The Worst Entry Ever

The first 12hrs flight from Frankfurt to Singapore were never ending. I watched about 6 movies and couldn't sleep for a minute. Then I had 1,5hrs transit time in Singapore, which I tried to use as little nap time, but couldn't. I'm just not made for such long journeys...
The next flight took only 4,5hrs but was worse than ever. Because I was so sleep deprived, I was shivering all over my body and I felt super sick. When the stewardess came and offered me my breakfast, I couldn't eat a bit because the smell made me feel even sicker. I hid away in the toilet to let out some cries. I was way too tired to control my emotions anymore. When I came back, I asked the stewardess to take away my untouched breakfast and give me some water. Then, after a while, I just wanted to eat my banana and so I did. Then we got a form to fill out for the Australian Immigration. I was wondering why I paid for the ETA up front and what that was all about. I filled it out, signed it and put it away.
Finally, we landed in Darwin and I was so happy to nearly be able to just lay down in a proper bed and sleep for ages. However, the Australians had different plans for me.
First, I had to go through immigration which took ages, then I lined up for a backpack control. "Don't be sorry, just declare" was on posters all over the place. My mind couldn't really comprehend what that meant at the time. Now I know...
When it was my turn, the officer asked me a bunch of questions and then I said "I'm sorry, this is wrong. I forgot I've got an apple in my backpack." I've just realized that I crossed No on the question "Do I have to declare fruit etc." instead of Yes. Next to the banana that I ate to not fall unconscious, I completely forgot the apple that I took from the Maritim Hotel the other day. And now, I was in huge trouble. He asked me more questions that I just answered as best as I could in my state of mind. It wasn't good enough it seemed. He brought another officer, discussing right in front of me. "It's your decision, 50/50 really", said the other one. I looked in my officers eyes that turned cold. "She knew about the apple and lied on the document. That's no 50/50." I was fucked.
He went off to the computer, taking my apple with him. He was tipping and tipping, until I felt so weak that I had to sit down. I was watching every other person leaving the room one after another, unbothered. They still discussed and tipped on their computer. After an eternity, he came back, laid some papers in front of me and told me about my penalty. 1.650 AUD... That was about 900-1000€. For an apple. "We don't have any apple diseases, you could have brought apple diseases, you shouldn't have lied on that document." I didn't lie! I screamed in my head, but I was too tired and too lost for words. Sure, that would be the most expensive apple of my whole life. What the fuck was wrong with these people? I understood that it could be dangerous, but I didn't do it intentionally. How could the penalty be so much out of any proportion?
With the last bit of energy I had, I tried to hold back the tears, grabbed my stuff and my penalty and went out of the room. I knew, I had to get somehow to my hostel. But before, I wanted to change some cash and get myself a SIM card. It turned out that the airport was smaller than my backpack and that they had nothing I needed. So I just went outside and stopped a taxi. The driver drove me to my hostel, I paid and got my hostel keys. I was so tired, not having slept in over 24 hours. But I needed some food and a SIM card, so I walked the little walk to the next supermarket (Coles) and got some food. I also chose the next best SIM card I could get a hold on and went back to the hostel. Then I wanted to charge my phone but the world charger that stated to have Australia in it, didn't. Obviously, I didn't bring the other charger with me that would definitely have had the Australian charger size. So, I had to go to Coles again and buy me another charger. Back in the hostel, I tried to activate the SIM card but why would anything work today? "Sorry, we need an Australian credit card for a verification." What the actual heck?! I bought a 30 day valid SIM card. In which world would an Australian need a 30 day SIM card? These SIM cards are made for tourists and as far as I'm concerned, most tourists don't have a credit card for the country they are travelling to! Why was this country against me? Why was everything so shit? Why did I ever went on this journey? Why couldn't I have just stayed home and went to Norway with Seb and Aluna just as we've had planned? I missed them so much and was trapped in this shitty country that didn't seem to want me here. I wanted to go home, badly. I couldn't get a grip of myself and called my mom and Seb, crying, telling them my story and just tried to calm myself down. Didn't work. That would be an amazing night...

By the way: I could take the apple with me in the end. So, I really do hope that the officer investigated it for any diseases. Otherwise, I could not understand why they'd fine me such a huge amount of money when it wouldn't matter in the end if it's bad for the Australian environment or not...Weiterlesen