Work rest and return….. (Part 2)

Well I got to the gate to check-in for my flight, as on most International flights they have to check your Passport and Visa to make sure you are valid for flying. So I hand her my Passport and she asked where my Visa was, I turned to the page and showed her. She said “I can’t read Arabic so where is the English version?” I explained to her that we don’t get that version so she had to figure out who else could look at it and confirm. She made a call and said someone would be there in a few minutes. So I grabbed a seat and pulled out my cell and called Diane. While we are talking, they make an announcement that the Pilot has come down ill and they are getting a replacement and the flight may be delayed for a short time. We talked for a few minutes and they called me back to the desk. When I got there I handed the guy my Passport and he starts reading it. He says he reads Arabic but he doesn’t understand the dates so he pulls up the calendar to try and calculate what remains on the Visa. After going back and forth, checking the dates and verifying what date I started, how many times I have been out since I got it and where, he determined that it looked ok but if I got to Amsterdam and they denied me it wouldn’t be his fault. I told him I understood and sat back down. About 30 minutes later they called the flight and we started boarding. So I had already made up my mind that once I got on the plane and we were in the air, that I would take my Advil PM, eat dinner and then head off to Never-Never land. That’s pretty much how it went and I was pleased that I dozed off fairly quickly as they removed the last plate from my little table.

About an hour out of Amsterdam they woke us up for breakfast. Usually it is pretty good and this time was no exception. We arrived a little late due to the fact they had to get a new Pilot and they had to wait on the Tarmac for something to be loaded. We made pretty good time as he was able to make up some of it with a good tail wind. So I exit the plane head off to relax and get a shower for the next part of the journey. Just to be on the safe side I called the HR Manager at the site and told him about the issues the night before. He said he would go online and check my Visa and call me back. Well time passed really quickly and I hadn’t heard back from him and it was time to head for the gate. The walk was about 8 minutes and while I was heading there he called and confirmed my fears that it was in fact expired. When I got to the gate they also identified that it was expired and they started taking my luggage off the plane. They apologized and told me I needed to go to the transfer desk and re schedule my flight and see what they suggested to get it renewed. So I grabbed my gear off the X-ray machine and found a seat and called my boss to let him know what had happened. He of course was not pleased but he understood and told me to let him know what KLM said. So once again I headed back into the Terminal and found the transfer desk. With all the new technology most of the airlines have gone to self serve Kiosks. As I approached I saw a young lady from KLM and explained my circumstance. She sent me through a gate to talk to her colleagues and see what they suggested.

So once again I explained my problem and they started looking to see what could be done. After about 10 minutes they decided the best thing for me to do was take the train to The Hague and go to the Saudi Embassy the next day. I loaded up my hand carry bags and went through immigration to get my luggage. It was waiting for me when I arrived so I took out what I thought I would need for one night and put the rest in storage. After securing my locker I headed off to find the train station. Unfortunately in Amsterdam most of the signage and Kiosks are in Dutch, which you might now I don’t know how to speak. So after stumbling around for a few minutes, I found the train office and went to purchase a ticket. When I got to the window I explained to the train attendant where I needed to go and what I required and he told me to go see if I could even get a Hotel before he sent me all the way there. So I headed back into the Arrival terminal and found the Hotel desk. She looked for what was available close to where I needed to be and finally identified one. The rate was decent and I had her book it for me. She printed out my confirmation and I took it back to the train office and got my tickets. The train was due to leave around 4:58 which was about thirty minutes. So I walked around for a few minutes and then headed for the ramp. Just as I arrived so did the train. The ride was supposed to be around 30 minutes so I settled in. Now the way I understood, the train was supposed to be non stop but we made two stops and I started getting a little concerned. Everyone around me was speaking Dutch so I was a little doubtful that I could find someone that spoke English to ask. On the Third stop I spoke to a man standing next to me and asked him if the train was non stop and he shrugged. Another guy waiting to get off spoke a little English and said I needed to change trains and just follow him.

Luckily the train we needed to get on was waiting when we got there so the switch was quick and painless. We rode for another 10 or 15 minutes and we were there. Now I am usually pretty good about finding my way around, but with everything in Dutch I was having a few issues. The girl at the Hotel desk had written down what I needed to do once I got there so I looked for the Tram I was supposed to get on. I found a sign and headed up to the tracks only to realize that I thought I was on the wrong side. So I went back down and up the other side only to realize that I thought it was going in the wrong direction so I walked back down and back up to the same place I had been. Well still not convinced I was in the correct place, I headed back down to look for the Tram office. After stumbling around the Train/Tram station I finally located the office and stood in line for my turn. After about 5 minutes I finally made it to the window and told the gent where I was going and how did I get there. He explained it to me and it was in fact the same place I started out and I could just pay the Tram driver. So I headed back up to the platform and waited with everyone else. The Tram arrived a short while later I got on paid the driver and we were off. The short ride took about 10 minutes and I was back on the street looking for some sign of the direction I was supposed to go to get to the hotel. After a few minutes of looking around I spotted the sign for the hotel and walked that way. A couple of blocks away I found it and checked in. I dropped off my things in the room and went in search of some food. The front desk suggested an Italian place a short walk so I ventured out to find it. He was right it was a short walk, maybe a block away and I went in. He sat me at a table close to the square so I could look out the window while I was eating. It was so quaint and very pleasing to see how the Europeans spend there time. As I looked out I saw small Bistro’s, pubs and restaurants where they were partaking of spirits and food and enjoying conversation. The Italian restaurant was true to nature and very authentic. I ordered probably one of the best pizza’s I have had in my life. I ate and watched for about an hour, paid my bill was very reasonable and walked back to the hotel.

