Hangin' in the Lobby

I was chatting to one of the secretaries at work today about the Christmas break and she relayed how she had returned to Nazi Ireland, "you know, like your country, with the passes and the ID and the fuss at the borders." I was taken aback, I couldn't really tell how serious she was. But I let it slide because it was just so good to hear an Irish accent and chat about nothing and everything for a bit. I lost a good hour but it was very worth it. I never circled back to her thoughts about Nazi Ireland, I admit. I feel like I'm on the pointy end of the NZ restrictions at the moment and I didn't really want to find myself agreeing with her. Nazi comparisons are rarely accurate or helpful. 

It's nearing midnight and I'm sitting up waiting to see where I land for the lottery. Although there is a way to request special entry as a Doctor back into NZ and its quarantine system I'm waiting on paperwork to be eligible for that (that is a medium length and yet still very boring story so I will skip it). I had booked flights for after the border opened, but borders be borders these days. Like a swinging door at a saloon - may let you through, may slap you in the face. Who knows...I digress. The NZ border essentially closed again just before Christmas while NZ assessed the omicron variant risk (The secretary today referred to it as the moronic variant which is a new one for me). My flights were suddenly rendered useless.

There are 1250 spaces for March and April. Last time one of these ran there was around 30000 people trying to get back into NZ. I'm not sure how many there would be now.

Its a very odd feeling counting down to a result (I have a yellow screen in front of me letting me know there is 28min 32sec until random allocation), knowing there is nothing I can do to increase the odds. The internet feels clunky. I'm really tired. 

In Exmouth at the moment there are 67 Afghani refugees in a hotel. Temporary bridging accomodation. Temporary since September. Its really quite amazing how much has gone into supporting them, including an outpouring of generosity from the small Devon town, but looking through the MIQ Facebook page its interesting to reflect on what hotel life might be like. One can be grateful and still find the lack of autonomy really difficult. Its a really long time to be without an independent cooking space, for example. Food is culture. Kitchens are social spaces. Shelter is more than walls and a roof. 

I wonder how they are doing. 

16min and 3 seconds.

I've been reintroducing myself to classical music. Finishing a book. Trying not to watch the clock. The background of the lobby webpage is a hideous series of yellow circles. I think the designers did that deliberately. The waiting space is not clean and white like the Matrix's train station. It's a room with hideous 70s wallpaper and a small water cooler in the corner with plastic cups. 

The washing machine is almost done. I feel maybe I shouldn't have put it on so late. It rumbles like a plane taking off.

2min 36s

54 sec

Now in queue. This can take up to 1 minute. Please do not refresh or reload page.

Numbers of users in the queue ahead of you:
9581

Gah.


Looks like R&M at place 134 will get in though. This makes me happy and hopeful.

(they did)



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