Annonse

Unmasked: I was refused to fly home and dumped like an item

10. mai | Artikler,Helse,Nyheter,Reise Read post in english

Dear M.

When the elderly man working at the gate ran to talk with the airplane-crew to say I was coming in, I thought everything would be all right. In a few minutes I would sit down on my aisle seat at the emergency exit with extra space which I had booked;  and relax. Everything would be over. I would never have to meet these furious people from Las Palmas airport again. I would be on my way home. It did not end that way. He came back, with no hope in his eyes: He despaired: They had turned him down and he was not allowed to go in. Unbelievable.

Never had any problems in airports

I was told there would be no flying tonight. They said my 2 suitcases were taken out of the plane. It was a shock. It was so humiliating that I sat down and cried.

In all my life working as a journalist and travelling the world, nothing like this had ever happened to me. I never had any problem in airports. It was just not right. Why hadn´t the crew or someone neutral come out and talked to me?

The man said something about that it was better not to fly in this condition and I couldn’t believe my ears. It was nothing wrong with me. I was showing totally normal reactions. Probably he said it to comfort me.

Denied to pay for water

I was 100 percent sober, I was not unstable, I was just in shock and tired. I regretted having left the gate to buy wate that I needed for my regular medicines. Who in their wildest fantasy could  imagine being denied paying for the water? I have never in my life met so angry and rude shop women. They claimed I made problems in the airport, saying nothing about their own provocative  behaviour. Because of this; the airport staff sabotaged my flight home. Who wouldn’t be devastated?  Like my young female friend said later: Why should YOU make problems there? And how did THEY treat YOU? She said she would have exploded if it was her. She would sue them and deny to leave the airport.

IRL

In the real world, this was not possible. If you sue spanish police, noone  will hear you. To live in an airport with no upcoming flights is hard. And exploding would give them extra points. Normally it is possible to explain yourself, but these people wouldn’t listen. And they spoke poor English

I was talking for deaf ears

Waiting at the gate, seeing everyone else border, I had told the security guy: – These are normal reactions: I was aggressively treated, my rights were taken away and it is unfair. I also told him I have flight anxiety. He repeated flight anxiety like «is that all?» But no help, no water, no solution.

Now he looked unhappy. He had been mad at me when he came screaming into the gate and attacked me at my seat, but he never said  I couldn’t fly and that the plan had changed. I had also heard him say to himself; «she had the documentation on her phone.» He remembered me from security and knew I was good.

Why – por que? 

I had asked him ; do you really want  to do this to an innocent woman? and he had not answered. He had asked me – are you a journalist, and I had nodded and showed him my international press card. He had asked, here or there, and I said, in Norway, and I have a blog: I write about my experiences. He looked down then.

I had waited in vain. Who made this decision? I heard the security guard mentioning a name in Spanish, but did not get it.

No help from Sweden

The older employee said I had to call Norwegian to change my flight. Saturday night? It was not possible to reach them and there were no more flights this weekend. Why did they not offer any help there?  They said a woman working for the company was coming to help out. A Swedish, grown woman appeared. Without looking at me or asking what happened, she asked if I could get any help from Sweden. Sweden?  I said I was Norwegian. She did not offer any help at all. She just complained that I did not use a mask. Munnskydd. Masks were not what I was thinking about at this moment, I was just devastated the plane left without me. I said I had documentation. She asked to see it and I showed it like I had showed it to around hundred people these last months. She looked at my arm and said «why do you have a mask then?»

She can do nothing

What a question to ask in this situation. But I stayed calm and explained: This is the new trend in Spain for travellers, to have a mask on your arm, just in case something should happen and they will not accept you inside a toilet or taxi for instance. It had become a habit. I would use it tonight if it would help the situation, but it didn’t. After this there were no more questions. She claimed I was mad, which I wasn’t. I have seen mad people, I have been mad, and my voice was not even loud or sharp, and I thought; how do you even dare to talk to me in this way instead of helping me?

I told the old man she was not nice to me. He shrugged his head and said » she can do nothing.»

Felt like a criminal

They followed me downstairs where I would get my suitcases. My legs were superheavy and moved very slow. It is a feeling I will never forget. I felt like a criminal. I felt wounded. It was deeply humiliating and degrading.  It felt like hours before the suitcases came. I asked what I should do now and they did not know. I asked for the name of a nearby hotel and got it.

Agreed I should complain

I said I would complain and the old man nodded. He understood. He repeated; call Norwegian to change the flight, call the embassy from the hotel, maybe they have the number there.

After that they were done with me. I was dumped like an item. They even said «it stops here.» Like I was on a dead end street. And I was.

Alone and crying

I felt excluded and stupid standing outside the airport with the 2 heavy suitcases I  had been so happy to check in a few hours ago. I took a taxi to the hotel they recommended. I was in shock and heard myself crying in the backseat.

No new flight for a week 

When I got to the hotel, I dragged my suitcases with me and was able to ask for a room in the reception. I was still crying. The receptionist said she had a room there and I had to pay 90 euro straight away. That was expensive. I looked around me and saw that the place was isolated, in the middle of nowhere. I could not stay there. What had I been thinking of? I had no new flight and found no new openings with  SAS and Norwegian until one week later. With tears in my eyes and rusty voice I said I needed to sit down and think about it. She felt sorry for me and nodded.

Spanish world champions and red wine

I sat down in the reception and called a friend in Norway, sobbing. He had stayed long time in the island and gone home. The man felt sorry for me and gave support. He talked about the Spanish hot temper and how Spanish people sometimes think they are World Champions. He asked me to please find a good place to stay, buy a bottle of red wine and relax.

