's family is from and where my Aunt & Uncle currently live. It was strange to go from 2 days of cell phone usage after 2 months, and then have it taken away again as well as to be in the presence of family. Two weeks of bickering and winter shopping, baseball games (Go Jays!) and hippie festivals and it was finally time for me to get ready to start my year abroad in Scotland.
Before the summer, almost my entire spring semester was in anticipation for this. I had to take an extra class on top of my already hectic work load at school and actual work. Running from department to department trying to get classes approved for next year, financial aid meetings and meetings with study abroad advisers and academic advisers. I swear I never thought it was going to end. But I did have the comfort in knowing that when I was to arrive in Scotland, I would have family waiting for me just past immigration.
Only 7 hours stood between me and the UK and I couldn't have been more anxious or excited. When we finally landed, it was 7am. I was exhausted, 7am here meant it was 2am back in Ontario, Canada so I was completely out of it. Waiting in line to get through immigration is always the worst. Not only was the line immense but you're tired and cranky and it's just not one of the more pleasant experiences to have straight off of a plane. As I was walking towards the immigration officers I noticed a girl (who I recognized from Hawaii) sitting on a bench in front of the officers looking extremely distraught, nevertheless I continued forward as I was unsure of what was going on and I was being signaled to move ahead.
I reached the officer where he excitedly met me with a "Good Morning!", took my passport and proceeded to ask my business in the UK. I told him about doing a study abroad and he asked me if I had acquired a student visa. I told him no, which was truthful - and presented him with every bit of paperwork I had explaining why I didn't already have my visa and all of the necessary documents to receive a visa. He looked at me and shook his head, and that is when instant panic set in.
"I'm sorry, I'm going to have to deny you entry to the country."
I was speechless. How? What? Why? I had absolutely no words. He then began to explain to me why they had to deny me entry and I was still unable to wrap my head around it. What was I going to do, how was I going to get back, I had people waiting for me outside - how will they know, what about school? All of these questions raced around in my head looking for ways out as if they would burst straight out my ears. He asked me to take a seat and wait until everyone had gone through immigration. I took a seat next to the girl I had seen earlier, and her mother who were having the exact same problems I was. She was denied entry due to lack of a student visa. We had both been told that we could receive our student visas upon entry to the UK at the boarder, obviously not the case - at least not anymore. What baffled me further was the fact that even contacting the UK embassy in New York, I was told that if you had the proper paperwork, an everything needed to obtain a visa, it shouldn't be a problem. Once again - not the case. Gwyn and I were then taken into a back room where we were finger printed, photographed, and inventoried for piercings and clothing. From there, they took all of my documents and had them photocopied for their files. Shortly afterward - we went to collect our bags where they proceeded to take every single item of clothing, towel, book, folder and package out of the bags open them, and search them. They even went as far as to search through my Semester At Sea folders and itineraries where he then took them to have photocopied as well. 5 hours later, I was still in the immigration office at the airport. I was able to call my family who was supposed to meet me at the airport and make them aware of the situation. I was then questioned and had my "statement" recorded and filed. After a lengthy 7hours in the Glasgow International Airport Immigration Office, I was given a whole 3 days to contact the University of Stirling Abroad office, my Abroad office at UH-Hilo and anyone else that I needed to. I was given a piece of paper that said I was only allowed to be in the country for these specific days to do what I needed to do and was to report back at the airport Tuesday morning to be deported, sent back to Canada.
I was very, VERY beyond fortunate to have family here in Scotland, that were so extremely helpful and generous in picking me up and helping me take care of everything that needed to be done here in the UK. By the time I did leave the airport, the entire Blackstock Clan knew what had happened and tried to figure every way possible to let me stay with out being sent back. I will always be grateful for having such a wonderful extend family.
Come Tuesday Morning, there was nothing that could be done, other than be sent back to redo my visa and have it expedited to return as quickly as possible to Scotland because the university was already starting classes. Arriving at the airport I had to find a gentleman working for the airline, present him with my paperwork to which he responded "we were expecting you..." They hadn't given me back my passport during my 3 day stay, nor did they give it back when I was on the plane. They took me through security when my passport was then handed off to the airline people who kept it for the whole flight. I was I allowed to have it back now that we had touched down in Canada? Nope! I was last off the plane, escorted to immigration then it was finally given back to me. Amazing I tell you...
However, problems didn't stop there.
