If you think so negatively, you may have to wait even longer for your visa

Day: 374-377

Sunrise:
05:50/05:55

Sunset:
21:01/20:56

Total kilometers:
1722

Soil condition:
Grass

Temperature – Day (maximum):
26 °C/30 °C

Temperature – day (minimum):
18 °C/22 °C

Temperature – Night:
10 °C/7 °C

Latitude:
49°42’773”

Longitude:
100°11’497”

Maximum height:
1492 m above sea level

It’s crazy how much effort we have to go to in this country just to be able to make a phone call. Sometimes we are forced to climb 2,500 meter high peaks, in other places we climb a tree. Sometimes only a certain provider works, which is why we carry different chip cards with us. And this afternoon Tanja rode about seven kilometers in the direction of Mörön to be able to log into the cell phone network. She wants to phone Saraa and find out what the situation is with our visa. Meanwhile, I’m still working on our saddles. When she returns, she brings bad news. “Saraa was not in a good mood. The immigration authorities don’t want to extend our visa despite our valid work permit.” “What? For God’s sake,” I gasp in horror. “Wait, wait, I’d best tell you the whole story.” “Okay, go ahead.” “They rejected the renewal application outright. Saraa told the officials all the positive things we had done for the NGO. She mentioned the prison windows for 500,000 Tugrik (€303) and the sunglasses campaign for the Tuwa worth 1.8 million (€1090), the six months of research we did with the reindeer nomads to find out what their needs and hardships are. Also that we help her to come to Japan.” “Does she still want to go to Japan?” I interrupt. “Yes, that’s probably the main reason why she went to Ulan Bator in the first place,” explains Tanja.

Saraa has received an invitation to Japan from some NGO. There she will receive brief training on nutrition. She only has to pay for the flight, everything else is covered for her. She has been trying to raise the money for the flight for weeks. She asked all her friends for money, including us. Since such a ticket costs around 1.6 million Tugrik (approx. €1,000), that’s a lot of money.

“Well, in any case, she told the authorities we’d help her.” “What does that mean?” “She wants to borrow US$ 300 from us. She promised me that I would definitely give it back to you.” “Lend Saraa money? That would certainly be a one-way street,” I object. “I think if we lend her the money, we can write it into the wind.” “I think so too. We’ve already given her €60 for her meals. And then the plane tickets plus all the costs for the paperwork. Now another US$ 300. That’s going to be a very expensive visa. I’m against lending her the money. What’s next? There’s never an end to it.” “I think so too.” “So, are we going to get that damn extension?” “Saraa said the official only wanted to give one of us the visa after a long conversation.” “Only one?” “Now listen to me!” “Okay, okay.” “Saraa was close to crying. She was then passed on to the officer’s superior. He said her NGO is far too small to keep two foreigners in the country for so long. They will also carry out a tax audit. Saraa is completely upset about this. In the end, however, they will grant us a three-month extension.” “Great!” “It will be issued on August 8th. But they also want to audit what we do for the NGO during this time.” “Let them check us. We have done and will do enough for this organization. But what interests me more. How do the papers get to Mörön?” “No idea.” “That means we have to stay here for another two weeks and wait for the papers.” “Maybe.” “Oh man, this country is killing me. If we had just left Beijing on time and re-entered with a tourist visa, we would have had our residence permit in our pockets long ago. And much cheaper, too.” “But only for a maximum of two months.” “Good, that would have been enough for us in an emergency.” “But we didn’t leave the country. It’s certainly better this way,” Tanja considers. “Certainly. But what if the authorities come up with something else?” “That won’t happen.” “Your word in God’s ear.” “Oh yes, before I forget. Saraa said that if we don’t lend her the US$ 300, she doesn’t need friends like us. Apart from that, I shouldn’t think so negatively.” “What does she mean?” “We can only talk about money when we have the papers in our pockets. Not before, I explained to her. Trust me. You can trust me, she said. But I don’t trust your authorities,” I replied. “And then she said you think negatively?” “Yes.” “These days, the national TV station is broadcasting the trial of the corruption scandal in which the ex-president is the main defendant. They’re locking up their own president! How can you trust that?” “I know. I told her that too. But she concluded that if we don’t trust her, we might have to wait even longer for the visa.” “What, is she trying to blackmail us? Or threaten us?” “I don’t know.” “Oh Saraa. She’s really trying to travel to the radioactively contaminated country by any means necessary. We’re still going to say no. We’re not a bank that can be fleeced endlessly. Saraa has now received a considerable amount of money and gifts for her services. She doesn’t seem to be getting her fill. I hope she calms down again, otherwise we’ll withdraw our commitment,’ I grumble, because blackmail is the last thing you can threaten us with.

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