After this conversation I found out it was better for me to go back to Puerto Rico. I texted the man I had rented an apartment from and asked if it was possible to get the key back and stay a bit longer. It felt awkward. He said yes, it was ok, but only 2 days,  after that new people were coming.

A heavy return with one million stairs 

Then I texted you to hear if you could help me with the heavy suitcases. You were working evening shift in the restaurant, and could not come. Your guests needed service that night.  We could meet up later.

I moaned. I had lived in a complex with millions of heavy stairs. Earlier this day I had struggled packing everything and managing to get all the luggage down by myself. It took ages. I dreaded having to carry the heavy baggage up all the stairs again. But I had to. I could not leave all my stuff at the entrance. Having been ill with bronchitis, it took time. I was mad and it gave me the power I did not have.

How to get in touch with Norwegian 

I texted some friends about what had happened and got support. The next day  was Sunday and I was scared I would not get in touch with Norwegian.

I called the airline and tried to chat with them at the same time. I called for hours but never got through. The chat was better: I was patient and managed to come in contact with an English talking guy. He said he did not understand Norwegian, but he understood the situation.  He assured me I would get the money back from this flight even though I was checked in: It was a flexible ticket. This helped a lot. The ticket was expensive.  I asked him to make sure I got the money. Also he sent me a link to show me how I could complain and ask for compensation and money back for the extra days.

I opened the link and started writing. As a journalist, this is something I manage: Writing and telling about experiences. It has been my job for many years. I remembered more details and continued writing. I also wrote the embassy, and they were sorry I was so badly treated at the airport.

No flights – expensive tickets

But how I could get home? Norwegian had no vacant seats until a week later and SAS was also full and even more expensive. The insurance company wanted me home asap, but they hadn’t said they would pay for it. Later Norwegian got an opening on Wednesday and I booked the last, very expensive aisle seat.

Had to move again

My energy was low. Also I had to move again after 2 days. The guy renting me the apartment, said he had a new option and I took it. It was small, simple and ugly, but it was a place to stay.  The last day I went swimming and having lunch at  the beachclub in Amadores to cheer myself up, and we met in a restaurant in Puerto Rico shopping center in the night, as you remember. Black&White would have been nicer as you suggested, but I was on the other side of the center, and could not make myself move.

You even get water in prison

The next morning I did not feel so good. My body was heavy. Facing the airport again was not tempting. I went to have English breakfast at the beach. I told the waiter I had flight anxiety and he smiled at me and said, then dont drink more coffee, take a pill and water.  We laughed together. The simple things I was denied in the airport and that you even get in prison.

So relieved to come home

Once again I packed my suitcases, booked a taxi and got ready for the flight. The rest I already told you – how I was advised to mask and look different to avoid any problems with these people again. No-one recognised me. When we reached Oslo I was relieved. My friend met me with my car and I did not mind that it was cold. It was just so good to be home. I know you dont like cold weather, and normally I dont either, but it was refreshing. I needed it.

I saw my doctor. She knows me.  She wrote medical reports that I sent to my insurance company and the airline. They take their time. 

Remember the good parts

I was unlucky that my trip ended like this. But I have to remember all the good parts. How much fun I had and how envious my friends were that I could stay so long in a warm and cozy island.

Could have met more aggressive people

I am thankful no worse things happened to me. I could have met even more aggressive people. A Norwegian woman visiting Africa during this period ended up in jail because she and her friends were a few minutes late back from curfew.

You had to hide your face

My heart is grieving for all the pain this pandemic gave. It is sad and still not to believe that the world ended up like this, like a hostile planet, like a war zone. Normally friendly people started fighting eachother. So many people lost their minds and became aggressive and depressed. And we had to mask, hide our faces, to be accepted by society. Even small kids wore them in school and suffered. It is cruel and something I never thought I would experience in my life.

You probably started sleeping before I finished this long post. We are still talking on messenger. You watch my ice swim photos and videos and ask me to stay strong.

Italian chefs with a heart are better than Spanish machos showing off  power demonstrations . 

Thanks again for support.

Hugs and kisses

Unmasked.

T.

Don´t let me down

Of course there are bigger dramas in this life.

1.I am not a victim in the war in Ucraine.

2. The doctor did not diagnoze with me with cancer. I had a heavy, acute bronchitis, was treated  with penicillin and ventoline and got rid of it after some weeks.

3.I still had some savings after the Spanish doctor totally ripped me off and was able to pay my new expenses and buy a new plane ticket.  Many people couldn’t.

4.I could go back to a safe country and get help from my doctor and send complaints.

5.I am a writer and good at paper work and I know how not to give up against power people.

6. It is the first time I have been badly treated in an airport.  I am aware of that other people experience racism, bullying and discrimination every day.

6.I can work on the experience of being bullied  and turn it around and say – hey – your disrespectful treatment is not good enough for me. I am worth much more than this. Behaving like this to me, you show how weak you are. You do not deserve my time or respect. And next time I will have even more self control and not answer back: This is what they want and that boost their self esteem.

I had a similar experience with a furious, English waiter in a bar in Puerto Rico.  He screamed at me; «Are you looking for the bathroom? You have to pay! I know you were not gonna eat here and you dont have a table.» I had just checked the menu and froze dead.  I was so shocked that I couldn’t speak. But he got ruder and more provocative and in the end I yelled back at him. You should see that smile on his face. He nodded and was happy that he succeeded getting me out of balance. It made his day. His «fan club», some young girls in a table were applauding.

Well, not next time. I have learnt. I  will not take the bait, just smile and leave. 