Being a US citizen, I had to physically be in the United States to fill out and complete my visa application which also meant sending in my passport to have the visa placed in it. As you may be aware, Canada is not the united states. My uncle after having picked me up in Toronto, drove me back to Buffalo, New York. Where I found a cheap hotel and spent the night to fill out my online application. The whole kicker of this situation was that my Uncle could take me to NY but I would be unable to stay with him & my Aunt because I needed to send in my passport. No passport, no boarder crossing, I was stuck.. Luckily I was there at the same time as 2 friends from Semester at Sea would be getting into Buffalo to attend the Anne Frank Project being put on by one of my Professors from Semester at Sea, Drew Kahn. Drew had offered to has SAS family to be housed by his Buffalo State family for the duration of the conference. Sam & Rachel were some of the kindest people I have ever met, and graciously took in a deported US citizen, aka me without question. They were even generous enough to let me stay for the week after the conference had finished because my passport hadn't come back yet. 2 weeks later... My passport arrived in the care of Professor Drew Kahn and my mom made reservations for me to be out of the states once again and on my way back to Scotland.. Hopefully for real this time.
My flight was scheduled for 2pm that fine day where I once again... Ran into trouble. There were storms up and down the East Coast that day which canceled my flight out of Buffalo. I swear everything in the universe was telling me that there was no way in hell I was going to be going to school in Scotland that year after working for it for so long. At least the airline people were a tremendous help in getting me back on schedule and re-routing me not once, not even twice but 3 times before leaving Buffalo.
Buffalo - Philadelphia - Ireland - Scotland.
When I was finally back in the Glasgow Int. Airport, I grabbed my little duffel-bag and headed out. Where was the check point? Where was immigration. Next thing I knew, there was Louise & my little cousin excited to see me through without bother this time.
They asked "Whats with the face?! YOU MADE IT!!"
To which I responded "......... NO ONE EVEN CHECKED MY VISA!"
Finally September 24, 2011... I had made it to the UK.
Before the summer, almost my entire spring semester was in anticipation for this. I had to take an extra class on top of my already hectic work load at school and actual work. Running from department to department trying to get classes approved for next year, financial aid meetings and meetings with study abroad advisers and academic advisers. I swear I never thought it was going to end. But I did have the comfort in knowing that when I was to arrive in Scotland, I would have family waiting for me just past immigration.
Only 7 hours stood between me and the UK and I couldn't have been more anxious or excited. When we finally landed, it was 7am. I was exhausted, 7am here meant it was 2am back in Ontario, Canada so I was completely out of it. Waiting in line to get through immigration is always the worst. Not only was the line immense but you're tired and cranky and it's just not one of the more pleasant experiences to have straight off of a plane. As I was walking towards the immigration officers I noticed a girl (who I recognized from Hawaii) sitting on a bench in front of the officers looking extremely distraught, nevertheless I continued forward as I was unsure of what was going on and I was being signaled to move ahead.
I reached the officer where he excitedly met me with a "Good Morning!", took my passport and proceeded to ask my business in the UK. I told him about doing a study abroad and he asked me if I had acquired a student visa. I told him no, which was truthful - and presented him with every bit of paperwork I had explaining why I didn't already have my visa and all of the necessary documents to receive a visa. He looked at me and shook his head, and that is when instant panic set in.
"I'm sorry, I'm going to have to deny you entry to the country."
I was speechless. How? What? Why? I had absolutely no words. He then began to explain to me why they had to deny me entry and I was still unable to wrap my head around it. What was I going to do, how was I going to get back, I had people waiting for me outside - how will they know, what about school? All of these questions raced around in my head looking for ways out as if they would burst straight out my ears. He asked me to take a seat and wait until everyone had gone through immigration. I took a seat next to the girl I had seen earlier, and her mother who were having the exact same problems I was. She was denied entry due to lack of a student visa. We had both been told that we could receive our student visas upon entry to the UK at the boarder, obviously not the case - at least not anymore. What baffled me further was the fact that even contacting the UK embassy in New York, I was told that if you had the proper paperwork, an everything needed to obtain a visa, it shouldn't be a problem. Once again - not the case. Gwyn and I were then taken into a back room where we were finger printed, photographed, and inventoried for piercings and clothing. From there, they took all of my documents and had them photocopied for their files. Shortly afterward - we went to collect our bags where they proceeded to take every single item of clothing, towel, book, folder and package out of the bags open them, and search them. They even went as far as to search through my Semester At Sea folders and itineraries where he then took them to have photocopied as well. 5 hours later, I was still in the immigration office at the airport. I was able to call my family who was supposed to meet me at the airport and make them aware of the situation. I was then questioned and had my "statement" recorded and filed. After a lengthy 7hours in the Glasgow International Airport Immigration Office, I was given a whole 3 days to contact the University of Stirling Abroad office, my Abroad office at UH-Hilo and anyone else that I needed to. I was given a piece of paper that said I was only allowed to be in the country for these specific days to do what I needed to do and was to report back at the airport Tuesday morning to be deported, sent back to Canada.
