US Visa Policy Really Sphinx

My Zambian girlfriend and I are working on our travel plans, and things are firming up.

Because of coronavirus and the hysterical response from our state department as well as the governments of other nations, arranging to meet “Rebecca” has not been simple. I can’t bring her here unless we’re engaged or married, I can’t go to Zambia unless I want to pay a king’s ransom and endure almost two days of travel time each way, and most other countries which are both convenient and pleasant to visit are closed.

As of today, we have rooms booked in Cairo. Egypt is starving for tourist dollars, so they are making things easy for visitors.

Hotels in Egypt are very cheap right now. I chose a nice place with great reviews, and we are looking at under $200 per night for two rooms with views of the Nile. Flights are not too bad. Something like $2400 for both of us.

We could have rented one room with two beds, but I am concerned I will snore and keep her awake.

I have to admit I have no interest in travel. If I were traveling with another person, it would be different. I would have company all the way. I would have help. As it is, I will be handling everything. If I use a restroom, I’ll have to take my carry-on with me. While I’m moving around in airports on each end, I’ll have to drag everything I have everywhere I go, because there will be no one to watch my bags. I’ll have to board my birds myself. I’ll have to secure the house. There will be no one to share meals with en route.

Egypt is an interesting place, and some of the foundations of Greek, Roman, and therefore American civilization came through Egypt. Unfortunately, I know nearly nothing about Egypt’s history, and I am not likely to learn during the weeks before I visit. Maybe I can pick up a few things, but basically, I expect to be an ignorant tourist, carted around by guides chosen on the basis of Internet reviews.

I have to prepare Rebecca. Zambia is a stable, pleasant country, but Zambians don’t spend a lot on belongings. She will need decent shoes and clothing, not to mention luggage that won’t explode the first time a baggage handler drops it. She’ll need whatever preparation is required in order to make her phone work in Egypt.

Her travel experience will be easier than mine, to the tune of about 6 hours. Cairo is about 3300 miles from her, so flying to Cairo will be about like flying to Italy from New York. Speaking of New York, I will be stuck in JFK for over 5 hours. I had hoped I would never see New York again. I suppose I will only be idle for about 4-1/2 hours because of debarking and boarding time. Still, it’s more time than I would like to spend there.

When I came home from Israel in 1984, I landed at JFK and had to stay overnight to get a flight to Kentucky. My grandfather picked me up. He had to drive over 60 miles each way. When I got to New York, I bought a ticket and called my grandparents, and he said he would come get me. There was never any question about it; he looked forward to it. On the way home, he took me to a place like Golden Corral, and of course, he picked up the check. He was a great grandfather. Anyway, I didn’t enjoy sitting up all night at the airport.

I’m not excited about flying or Egypt itself, but I can’t wait to meet Rebecca. I’ll be meeting this extraordinary woman for the very first time. Finally, we’ll be able to talk without using phones. We won’t have to hang up. We won’t have to schedule. It should be fantastic. Egypt won’t be too big a price to pay. I would even be willing to go to Miami. Me going back to Miami would be like Henri Charrière going back to Devil’s Island.

I’ve always wanted marriage, but it has always eluded me. I’ve never been interested in fornication or temporary relationships, and I didn’t want to be alone. Finally, I’m getting my shot, and God has provided a woman who seems just about perfect. My hopes have been greatly exceeded. I wish we could meet under more pleasant circumstances, but I will take what I can get, with wonder and gratitude.

I hope we will be together permanently this year. We are praying for favor from everyone involved. I don’t want to have to travel several times a year to be with the woman I love, and I don’t want her to have to travel, either.

I hope Israel will be the next country we visit together. It would be nice to share time in the country that belongs to the kind God who gave us to each other.