7.ALL my friends supported me and agreed I was terribly treated at the airport and that I am the only victim here. My rights were taken away and I was prevented from my 2 needs; 1. having water 2. flying. They did nothing, they acted unprofessional  and pulled out a cowardly demonstration of power.

8. I am thankful  that I have a home, a safe place to stay and that it is far away from this place. 

Still it was and is a traumatic experience. This is to you and all my dance friends:

Make love not war 

I am on my way to other places

I will surely travel and write about my experiences again. I do not know when or where. Maybe to Portugal. One friend say they are more friendly and respectful there than in Spain. I want to see your country Italy as well, but not until all restrictions are gone. A greek island is out of question as long as they deny people to dance zorba in the night. Also my heart still beats for Turkey.

Also read part 1

 

Annonse

Etter pandemi og hjemmekontor er ingen lenger misunnelige på oss som henger på Espresso House på dagtid

10. mai | Artikler,Helse,Nyheter Read post in english

Espresso House er alle tiders hjemmekontor. Her henger studenter og flittige arbeidsmaur over pc og skolebøker. Mens jeg skriver, prøver jeg å huske hva jeg skal.

Mye misunnelse 

8-16-kontorrotter er misunnelige på oss som henger på café på dagtid. VAR. Etter pandemien, hvor alle ble tvunget til å jobbe på  hjemmekontor med hylende unger rundt seg som de måtte undervise selv fordi skolene var stengt, har jeg ikke hørt noen si det. At å gå hjemme er digg.

Hengt ut som NAVere

«At late folk henger på kjøpesentrene med kaffelatten og den dyre vesken på dagtid helt uten dårlig samvittighet og at de er NAVere.»

De drømte seg til arbeidsplassen

Etter to år med pandemi, var ikke kaffelatte på senteret noe kontorfolket drømte om lenger. Plutselig lengtet alle til kollegene, kontorpulten og småpraten rundt kaffemaskinen. Aldri hadde folk trodd det var så kjipt og ensomt på hjemmekontoret, med mulighet for en tur ut og alt. Huttemegtu.

Café-jobbing koster en kopp kaffe

Selv har jeg forlengst fått krampe av hjemmekontoret. Jeg liker å sitte og skrive på Espresso House. Der må du selvsagt kjøpe noe. Sitter du her ofte, gjelder det å tenke økonomisk. Billigst er vanlig kaffe, med eller uten melk: Den er det påfyll på. Det er det ikke på de fancy kaffedrikkene

Appen lønner seg også, den gir meg 10 prosent på kaffe. Hver 10. kopp kaffe er gratis, og da er det fritt valg på øverste hylle: Slik som denne cappuccinoen som jeg nyter sammen med isvannet mitt.

Jeg liker å skrive med folk rundt meg, men jeg er distré og glemmer hva jeg skal. For jeg har alltid noen ærend.

1. Apoteket. Sjekke hvilke resepter som er inne: Migrenemedisin, rinexin etc. Kjøpe solkrem på tilbud. La Roche, som min atopiske hud tåler godt og som ikke gir meg soleksem. Den gode, blå, velduftende Cliniderm-aftersun, som ofte er på 30%.
2. Kicks. Sjekke ut de nye 20 prosent tilbudene jeg fikk i katalogen. Høre om den nye supermascaraen virkelig kan gjøre de korte, fargeløse vippene mine dobbelt så tykke og lange.
3. Helsekosten. Oppdatere vitaminlageret: Omega 3, D-vitaminer etc….
4. Klesbutikker. Se på glitterkjoler. Jeg blir aldri lei av glitterkjoler. De har sjelden noe, så jeg havner på nettet, på zalando og andre nettsteder. Hva skal jeg med flere glitterkjoler? Jeg vet ikke, men jeg digger å se på dem.

Tannlege eller bikini?

Etter noen timer med skriving, er hodet ullent. Hva var det jeg skulle igjen? Sende melding til tannlegen som har kontor her? Bytte bikini på Change? Kjøpe blekk på Elkjøp? Hvor er lappen jeg skrev ned alt på? Hvor lenge har jeg vært her nå? Det nærmer seg tre timer og da er parkeringstiden ute. Jeg vil ikke ha bot.

Æ

Rema 1000? Der er det tilbud på sunne, friske bær for alle som har Æ. Men de har mye større utvalg i min lokale filial og med bilen rett utenfor butikken slipper jeg å bære poser lange veier. Jeg drar dit. Ciao.

Les artikkelen (under) jeg skrev om fordommer rundt folk som er ute av arbeidslivet. Redaktøren i Kamille innrømmet i sin leder at hun var en av de som var sjalu på folk som hang på café på dagtid: Det var før de fortalte hvordan de hadde det:

Du kan ikke se hva som feiler Heidi – NAV

Alt vi ikke ser – NAV

ME-syke Cathrine stigmatisert av A-magasinet; Jeg følte meg enda mer utenfor samfunnet og ødelagt.

12 smarte tips: Fortsatt hjemmekontor etter påske. Her er utstyret du trenger!

Jeg har flyttet hjemmekontoret til Espresso House

Frozen shoulder: Slik overlever du når sykdommen rammer

Migrene? Her er de beste rådene for en bedre hverdag

 

Annonse

Gran Canaria: Dear M. Thanks for support the crazy, last weeks on the island.

10. mai | Artikler,Helse,Nyheter,Reise Read post in english

Dear M.

Dear friend.  I want to thank you for support and for staying strong with me the last weeks on The Island. As you know, it´s been wild.

Sick in Gran Canaria – what to do?

