The Nerve Wrecking Experience in Detroit
Being granted a visa to visit the USA does not mean everything would be smooth in the immigration processing gates in Detroit.
4 out of 6 gentlemen in the group, Harsono, Hilal, Nuryasik and Susilo, were detached to the inspection room for more than two hours. We were all waiting at he custom area without being able to do anything. We could not see those 4 gentlemen, did not know what happened and why it took them so long.
After about an hour, I asked the others to leave and proceed out of the custom area to the connecting flight to Tampa. They refused. The were not confident enough to do it themselves, while I was bound to wait for those 4 gentlemen. I asked Pak Jati to lead the group but he did not have the heart of leaving me behind, all alone. After a lengthen discussion and encourgament, half of the group dared to proceed. I loved it when Nida said: "Come on. We are teachers of English, we speak and read English. We will find our way." That was a spirit.
30 minutes prior to departure of our flight to Tampa, there was still no sign that the four gentlemen would be released. I felt so nervous, but could do nothing. Finally I asked Pak Jati to leave me, and catch the rest of the group, lead them to Tampa, and to their hotel. I was ready for the worse, missing the connecting flight. In my heart I was thinking, though, if the 13 of us did not show up, would the plane be hold for us. Maybe not. With he steps he left me alone in the quiet custom area.
20 minutes left, Pak Harsono was released. I started to breath. I urged him to brave himself proceeding out through custom by himself and join the group, but no matter what I said, he said 'No.'. Five minutes later, Pak Susilo came out of the room. I urged both of them to leave and catch the flight. They were so reluctant, but after some argument, they finally left.
Five minutes to departure time. I started to gave up hope. Then, after a minute, Pak Nuryasik was released. He was nervous already, I did not have the heart of even asking him to find his way out. Besides, "We promised to wait for each other," he said mentioning Pak Susilo who was still detached. Meanwhile we heard the boarding call of our flight.
Then, Pak Susilo was finally released. The three of us ran through the custom check, to the baggage check. Pak Susilo in front, then Pak Nuryasik, then I was gurading, behind them. PAk Susilo went thru easily. But...oh...no... they asked pak Yasik to go to the baggage special inspection. My God ..... I hesitated, and the officer shouted at me..'Go here.... no need to wait for your friend.!!' It was so loud. I proceeded smoothly, and waited outside. The second boarding call was heard. I just took a deep breath.
In a minute we saw Pak Nuryasik sprinted to the X-ray gate. He had to return 2 or 3 times because it kept buzzering. So he had to take off his belt and shoes. Pak Susilo and I were so nervous watching. When finally he was cleared, Pak Susilo came to him and took his luggage, and I grabbed Pak YASik hand while ordering him:"just get hold of the belt, no need to ear it now.' We sprinted two or three flights up the escalator towards the gate. We kept on sprinting and from the last downward escalator, we saw the last groups of passengers, our team, were queuing to enter the flight. They all cheered up, even clapped hands seeing us. Entering the plane, I was out of breath, so thirsty and starving. I asked everyone in the group whether any of them cared buying us drink, and....none. They were all nervous to even think about it. And....unfortunately, it was a flight with no serving. Lucky us.
4 out of 6 gentlemen in the group, Harsono, Hilal, Nuryasik and Susilo, were detached to the inspection room for more than two hours. We were all waiting at he custom area without being able to do anything. We could not see those 4 gentlemen, did not know what happened and why it took them so long.
After about an hour, I asked the others to leave and proceed out of the custom area to the connecting flight to Tampa. They refused. The were not confident enough to do it themselves, while I was bound to wait for those 4 gentlemen. I asked Pak Jati to lead the group but he did not have the heart of leaving me behind, all alone. After a lengthen discussion and encourgament, half of the group dared to proceed. I loved it when Nida said: "Come on. We are teachers of English, we speak and read English. We will find our way." That was a spirit.
30 minutes prior to departure of our flight to Tampa, there was still no sign that the four gentlemen would be released. I felt so nervous, but could do nothing. Finally I asked Pak Jati to leave me, and catch the rest of the group, lead them to Tampa, and to their hotel. I was ready for the worse, missing the connecting flight. In my heart I was thinking, though, if the 13 of us did not show up, would the plane be hold for us. Maybe not. With he steps he left me alone in the quiet custom area.
20 minutes left, Pak Harsono was released. I started to breath. I urged him to brave himself proceeding out through custom by himself and join the group, but no matter what I said, he said 'No.'. Five minutes later, Pak Susilo came out of the room. I urged both of them to leave and catch the flight. They were so reluctant, but after some argument, they finally left.
Five minutes to departure time. I started to gave up hope. Then, after a minute, Pak Nuryasik was released. He was nervous already, I did not have the heart of even asking him to find his way out. Besides, "We promised to wait for each other," he said mentioning Pak Susilo who was still detached. Meanwhile we heard the boarding call of our flight.
Then, Pak Susilo was finally released. The three of us ran through the custom check, to the baggage check. Pak Susilo in front, then Pak Nuryasik, then I was gurading, behind them. PAk Susilo went thru easily. But...oh...no... they asked pak Yasik to go to the baggage special inspection. My God ..... I hesitated, and the officer shouted at me..'Go here.... no need to wait for your friend.!!' It was so loud. I proceeded smoothly, and waited outside. The second boarding call was heard. I just took a deep breath.
In a minute we saw Pak Nuryasik sprinted to the X-ray gate. He had to return 2 or 3 times because it kept buzzering. So he had to take off his belt and shoes. Pak Susilo and I were so nervous watching. When finally he was cleared, Pak Susilo came to him and took his luggage, and I grabbed Pak YASik hand while ordering him:"just get hold of the belt, no need to ear it now.' We sprinted two or three flights up the escalator towards the gate. We kept on sprinting and from the last downward escalator, we saw the last groups of passengers, our team, were queuing to enter the flight. They all cheered up, even clapped hands seeing us. Entering the plane, I was out of breath, so thirsty and starving. I asked everyone in the group whether any of them cared buying us drink, and....none. They were all nervous to even think about it. And....unfortunately, it was a flight with no serving. Lucky us.
posted by Kun Herrini at 1:48 PM
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