I was very, VERY beyond fortunate to have family here in Scotland, that were so extremely helpful and generous in picking me up and helping me take care of everything that needed to be done here in the UK. By the time I did leave the airport, the entire Blackstock Clan knew what had happened and tried to figure every way possible to let me stay with out being sent back. I will always be grateful for having such a wonderful extend family.
Come Tuesday Morning, there was nothing that could be done, other than be sent back to redo my visa and have it expedited to return as quickly as possible to Scotland because the university was already starting classes. Arriving at the airport I had to find a gentleman working for the airline, present him with my paperwork to which he responded "we were expecting you..." They hadn't given me back my passport during my 3 day stay, nor did they give it back when I was on the plane. They took me through security when my passport was then handed off to the airline people who kept it for the whole flight. I was I allowed to have it back now that we had touched down in Canada? Nope! I was last off the plane, escorted to immigration then it was finally given back to me. Amazing I tell you...
However, problems didn't stop there.
Being a US citizen, I had to physically be in the United States to fill out and complete my visa application which also meant sending in my passport to have the visa placed in it. As you may be aware, Canada is not the united states. My uncle after having picked me up in Toronto, drove me back to Buffalo, New York. Where I found a cheap hotel and spent the night to fill out my online application. The whole kicker of this situation was that my Uncle could take me to NY but I would be unable to stay with him & my Aunt because I needed to send in my passport. No passport, no boarder crossing, I was stuck.. Luckily I was there at the same time as 2 friends from Semester at Sea would be getting into Buffalo to attend the Anne Frank Project being put on by one of my Professors from Semester at Sea, Drew Kahn. Drew had offered to has SAS family to be housed by his Buffalo State family for the duration of the conference. Sam & Rachel were some of the kindest people I have ever met, and graciously took in a deported US citizen, aka me without question. They were even generous enough to let me stay for the week after the conference had finished because my passport hadn't come back yet. 2 weeks later... My passport arrived in the care of Professor Drew Kahn and my mom made reservations for me to be out of the states once again and on my way back to Scotland.. Hopefully for real this time.
My flight was scheduled for 2pm that fine day where I once again... Ran into trouble. There were storms up and down the East Coast that day which canceled my flight out of Buffalo. I swear everything in the universe was telling me that there was no way in hell I was going to be going to school in Scotland that year after working for it for so long. At least the airline people were a tremendous help in getting me back on schedule and re-routing me not once, not even twice but 3 times before leaving Buffalo.
Buffalo - Philadelphia - Ireland - Scotland.
When I was finally back in the Glasgow Int. Airport, I grabbed my little duffel-bag and headed out. Where was the check point? Where was immigration. Next thing I knew, there was Louise & my little cousin excited to see me through without bother this time.
They asked "Whats with the face?! YOU MADE IT!!"
To which I responded "......... NO ONE EVEN CHECKED MY VISA!"
Finally September 24, 2011... I had made it to the UK.
22 February 2012
Boston, MA
20 AUG 2011 - 23 AUG 2011
Semester at Sea had been one of the most incredible journeys I had ever could have imagined. Full of life and experience and people and places that I never, in a lifetime could have imagined myself being a part of. As we arrived in the Boston harbor finally back on US soil I was so incredibly distraught to be leaving this family that I had built my days around for the past two and a half months. On the opposite side of that story I was arriving in Boston to see some familiar faces that I couldn't be more excited about. When I had left Hilo in May - I was leaving behind some of the most amazing east coasters (& Canadians). My mom was unable to meet the ship in Boston when I arrived so I asked if I could stay a few days with some friends that I knew from school and she said yes. So while debarking the ship was hard saying good bye to my roommate, and other amazing people - I was greeted with Racquel (New Jersey), Kayla (Massachusetts), Abby (Massachusetts) and a friend of Kayla's, Molly. Full of tears from watching people come off the ship to meet families, friends and loved ones and I was a complete mess seeing them. It was chaotic. I had to struggle to help friends with bags and take care of my own. We then scurried off near the train station where I left my bags because we were meeting Naomi (Canada) at the airport.