I got sick with fever and bacterial bronchitis and ended up getting help in my local health center. The kovid test was negative, but I had a serious infection that needed to be treated fast. I coughed so much it was hard even to walk or enter a grocery store and had to sleep sitting up in a chair. The doctor treated me with penicillin and ventoline masks. I was shocked when my insurance company DAYS later wrote me to warn about the oh so generous scandinavian health center to claim the indian, Norwegian speaking doctor was  a fake : I had to stop seeing her.

Can you trust the local doctors? 

I was ill and in the end of an intensive treatment and did not know what to do or believe. The doctor said she had lots of Norwegian contacts, and even worked for the government and that this was not right. She was such a good talker. She said she would keep me out of hospital where they would keep me a week and where I would get kovid. I was afraid of that. And she did treat me, I did get better. The female, convincing doctor said she is not faking, she is a certified government doctor and in march 2022 she had Tryg-patients who got their money back for their treatment. She showed me the papers.

Normal to be afraid when sick and trusting doctors

You supported me all the way, you said; it is  normal as a sick tourist to trust a doctor in my local center. What else should I do; having suffered from cough and feber for days, trying to treat myself,  and finally making my way down the stairs to ask  for help? I don´t know the medical system here. I am new in Puerto Rico. Nobody warned me or gave me advice and I was too sick to walk around in the island and check out different doctors.

You have to fight the insurance companies and claim your right

I usually do not visit doctors abroad and explained the whole story to the insurance company. Also I asked my Norwegian doctor to help me out and write documents supporting me.

Thought I was going home

After we had our last dance downtown and I said bye to you and you gave me a kiss and a hug, something even more crazy happened. I was on my way home to Norway. At least I thought I was.

The Gran Canaria airport in Las Palmas turned out to be a living nightmare

I have a valid documentation that allows me not to use masks in airports and planes. It was accepted in security, but the guy was rude: He said I could lie and use somebody’s else’s certificate and he needed to see my ID to check if the name was right. I have experienced worse things in Spain. I stayed calm, I was friendly. I gave him my passport and he studied it for a long time. I noticed it, but said nothing. After this I went straight to my gate and sat down. Norwegian had already started boarding and there was no time to sit down for coffee and buy a bottle of water for my medicines in a café as I usually do. I have flight anxiety and ear problems, and feel better drinking water and taking medicine before flying.

This day I also felt a starting headache. I noticed nothing was happening at the gate yet. I would have time to buy water. I left  to buy water for my medicines. I saw a small shop behind the gate. There, after having waited in the long line, I was all of a sudden attacked by aggressive drama queen shop keepers. One  screamed at me that I had to use a mask. She found it rude that I showed the documentation on my phone and that I answered them and mentioned police. The scene was surrealistic. I had been sick as your know, had a migraine coming up and was desperate for water. I had to get hold of it. We are talking water here, not alcohol. I was 100 percent sober and ready to drive my car back from Oslo airport.

I was ill and denied to buy water

The women got madder and more hostile. They swore in Spanish. When I finally reached the cashier from the super long queue, the woman standing there was hostile and rude. She denied me to pay for the water and the small chocolate box and said I had to wait for the police.  I had my hand around the bottle, held out 20 euro and  begged her to take it. I said my plane was leaving and I was sick and needed the water. She refused. She ignored med and served other customers. I felt humiliated. I have never been so close to wanting to steal. Probably that is what she wanted: Then she could tell the police there was a thief in her shop.

In the end she succeeded in provoking me. I got irritated and said something.

Back in the gate I felt a bang in my head and it scared me. Migraine can be bad. I sat down on a chair, tried to breathe calmly and longed for having water in the plane.

What happened later is still running through my mind: The first mad shop-woman came stamping into my gate, dragging a security guy with her: She screamed something in Spanish that I could not understand and pointed at me.   The security guy yelled at me. He was strange. It felt like he was putting up a show.

I lost my flight because of this incident.

I tried to explain what happened,  that I was exposed to provocateurs and tried to defend myself from the unfair and humiliating situation. I  needed water for my medicines and was bullied. I told I was ill. Still no help or water. I offered to use my leopard mask, but they ignored me.

NO rights

The people working at the gate couldnt do anything. The small Spanish girl accepting people to fly, said I had to wait till all the passengers were boarded. I did that, kind and quiet as a lamb, and still couldn’t enter. I had no rights .  One old man working at the gate – the only one trying to  help me –  despaired – he ran to the plane to say I was coming in  – but it was too late – they closed the doors also for  him. I was told it was too late to fly and that my 2 suitcases were removed from the plane.

Like being in a war 

It was unbelievable. Like being in a war and you have the wrong skin colour. I was in shock and did not know where to go. I was alone, it was Saturday night, and not possible to get hold of anyone responsible. I sat down on the floor and cried. I know for you this is a normal reaction, but surrounded by bossy power people, all sane reactions  from me were dangerous. They would use any word I said and any natural feeling I showed against me; saying «madam, you cannot fly.» How else could they defend the unfair treatment they gave me?

The story is like a movie

You couldn’t´ believe I was denied to fly home. You said it is like a movie and that you will be the first person to read my story. That as a writer, I can use this. You said – this is racism and the police here think they can do what they want to people.  As a Norwegian citizen spending 3 months on the island as a travel journalist and blogger, you thought the bad service and horrible treatment I received was shameful. Prevent me to fly home to my country from my own gate? Insane.

Thankful for tourists – every day

Also you said every day you are thankful that there are some tourists at the island so you can keep your job here as a chef. You are grateful for people like me to come and spend their savings in Gran Canaria. You understand service.

You compared it to my situation where I met aggressive women at the airport and was dumped like a package. What kind of service is this? 

