The last few days and weeks I spent in South Africa were quite chaotic (actually that’s a bit of an understatement), after all I was planning on relocating to a country I’d never visited, in a part of the world I’d never experienced (Asia), in the middle of a once-in-a-century global pandemic.
I previously mentioned that I’d moved and lived abroad before (see my Career page for some more information), but this was going to be different in a number of ways. Apart from the fact that I had become a “cat dad” and wanted to find a good home for Luna (rather than leave her at a shelter or NGO), there are a number of significant differences between my experience of leaving SA in 2006 and my plans for 2021/22.
Perhaps the most significant difference is that, back in 2006, I knew it was likely that I’d return to South Africa (SA) at some point. While I didn’t know how long I’d be gone, there was some expectation that I’d return “home” at some point (there are numerous reasons that word is in quotes).
Additionally, since I still had a bedroom in my family’s home, there were things I could leave behind and expect that it’d still be there when I returned. In fact, the bedroom was no longer mine when I returned, there was also no place for me in that house and a bunch of my stuff had been “lost” (don’t ask). This time, I’m not sure if I’ll ever set foot on SA soil again. Once again, I’m not sure where I’ll be (for example) 3 years from now, but there’s very little chance it will be SA.
A major consequence of this difference is that anything that didn’t fit in the approximately 40kg of things in my 2 suitcases or in my carry-on luggage would have to be sold, given away or dumped. While I sold some bigger and/or more valuable items (e.g. fridge, microwave oven, bed, couches, TV etc), many were given away (including a mind-blowing amount of clothes and shoes I no longer wore and/or couldn’t take with me).
Additionally, let’s not forget the complications resulting from this pandemic, which included having a negative COVID19 result (specifically the RT-PCR test) where the specimen was taken less than 72 hours before the start of my flight into Taiwan. And, keep in mind, that flight only took place after a 10-hour flight to Istanbul and a 20-hour layover in that airport. Thankfully, everything went (relatively) smoothly to that point. But, it all nearly turned to shit when I got to OR Tambo airport (after the 1.5 hour drive from my flat in Potchefstroom where a bunch of things were abandoned for the cleaners to dump).
Basically, I had to get around two major obstacles at the airport, either of which could’ve have stopped me from boarding (and I’m not even talking about my supposedly overweight luggage that needed stuff removed and placed in another bag that ended up in the hold of the same plane in any case… don’t ask).
Obstacle 1: The people checking passports and visas etc were working off information that was incomplete and/or not updated. Most non-citizens entering Taiwan at the moment needed some kind of special entry permit that indicates they have a valid reason to enter the country (because there’s no international tourism here at the moment). However, the information they had said nothing about those holding an “Alien Resident Certificate” or ARC (i.e. the holder is technically a legal resident of Taiwan) – and I had a document authorising me to enter the country and indicating that my ARC was waiting for me.
Obstacle 2: When they were eventually convinced I had the right to enter Taiwan (and keep in mind this is the very summarised and/or simplified version), I was told that the Department of Home Affairs or DHA (don’t we love them?) had put a hold on my passport (even though I’d never used it or reported it lost or anything like that). There was a rush to get some kind of over-ride or authorisation to allow me to fly.
After that I had to run across the airport to get to the plane, during which time I dropped my laptop, nearly tripped over my bags, worried I might have a heart attack while running (yes, I’m that unfit), had some cabin luggage taken from me because the plane was full (more about that later). I eventually got to my seat, breathing and coughing so heavily (from running) that some fellow passengers were probably praying I wasn’t contagious.
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