Being illegal isn’t what it’s all cracked up to be…

One week left.  I cannot believe it. So this past week was probably one of the more interesting weeks of my entire summer.  Filled with jumping off bridges and being illegal in a foreign country.

As most of you know I went to Colombia two weekends ago.  I failed (purposely) to mention that upon coming back from Colombia I didn’t receive my exit stamps out of Colombia or my entrance stamps for Venezuela.  The bus didn’t stop for us and at the drug checkpoint the National Guard said we were fine.   At the time I was thinking this could be a problem, but I had no idea that it was going to be such a big one.  On Monday at school all of us were sitting around thing hey we might have some problems when we try to leave in two weeks maybe we should go talk to someone.  So Tuesday was filled with trying to get a passport stuff sorted out.  After waiting in the Foreign line at the Venezuelan Passport Office and going to the airport it became more and more clear that we were going to have to return to Colombia….

Don’t get me wrong, I really want to Colombia but I just don’t want to enter it through the Venezuela boarder.  Venezuela is blocking any try that comes in through the boarder causing food shortages through out the Venezuela side of the boarder, including the town we were going to have go to. Actually the boarder is “closed” right now.  I would love to be there and experience first hand what is happening but I also really want to be able to come home in a week, so that probably isn’t a good idea.  

Anyways, I am glad I listen to my parent’s advice because they told me to contact the US Embassy here in Venezuela.  The embassy came through at the perfect timing too.  I had just gotten back from walking in the rain from the bus terminal where we learned that the 3 am bus was filled and we were going to have to go later.  But when I got home, I probably got one of the best emails in my entire life.  The embassy said,  “Don’t worry about it, it happens all the time.”  That meant no Colombia.  So relieved but I will see in a week how easy it is going to get through migration.

This past weekend I also went bungee jumping.  Well, I was thrown off the bridge, I couldn’t bring myself to jump.  It was so much fun, flying and swinging in the air.  I am working on getting a video up on facebook.

My last week in Venezuela, the first part is going to be spent finishing up school and saying goodbye to Madeline.  The second part I am going to relax since when I get home I am starting work right away.

See everyone in a week!