Expensive ticket bought for medical reasons

Having had bronchitis, you knew I booked the expensive plane ticket with Norwegian only because the insurance company demanded me to go home and continue my treatment there. And in the airport – longing to go home as they said I must do –  my rights were taken away from me.

Refusing to help a sick person – is it even allowed? 

You said, well you are not a lawyer but you think if a person is ill that person even are allowed a glass of water for free, without paying for it. 

The quiet one treated as ax woman

The whole story is still unreal.  Imagine the most quiet and shy girl in class that I once were – the smart, modest girl always doing her homework, writing stories and poems and never saying anything or even moving from her desk at school until 10th grade, was denied to fly home and treated like a crazy axe woman.

Crazy friends were all allowed to fly home

I know so many crazy, loud, angry, wild  and unstable people that this was more likely to happen to. In Gran Canaria, the most strangest of people fly home every day. And YOU have drunk and loud friends who lose passports and act all loco in the airport and still were accepted to fly home.

I was an easy target

I – a kind Norwegian journalist, was not. Of course they would never dare to do this to a businessman a family, a group of travellers. I was a friendly woman in a summer dress, travelling alone and an easy target. Shoot, shoot  – use your power that got even bigger during corona time and that gave service people the chance to become angry police officers and stop giving service. To attack other people is simpler and more joyful – it makes weak men feel stronger and give jealous women a kick.

You said I had to stay

You tried to be funny, you laughed and said maybe this meant I should stay in the island and not go home. You have a point there. They wouldn’t let me go.

But I got a different feeling, my heart was sinking, I felt so tired, and I just wanted out. Not from you, from the island. Because I was forced to get back to Puerto Rico, we met again to have coffee. I started to talk and your lips were moving like you knew what I was going to say.

Men and women and 6th sense

Most men have no clue what is going on in my head , but your lips are moving like you know me. You know my words before I say them out loud. So you have a gift there or a 6ths sense. Or  did we meet in another life? I really dont know. I am confused. You said you have a good feeling with me and it is nice, but that does not mean you can read my mind. 😉

Love 66

It is a bit funny that I on my last night made you smoke shisha love 66 in a bar in Puerto Rico you did not want to go to. I learnt to smoke shisha in Turkey and needed to chill out – and I thought most men liked water pipes. But you were even a worse shisha smoker than me. You coughed more.

Flight anxiety twice in one week

I was not myself that night. My mind was wandering. I felt uneasy. As I said I get flight anxiety before flying and I was scared to go back there to meet these hostile people again. I had a Long Island Ice Tea in this bar, because the owners were friendly and invited me in, and I couldn’t make myself move. You had to come there to help me finish my shisha. I did some small dancing and kept calm; dreading the next day. I hate travel stress in airports  and had to do it twice in one week.

You managed to get me up from the sofa and tell my story

It was nice to spend the night with you.

You said on my last night I couldn´t again say «sorry –  I am sleeping on the sofa feeling exhausted.» So I went out. And now I am even telling my story, like you said I should.

And I am trying not to lose my visa again. Because of the stress, I lost it twice the last days we met; and both time I got it back and you said; please put it inside your bag so you will not lose it one more time.

Gran Canaria Airport in Las Palmas: 0,0 % interesting!

We live in different countries and I don’t know if we will meet again. Going back to this airport where I was so badly treated and where they show so little respect for nice women is not tempting. It is like 0,0 point interesting. I dread them and they make me feel sick.

Do not want bronchitis again

Also I really had to go back to Norway to fix things with my insurance companys, the airline company, I needed to see my doctor, my house and just breathe in some cold and fresh Norwegian air so I don’t get sick with flu or bronchitis again. I need to  just be and start swimming in cold water again and sleep in my own bed.

If they were boxers, they would punch me right in my face

I need to forget about the island and the airport. My blonde hair, unmasked face, green eyes, my intelligence, warmness, modesty, openness and way of being nice to people and at the same time able to stand up for my rights, were too much for them. They did not accept me. If they were boxers, they would  punch me right in my  face. (And I might have used self-defence to fight back.)

I did not hide behind a mask in Spain  (only when I had to in Spar or the pharmacy or in some taxis) and I was not 100 percent submissive. I forgot to wear my burka or even nikab.

Jealousy and explosive temper

A friend from Norway who knows the island Gran Canaria as his own hand,  says the Spanish temper is explosive and dangerous when exposed for it. He says some Spanish people believe they are World Champions. He also claims that some Spanish women hate blonde girls: They are so jealous that they have tantrums and scold you. He heard stories of how they kicked women out before. In addition to this, he talked to his Norwegian friend in Gran Canaria who said there is no mask order anymore, and making problems for me in a small airport shop, is the biggest bullshit he ever heard in his life. 

Spanish police are always right – beware!

Another Norwegian friend who used to have an apartment in Spain says Spanish police are always right and if you have an issue with them it never ends good. Most likely these hostile workers were also friends and stood together, against me. 

Service people starting conflict

My friends had more to say about this issue: Who started the fight? Was it the woman standing alone in the line needing water – or was it the nervous shop woman pointing and yelling and her furious colleague denying the customer to pay? What is your job as a service person in busy airports? Is it to start conflicts, swear and give your finger to customers? Or is it to handle different people  with respect, be able to read a situation and avoid trouble?  And the security guy: Did he act respectful? Was it right of him to question my name, to attack me, not to ask me what happened or hear both sides?  

Last; who is the victim here? According to my friends – it is only one person: The one prevented from her two needs 1. buying water 2. fly home.