My plan had worked by sleeping the flight to Amsterdam and staying awake the rest of the day as sleep came very quickly after reading a couple of chapters in my book. The next morning I got up around 5:30, showered and headed to breakfast. It was a small buffet of International cuisine, sliced meats, cheeses, eggs, lots of different breads to choose from, yogurt juices coffee and teas. I had a small feast and was pleasantly filled when I had finished. I headed back to my room to call the Embassy and find out exactly where it was located. When I got no answer I headed down stairs to ask the front desk. She looked everything up on the Internet and showed me where to catch the Tram. I thanked her and took the map she had provided and headed out to find my destination. Again I was stricken by non Dutch and I walked in the wrong direction once again and turned around and went the other way. Still unable to find the landmarks that were on the map, I ventured off in the direction I was sure was the way. Well after walking for about 3 blocks, I noticed the Golden Arches and slumbered in to see if I could get some directions. Thankfully a gentlemen standing waiting on his Danish and coffee pointed me in the right direction. I was just across the street from where I needed to be. I thanked him and exited to the street and made across the street in time to catch the number 2 headed toward my destination. I clambered aboard the TRAM paid the driver and we were off. Two stops later I exited the TRAM and walked the block to the Embassy area. I walked along looking for the Saudi flag but could not find it. Luckily I stumbled on it after about 5 minutes. I rang the bell and waited. A tall man in a business suit opened the door and asked if he could help me. I explained my circumstances and he told me to have a seat in the waiting area as the Embassy personnel would not be available until 9:00.

I took a seat and waited for no more than 5 minutes when another man walks in and asks me why I am there. Again I explained and told him and he said I would have to come back in a couple of hours because the Consulate would not be available until then. I thanked him looked at my watch and headed out the door. I pondered whether to head back to the TRAM station or walk the 5 or 6 blocks, I chose the later. It was cool and breezy and the brisk walk soon led to a very warm and getting sweaty feeling. I unzipped my jacket and continued my trek towards the direction of the hotel. The time went quickly and I found myself back in my room in no more than 10 minutes. As I opened my Laptop to see if I had any news, there was an email from one of the guys at the site that new of the Passport agency that could help. I rang their phone once again explained and she said I need to bring my Passport to their office so they could look at it. Amazingly their office was one block from the Embassy where I had just walked from so I threw my jacket back on and headed back. Again the walk was quick and I found the building with no problem. I got off the elevator on the 4th floor and again went through the entire process of why I was there starting with my experience in Houston. They listened intently and then responded with, it will probably impossible to do because my company was not located in Holland and I had to have this and that and there was really no way to get it. My option was to return to Houston or maybe I could go to the U.A.E. and see if they could process it there. I again thanked them and headed back to the hotel to call the site and give them my news.

I reached my boss on the phone as the HR manager was unavailable. We briefly spoke and I explained the options and he was ready for me to just head back to Houston but he wanted to go check with HR before he made the decision. I could already see myself back on the plane headed back, 10 more hours in the plane and arriving to a puzzled Diane. He handed the cell phone to the HR manager and I explained the options. He said give him 30 minutes and he would check with Dubai to see if they could actually do this. By this time I am crossing my fingers because I really wanted to get back at least close to the Saudi time zone so I could work. After 30 minutes he sent me an email and said book your flight Dubai says they can do it. Well that was good enough for me I immediately got KLM on the phone to get my last leg routed to Dubai instead of Saudi. After going through the automated garb I finally spoke to a real person. She informed me that the flight was booked by Continental and they could not change the ticket I would have to call Continental. I hung up and called Continental and began all over again. After 10 or 15 minutes we worked it out and it cost a lot but I had a ticket. I packed my remaining items and headed back to the TRAM station to get back to the Train station to head back to the airport. The walk was short the TRAM arrived about 5 minutes later and we were at the Train station in 5 more. I hopped off, grabbed my stuff and headed to the boards to see what time the Train left. Luckily I was 5 minutes away from pulling out so I jumped on board and we took off. The ride was 25 minutes with one stop and I was back where I started the day before. As I got off the Train and headed back upstairs to the Departure hall, I thought about the last 12 hours and my experience. Not a lot accomplished but a nice side trip to a quaint little city with lots of history and charm. So this is where I am going to stop and you can catch the conclusion in the next edition………