Wondering around the city was so surreal. First and foremost, it was strange to walk around and be able to understand everyone. It just seemed like another port country. Especially because I kept seeing familiar SAS faces rushing through the streets just like any other place. But it wasn't any other place. I had the strange realization that a lot of them I would more likely than not - never see again. I had to refocus myself to the people that I was with, and I was flooded with memories of being back in Hawaii and the amazing semester I had had with them in the Spring. When the time came we headed over to Boston-Logan International to meet Nomz. It was incredible. You know those slow motion airport hugs? This was nothing like that. We rushed over to her nearly tackeling everyone down and jumped for joy. Before we headed to Kayla's house for the night, we went to eat but not before taking this.
We spent the night talking about things we had done in the summer and the dumb things we had done back in Hawaii along with things we wish we had done more often. I was completely dead. I was running on about 3 hours of sleep in the last 72hours so I had to call it a night. The girls stayed up and continued chatting but it was nice knowing I was in good company.
Though my time in Boston was short lived, it was nice to see familiar faces meeting me after the summer. But my adventure was still far from being over. On the 23rd, I flew to Buffalo where my mom, Uncle & Aunt were meeting me. From there we went and ate (of course) and talked about my summer. It was strange seeing my mom again for the first time in so long - and there was so much that I wanted to say to them but just couldn't find the right words. Or words that would even begin to describe how amazing and (at the risk of sounding cliche) life changing. I wanted to thank my mom a million times over for allowing me the opportunity to have such an epic summer and in two weeks I would be on my way to Scotland to study for the year. It was all just.. more than I could have ever hoped for. To this day, I can't believe how lucky I am to have had the opportunity to do all of the things that I have. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't remember my experiences from the summer. And there isn't a day that goes by when I'm not thankful for having had those experiences. I carry as much of it with me as I can, always. It's something I wish I could explain to people but it really does leave me speechless.
Semester at Sea had been one of the most incredible journeys I had ever could have imagined. Full of life and experience and people and places that I never, in a lifetime could have imagined myself being a part of. As we arrived in the Boston harbor finally back on US soil I was so incredibly distraught to be leaving this family that I had built my days around for the past two and a half months. On the opposite side of that story I was arriving in Boston to see some familiar faces that I couldn't be more excited about. When I had left Hilo in May - I was leaving behind some of the most amazing east coasters (& Canadians). My mom was unable to meet the ship in Boston when I arrived so I asked if I could stay a few days with some friends that I knew from school and she said yes. So while debarking the ship was hard saying good bye to my roommate, and other amazing people - I was greeted with Racquel (New Jersey), Kayla (Massachusetts), Abby (Massachusetts) and a friend of Kayla's, Molly. Full of tears from watching people come off the ship to meet families, friends and loved ones and I was a complete mess seeing them. It was chaotic. I had to struggle to help friends with bags and take care of my own. We then scurried off near the train station where I left my bags because we were meeting Naomi (Canada) at the airport.
Wondering around the city was so surreal. First and foremost, it was strange to walk around and be able to understand everyone. It just seemed like another port country. Especially because I kept seeing familiar SAS faces rushing through the streets just like any other place. But it wasn't any other place. I had the strange realization that a lot of them I would more likely than not - never see again. I had to refocus myself to the people that I was with, and I was flooded with memories of being back in Hawaii and the amazing semester I had had with them in the Spring. When the time came we headed over to Boston-Logan International to meet Nomz. It was incredible. You know those slow motion airport hugs? This was nothing like that. We rushed over to her nearly tackeling everyone down and jumped for joy. Before we headed to Kayla's house for the night, we went to eat but not before taking this.
 |
| Me, Naomi, Racquel, Kayla & Abby |
Waking up the next morning, we went back into the city to play. I was so excited because a friend of mine from home, Primo goes to FIT - NY and had come down to Boston to see me. I couldn't have been happier to see him. It had been so long. He came with a friend from school as well and we all did a boat tour of Boston. It was one of those car/bus things that can go into the water. It was crazy.. We got some interesting facts about Boston and the Boston Harbor and awesome duck quacker things.
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