I was advised to hide in the airport

Last night I was finally able to get back. My lawyer-friend said although I have medical certificates, I should wear mask, sunglasses and different clothes at the airport in Las Palmas this time so they would not recognize me and trouble me again. And not say a word to anyone. I followed his advice. It felt awful, but it was good to be able to hide. For the first time during this pandemic, the masks I hate and detest more than anything, could actually do something good for me.

Like going to a funeral 

I chose a black mask and big black sunglasses  – for mourning. It felt like being forced to go to a funeral I did not want to attend. I sat down in Starbucks, I felt traumatized  and almost cried; but stopped myself. The workers were friendly there, and it felt unreal and a relief that anyone could be friendly in an airport again. Having to pass the kiosk  where they harrassed me, was a nightmare.

I felt traumatized

I came to the gate, waited, quiet and invisible till most people had boarded. Then I put my black mask ever higher up and gave the woman boarding us – thank God not the same as last time – my boarding pass and passport in silence. She said «open passport» very fast and aggressive. I did not answer. The air stewardesses tried to say hi to me. I just nodded, I couldn’t say a word. I sat down on my seat and thought; the same second they open the toilets back I will run there, sit on the tiny floor, hold around myself, hide my face in my hands and cry. When I got to the toilet, I washed my hands in warm water instead and was able to get better thoughts in my head.  It took more than one hour and a half in the plane before I could relax, before the urge to cry disappeared and before the pain in my chest and stomach got a bit lighter. I got food and drinks and the people working in the cabin were nice to me. That was soothing. In the plane I did not have to use mask because of my certificate. I was holding it in my hand for five hours in case they would ask me, but they didn’t. One stewardess looked at me, but then she saw how sad I was, and she let me be.

Saved by a friend

I never made it home. My supernice female friend outside Oslo said with all this bad luck if I wanted I could enjoy some wine in the plane and calm down and stay the night with her, so I did not have to worry about driving home in the cold night.

So the story ended good, in a way, although unnecessary harsh and exhausting.

Tough fight – good friends

Now I fight to get lost money back and it is stressful , painful and a lot of work, but I stay strong. I kind of  like fighting for myself. I learnt it early because nobody had time to help me and I find my own solutions and options. But of course I love and appreciate good people, warm support and good advice. I need friends.

I contacted the embassy

I have already sent many reports, remembering more and more details every day. I pray  that justice will win and everything will end good and a new chapter can begin.

I wrote the Norwegian embassy in Spain, as I was advised, and they were sorry I was so bad treated at the airport and happy that I sent my reclamation to the airline.

My positive and natural-dance-friend said I should now enjoy the sun outside in the cold spring and pick some spring flowers, but I do not have time yet.  I am busy working on my cases. It is a lot of money to lose and I can’t let that happen. My savings.

Writing this letter to you from my aisle seat in Norwegian

I was writing most of this letter to you  from my aisle seat in Norwegian airlines. I always book aisle because with my flight anxiety I feel more cosy and relaxed there: It is easy to go to the toilet, I dont feel trapped and I can move my feet.  Actually I was so busy writing you that I did not notice we almost reached Oslo. I had to run to the toilet before they closed it and take pills for my aching ears super fast. My ears always hurt before landing and I need medicine.

I am glad to say my head is working again, the fog has gone and I now feel  awake and creative.

Take care in Gran Canaria and keep up the good dancing. I know you need it to release stress from your work.

I don’t regret exploring the island. I dont regret using my medical documentation  and challenge what Spanish people scold and threaten you with; mascarias. Not because of health, because of protokol – control and corona regime. It has been exhausting being exposed to all this anger and fear. I have suffered from it. I dont know If I can bear to show my medical report one more time. I am done.

Still – my  3 months in the island were all the same a big adventure and something I will never forget. So many memories.  Thanks to everyone who made my life better, happier and more funny in GC. <3 

With love and kisses

like in a movie that is about to start.

Love66.

T.

Fly Me To the Moon

Description

Annonse

Jeg har naturlig immunitet etter covid-19, men nektes grønt pass. Det er urettferdig.

4. mai | Artikler,Helse,Nyheter,Reise Read post in english

Jeg har hatt covid-19, men beviset er ingenting verdt. Jeg nektes grønt pass. Det gjør meg forbanna! Naturlig immunitet gir like bra eller bedre beskyttelse mot ny coronavirussykdom enn vaksine: Likevel må jeg fortsatt ta PCR-test før reise til en rekke land. Hva har dette med helse å gjøre?  Jeg bare spør!

Forskjellsbehandling

Jeg er uvaksinert og fikk corona –  trolig i begynnelsen av 2022. Dette på en lengre reise i Spania. Jeg har bevis på gjennomgått coronasykdom på HelseNorge og er godt beskyttet mot ny sykdom. Men attesten er ikke verdt papiret den er skrevet på! Jeg må fortsatt ta PCR-test for reiser til land som Spania, Tyrkia og Thailand. Dette oppleves blodig urettferdig. Hvordan kan myndighetene godta denne forskjellsbehandlingen?

Gjennomgått coronasykdom gir beskyttelse i minst 20 måneder

I Dagbladet 1. mai 22 vises det til to nye studier: Begge bekrefter at uvaksinerte som har hatt covid er like godt eller bedre beskyttet mot sykdom som de som har tatt vaksiner.

En ny svensk studie viser at gjennomgått coronavirussykdom gir solid beskyttelse mot ny infeksjon i minst 20 måneder: Svenske forskere publiserte de nye funnene om covid-19 og naturlig immunitet i anerkjente The Lancet Infectious Diseases 31. mars, melder Dagbladet i artikkelen du kan lese her. 

