decolonization through peregrination

 A little story on destiny and picking fast horses goes like this: "A rich and mighty Persian once walked in his garden with one of his servants. The servant cried that he had just encountered Death, who had threatened him. He begged his master to give him his fastest horse so that he could make haste and flee to Teheran, which he could reach that same evening. The master consented and the servant galloped off on the horse. On returning to his house the master himself met Death, and questioned him, “Why did you terrify and threaten my servant?” “I did not threaten him; I only showed surprise in still finding him here, when I planned to meet him tonight in Teheran,” said Death."                                                                                                          From Viktor Frankl's book "Man's search for meaning"

... on leaving hell and heaven. My passport was returned to me on the 22ed of December. Without a visa. The German consulate (who called me after my poor mother phoned them in Kinshasa to help her daughter leave the country for X-mas) was unable to take any action, but reassured me that this kind of thing happens all the time, that I most likely would have to pay someone, hope that they don't make me miss my airplane, and that I had the option to call them back if I do miss it, until midnight. Thanks guys. Turned out that our wonderful chauffeur Feli, knew the guy that usually helped us get through the airport -Dede. They went to primary school together. Dede on the other hand knew the head guy from customs - and came in on his day off to "introduce us"...   so an early arrival on the 23ed, lunch with the two guys, loads of patience, waiting here and smiles there ... and an amount to thank them after we got the stamp in our passports and through the security check