Most of the people who read this blog are up to date with everything that happened up to the point where I packed my bags and flew back, so I’ll ignore the one month gap in my blog history and start from there.
I was in the last floundering touches of cleaning out my apartment - emptying the several rubbish cans, taking the suitcases and last remaining boxes to the car, when I ran into Gary from my apartment complex, who happens to be an immigration lawyer. We’ve spoken in friendly terms for many years - I think he bought his apartment when it was new too - and he’s been semi up-to-date with my comings and goings, including the Mint development.
He asked how things were going and invited me around for a drink and a chat when he got back from Woolies, so I killed time for another hour and then rocked up. He painted a fairly doom-and-gloom picture of the battle ahead, and not so subtly suggested that some people from poor countries do anything to survive. Lying to a perspective partner was the least of the devious schemes he mentioned. I’m sure he’s in a job where he sees a lot of examples of this kinda stuff, but it was disheartening. I just decided to ignore his advice for the most part and see what happens.
Mum made chicken custard for dinner, so it was a great sendoff. Was delighted, but disappointed I just couldn’t fit any more chickeny goodness down my gob. Mum helped me repack my bags, including sacrificing many items that didn’t pass muster on the repack, and even so I paid $288 for excess kilos of luggage.
The flight was pretty good, I took a temazepam and slept through most of it. I found out that exit rows - while great in economy - are not as great in business, because the seat in front of you stops you sliding down the slight angle of the slightly-inclined-that-airlines-call-flat to the floor. Several times I had to wake up and hoik myself back up the chair. Food was great - I recommend the pancakes.
Through customs and baggage collection relatively easily, caught a cab and got to the apartment around 7am. Mint was suprised, she expected to see me the next day! She hussled the whole family out of bed - oh, she and her sister had migrated to the couch, so the “very big bed” was only big enough for her mother, younger sister and aunt. I distributed stuffed Australiana and chocolate, and then was permitted some sleep. I woke later for lunch, and then did some work. Mint’s mother liked me - at one stage Mint roused on her for staring, although I didn’t know it at the time. The younger sister seemed scared of me, but also intrigued by the whitey she was introduced to as “brother” and kept sneaking sideways glances in my direction. That afternoon Mint moved the family into a hotel, and we snuck in a quick nap before dinner.
Dinner was great, and also funny in many ways, but I’ll write about that more in a little while … gotta leave with them wanting more, amirite?