Naturlig immunitet: Like bra eller bedre enn vaksine

Dagbladet melder i samme sak at en JAMA-studie som kom 20. april bekrefter god og varig beskyttelse mot covid-19 blant uvaksinerte som har vært coronasyke. Immuniteten holdt seg stabil gjennom ni måneder. Studien omfatter 121 615 pasienter i USA. De amerikanske forskerne konkluderer med at naturlig immunitet etter covid-19 gir like bra eller bedre beskyttelse mot ny coronavirussykdom enn mRNA-vaksine. 

Forskerne fant at gjennomgått covid-19 beskytter

-85 prosent mot ny coronavirusinfeksjon

-88 prosent mot alvorlig covid-19

-83 prosent mot mild coronasykdom.

Innrømmelse fra Nakstad

I følge Dagbladet håper norske helsetopper nå på at nye vaksiner skal bli unødvendige: Assisterende helsedirektør Espen Rostrup Nakstad ser positivt på forskningen:  – Det tyder på at immuniteten er mer varig enn man tidligere har fryktet.  Jo lenger beskyttelsen mot reinfeksjon og alvorlig sykdom holder seg, jo bedre er det med tanke på pandemiens avslutning, sa Nakstad til Dagbladet 22. april.

Urimelig med forskjellsbehandling

Så langt, så godt. Men uvaksinerte forskjellsbehandles!  Årsaken til at jeg ikke får grønt pass, er i følge min fastlege at jeg ikke kan tidfeste tidspunktet jeg hadde covid, selv om det etter all sannsynlighet og i følge en spansk lege jeg oppsøkte for annen sykdom, skjedde i januar/februar  2022.

Selvtest slo ikke ut

Jeg hadde forkjølelses-symptomer på nyåret og selvtest slo ikke ut. At jeg har hatt corona ble avdekket da jeg oppsøkte lege i Spania for bronkitt i mars 2022. Coronatesten var da negativ. Jeg har dermed ingen positiv test vise og ingen eksakt dato. Prøven fra Fürst Laboratorium 5.4.22 som på HelseNorge viser gjennomgått sykdom og naturlig immunitet, er dermed verdiløs. Brevet fra den spanske, dyre legen likeså.

Spøker for ferien

Nå er jeg forbanna og oppgitt. Jeg er utslitt av uforståelige restriksjoner og reisekrav og orker ikke mer stress: Jeg har ikke lyst til å ta flere pcr-tester og det spøker for ferien. Det mest provoserende er at teststasjonene er lagt ned, og at mange nå må svi av tusenlapper på private sentre for å komme seg til land der testkrav ikke er skrotet. Noen tjener godt på fortsatt coronaregime, det er sikkert! Og det for en sykdom som ikke er farlig for folk flest.

Mitt råd: Krev testen tatt hos fastlegen, når det slår ut så urettferdig.

Aldri vært for passene

Bare for å ha sagt det: Coronapass bidrar til segregering, og jeg har aldri ønsket meg et. Men når jeg er naturlig immun og forskning viser at jeg er mer beskyttet mot å smitte og smittes enn fullvaksinerte, så blir jeg forbanna over at helsemyndighetene ikke gir meg det.   Vaksinerte kan reise hvor de vil og være så syke de vil, mens jeg som frisk og full av antistoffer, skal hindres?!

Selvsagt får ikke dette meg til å skifte mening. Som jeg svarte fastlegen da hun sa jeg ikke fikk grønt pass: «Så urettferdig. Jeg er stolt av at jeg har stått på det som føltes riktig for meg, nemlig å ikke ta disse vaksinene.»

«La meg ferdes fritt, jeg har naturlig immunitet og er frisk!»

Skrot testkravet!

Personlig synes jeg testkrav og koronapass bør skrotes i sin helhet:

1.Corona har forlengst vist seg som en ikke-farlig sykdom for de fleste.

2.Vaksinerte smitter like mye som uvaksinerte, og koronasertifikatet har derfor ingen helse-verdi.

3. Å stenge folk ute som pressmiddel for at flere skal ta vaksiner, er uetisk og lite forholdsmessig  i en tid hvor en så høy andel av befolkningen er vaksinert.

4.Å fortsette å behandle uvaksinerte og del-vaksinerte som en pariakaste er uakseptabelt. Diskriminering er ulovlig og vi har personlige rettigheter.

Skrev populær bloggsak om vaksine-skepsis

Les også min blogg-sak «Derfor sier jeg nei til vaksinen: Jeg lar meg ikke presse; 5 personlige grunner.» Den ble delt av over 1000 på Facebook.

Hva er din mening?

Derfor sier jeg nei til vaksinen: Jeg lar meg ikke presse; 5 personlige grunner

Les også:

Koronasertifikat vil være på kollisjonskurs med EMK og Grunnloven (Advokatbladet)

Les også:

Hit kan du trygt reise i sommer uten pass og test – les listen over land her.

Sjømannskirken på Gran Canaria stenger ute nordmenn uten kovidpass

Les også:

Jeg bruker ikke maske. Hotellets lege fant løsning: Løp ut og kjøpte visir

Les også:

Koviddrama på Gran Canaria: Ble kastet ut fra strandbar av paranoid kelner

Les også:

Dette savnet jeg mest med Norge etter flyturen hjem, vafler uten korona og påbud

Les også: Været på Kanariøyene: På Gran Canaria bekymrer vi oss mer over calima enn korona

 

 

Annonse

Ferieklar? Disse landene dropper pass og test. Les listen her.

