We landed at 11:15 gmt, it took me about 15 minutes queueing to get to the immigration officer desk. She asked me some questions and then asked me to wait while she was making some additional inquiries.
I waited for almost an hour sitting at a chair just in front of customs desks. I was sooo tired I couldn't sit straight.
Then I saw a couple moving in the queue. Both had orange long clothes and sandals on. They looked so out of place. The lady had an air of serenity upon her face, with long dark curly hair, no make-up. And the old man was long-haired and bearded, grey and with a kind of strict face expression. Then they were gone. I still think that they were not real, a trick of my tired brain.
Then the lady returned and took me to another officer, who collected my suitcase with me. He looked through my things with me, asking questions like - why do you need 3 notebooks? (To make notes) What are these wooden things? (Presents) He only took my documents and we moved to a room full of cameras and computer stuff. He finger-printed me (that was for the first time in my life), then photographed me and gave some gelish thing which easily dissolved ink on my palms. While he was filling in some papers I looked around. There was a notice on the scaner saying: Please don't scan finger-prints on Saturday from 12:00 to 15:00. Thank you. Hilarious.
And the guy had really poor vision, a couple of times he had problems making out certain letters and digits and had to ask me for help. On the whole he was trying to be nice, asking questions like - have you ever been finger-printed before? Is this your first visit here? How did you like the Isle of Wight? And he told me he spent his leave at the Isle of Wight and got back from there a week ago.
Then he took me to the detention room while they were doing other inquiries. I had to leave my things in the corridor, including my mobile phone (because it has camera) and they gave me a small Nokia instead and I didn't have any numbers in it.
The room was very bright. It had 3 rows of chairs, a tv in a box, a vending machine with drinks, a couple of boxes with crisps and syruped fruit, a bowl with oranges. A stack of newspapers, a bookshelf with books in different languages (including all kinds of religious books). There also were interview rooms (totally soundproof) and a family room with toys and other kids equipment. There were 2 wc-s for ladies and gents and a bigger one for disabled people or for mums with kids. No mirrors at all.
I took my eyemask, and tried to rest my eyes a bit (they were burning and I assume they were bloodshot), then a lady brought in a pillow and a blanket, I refused to take any, though I asked for my eye drops. Actually I didn't touch anything in the room except for the tv remote control. I was watching some cooking show and doing my stretching exercises.
Although I am a crybaby, I didn't cry. I was on the verge of tears twice, when I heard my parents concerned voices on the phone. I stayed really calm, no nervousness, no nothing. In fact, I surprised myself. And the lady who was looking after me was surprised as well cuz I never forgot to say thank you when she opened the door for me to reach my bags. And she said that detainees always cursed her and said they hated her while they were there. And no one ever smiled to her :) Poor thing. Then the immigration officer (who was always really nervous in my presence and avoided eyecontact) returned with the decision on my case, and informed me I had to fly back to Russia in an hour and a half. And she also said that I wasn't being deported, I can apply for a new visa anytime.
I immediately phoned my parents and my guest-mum, and I called Rachael but vainly.
Then another half an hour of waiting and two people came to collect me from the detention room to take me to the check-in, one was a tall blond guy, his name badge said he was John Cobb, and the other a nice blond lady. She took my umbrella and one of the bags, I took my camera bag and my purse, and the young man was pushing the trolley with my suitcase and the rest of the bags on it.
to be continued
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