Trinidad Visa run- 2014

Just have to chalk this one up to the things that happen at international schools and you just roll with category. The school had been trying to procure our work visas this year and a process that usually take a while took a long while- elections, protests, etc. So when the school told us that our visas were ready last week we thought "sweet." When the school told us we had to go to Trinidad for 1 week to get our new work visas stamped out of country we thought "SWEET!" It was like an episode of the Amazing Race- we were told to show up at the school at 8am on Saturday morning, were driven to an airport out in the country- not Caracas International- and met by a small private jet. The other players in the race: Family Simpson (making this a bit of a Dominican Republic part 2) and Ms. Stacia- who somehow got thrown in to the family show as opposed to the singles trip the next week. Here are some scenes from the race-

I don't often travel by private jet but when I do.

Our lovely flight attendants

I know I know- you are supposed to play it cool when you fly like this- but you know... I'm not cool.

No concourse for us- just a non-descript door number 1

The next challenge: Wilder getting into the driver seat- or as Stacey Simpson calls it "oh they drive on the correct side of the street here." (crazy commonwealth talk)

In between runs to and from the embassy we had quite a bit of waiting time- luckily it was relatively comfortable.

Brian Lara statue- clearly does not need a description as we all know his importance to West Indies cricket.

Port of Spain is not an exciting town to walk around in- described by some locals "mostly a party town." We didn't party but I did appreciate this bar that seems to call it like it is.

How could one not shop here?

Off the contestants go to the Venezuelan Embassy.

Koffi!

Lisa said "I don't want a 3rd child I just want to hold one" Que Franco.

Mike demonstrating positive parenting skills.

They had famous cricket player statues all over the place!

just like in Colorado!

An unforeseen challenge: the embassy called and said they need a photo of Wilder without her glasses- no problem, a quick download of an iphone passport app and the crew was back on schedule. I can't tell if she is looking grown-up or thug-like.

We were given a bonus day when the embassy said to come back on Thursday. So we loaded up and drove to the beach.

These are the Trinidad version of fish and chips. You take some fried fish (shark) put it in a bun and cover it in coleslaw and mayonaissy sauces- delicious!

As a part of the Amazing Race we had to partake in a cultural experience, so Mike and I dutifully went to a local T20 cricket match. No one said this was going to be easy.

I knew I was with the right guy- Mike saw this poster and said "That's a New Zealand Batsman, 1983, he's ducking because the bowler known as "whispering death", is trying to hit him"  You can't pay for this kind of history. (and I'm sure I got some of those facts wrong)

Cricket is actually quite fun to watch- and like American baseball goes very well with beer.

Riveting action as the faces and packed stands attest to.

Such a fast moving game I could barely keep it in focus.

The big test- given the green light to come and pick up the passports the 3 representatives of each family prepare to go.

A non-descript Venezuelan embassy. Stacia tried to wrap her sweatshirt around her waist but was still not allowed in- "pants mean pants miss". But in the end we left with visas in hand

So in the end we left Trinidad winners: work visas in hand and a new flag to hang on our wall. I understand the philosophy of sending the young single  staff with the two families as an attempt to give us energy but lets face it in the end- she just couldn't hang. Here is Milly observing Stacia after a week of family life. (apologies Stacia- I had to)

and now we are back in the land of baseball not cricket, with legal work visas in hand who knows what adventures will find us next.