4. mai | Artikler,Helse,Nyheter,Reise Read post in english

Sommerferie: Vil du reise  til utlandet i sommer uten å måtte ta pcr-test og fylle ut vriene skjemaer? Stadig flere land dropper pass og test. Les listen her.

 

 

 

Annonse

Thon Hotel Linne: Seminar for journalister og fire stjerners middag

2. mai | Artikler,Nyheter Read post in english

God mat og faglig påfyll! Sammen med lokalavisjournalister i Akershus, inntok jeg firestjerners Thon hotell Linne i Oslo.

«Hva gjør du her da?»

Treff på hotell gull verdt

Spørsmålet kom fra en lokalavis-journalist i Bærum. Fast ansatte i lokalavis vet fortsatt lite om hvordan frilansere har det. For oss som jobber på stykkpris uten fast lønn, kolleger, arbeidsplass eller goder er et seminar på hotell, gull verdt: Det er etterlengtet  å møte kolleger og få inspirasjon og faglig påfyll – og en god middag med drikke helt gratis. Jeg tviholder på medlemskapet i Norsk Journalistlag for å få med meg slike anledninger: Selvsagt er dette fint også for faste journalister; men de har lunsj sammen og trygghet på jobben hver dag, noe frilansere savner.

Tøft for mange å jobbe hjemme

Kun noen få frilansere dukket opp denne gangen, og vi var i stort mindretall i forhold til journalistene som kjenner hverandre og jobber sammen hver dag. Å jobbe hjemme på egen hånd har vært tøft for mange, særlig for sårbare frilansere. Les mer om den tøffe frilans-tilværelsen i et av mine eldre blogginnlegg:

Frilansliv, ikke for amatører

Kreft og urettferdig boligsalg

Under seminaret presenterte journalister og fotografer sine bidrag til Snus-prisen. Mange av bidragene handlet om hverdagsmennesker og urettferdighet. Journalister og fotografer legger ned mye arbeid i reportasjene. Flere hadde støttet og blitt venner med intervjuobjekter – og brukt mer tid på dem enn forventet.  Blant sakene jeg likte var en fotografs portrett av en kvinne med brystkreft. Jeg likte også en journalists artikkelserie  om en mann med psykiske utfordringer som ble lurt til å undertegne en kontrakt hvor han ikke bare selger barndomshjemmet men også gir fra seg arven. I begge disse sakene brukte medie-folkene hjertet når de fortalte historiene.

Vurderte å sende inn blogginnlegg

Selv vurderte jeg, som blogger med eget nettsted, å sende inn artikkelen min  nei til vaksiner – en personlig bloggsom ble delt over 1000 ganger på Facebook. Men det gikk i glemmeboken. Visstnok er det lov å sende inn både blogginnlegg fra eget nettsted og podcasts/film i åpen klasse, så her er det bare å prøve seg neste gang. Men hvordan hadde de vurdert saken?

Derfor sier jeg nei til vaksinen: Jeg lar meg ikke presse; 5 personlige grunner

Våkne sjeler bak medie-maskene

Vanlig media har fått tyn for å være for lite kritiske til myndighetene under pandemien. Lokalavis-journalistene var åpnere enn ventet. En var enig med meg i at restriksjonene hadde gått altfor langt. Personen var minst like våken som meg. Selv om vedkommende ikke hadde kunne skrive så mange saker om dette som den ønsket, hadde journalisten pushet på redaksjonen og blant annet intervjuet mødre som ikke ville vaksinere barna. En annen fortalte at redaktøren hadde vært livredd for viruset og at det en periode hersket rene unntakstilstanden i lokalene, med polititeip for å unngå at folk møttes i gangene. Det ble fortalt med et smil. «Kan ikke folk slutte å klikke på disse smittetall-sakene,  så slipper vi å skrive dem», hørte jeg en person si i et hjertesukk. En annen mumlet at enkelte redaktører sikkert var skuffet over at de ikke var så populære lenger. Det kan man undres på.

One minute of fame

Smitteguru Espen Nakstad hadde ikke en høy stjerne hos alle jeg snakket med på hotellet. Flere syntes han var blitt for pr-kåt og ønsket ikke å lese boken hans. En fant tittelen på boken og tidspunktet den kom som  upassende . Jeg ble fortalt en historie om hvordan Nakstad hadde vært på vei på hytta med familien, men snudd og dratt tilbake til Oslo da Dagsnytt 18 ringte. Familien måtte vente i bilen. Alt for et minutt til med fame. Jeg gjengir historien med forbehold og glimt i øyet. Det er jo ikke sikkert Nakstad selv vil vedkjenne seg at det var slik det var. Men man kan jo tenke seg at det blir vanskelig å gi fra seg kjendis-statusen?

Firestjerners middag

Noe av det koseligste ved et slikt seminar er å møtes til god lunsj og middag, og hotellet sviktet ikke. Linne hotell er kjent for å ha god mat, og og middagen holdt stil. Etterpå stilte arrangøren med egen trubadur (og journalist.)

Lørdag morgen sto miljø-foredrag og innlegg om hytteparadokset – en gravesak fra avisa Valdres – på programmet før lunsj. I sistnevnte hadde vi ønsket oss spissere vinkling og en konflikt. Det ble litt tamt. Skjønt mer naturvennlige hytter er på sin plass. Vi nøt en god lasagne med salat før vi tok turen hjemover, mettet på god mat og inntrykk.

Seminaret skulle egentlig vært på Triaden, men det ble omgjort til flyktninge-hotell. Vi ble dermed i Oslo.  Jeg reddet frisyren med tørrshampoo under seminaret. Tips fra en frisør. Les flere hårtips i min bloggsak  her.