After three flights totaling roughly 22 hours with layovers between we finally arrived in Montego Bay. Immigration and customs was a breeze, much better than I expected because I've heard stories about that airport. The custom officer I went to was really nice too, although she did search all my bags she was pleasant about it and only did it because they were watching her (so she said). So she hurriedly went through my stuff and sent me on my way.
Originally I heard we were supposed to spend the night in Mobay and fly to Kingston this morning but that plan had changed. Instead a bus was hired to take us into Kingston, which added at least another 3 hours to our journey home. Upon exiting customs we saw a guy who obviously was waiting for us, we identified ourselves and so did he, then he summoned "one of his drivers". First when the bus pulled up we were all dumbstruck because after all our travels the last thing we would have expected to be taking us home was this little beat up old bus that looked like it would only go about 55mph. Then on top of that, there was some confusion with the fee he charged. Our management had negotiated for $250usd and now he was saying it's $350 because he didn't know we were coming in at that time of the night. We called management, they talked to him, agreed upon a price and we were off. During the drive however we got a text saying we should only pay the driver what they had originally discussed, which was $250.
The drive wasn't as long as I had expected it to be. The bus actually went faster than 55mph although we had to try and withstand all the carbon monoxide fumes circulating in the vehicle. One of our members lives in Portmore which is on the way to Kingston so he asked the driver to drop him off and actually paid the driver (a sum that we are unaware of). A few minutes before reaching our drop off point the person who management gave the money for the driver handed it to him. While driving he started to check it. Then he became disgruntled because it was only $250usd. We explained to him that this was what we had and what we were told it would be. He argued that his boss told him otherwise and he would not stand the loss so we had better pay up. So we suggested he call his boss and clarify the situation. ......at 1am he was only getting voicemail from the only number he had for his boss. We continued arguing while directing him to where our drop off point was and upon arriving there, without stopping he decided he wouldn't drop us off but instead asked us where the closest police station was he could file a complaint and let them deal with the situation. Fine, we said, we'll direct you. On we went, and with each meter we drove he became more and more disgruntled. Suddenly as we were passing a gas station he pulled in and said "I'm not taking you anywhere, this is where you're coming out!" "I didn't get all of my money so come out here". Before I knew it, the other two members came out without a word. I wanted to stay in the vehicle and demand he take us to our destination because he had to pass it on his way back. But I said, you know, it's almost 2am and we're all tired and hungry, this is enough drama for one day. And I'm pretty sure that's how the others felt as well. All I said to him was, "this is where you're leaving us, after you already passed our destination?" He started rambling on, I came out, took our bags out, closed the door...not another word.
Mijanne & Ifidel (the two members I was with) had called their drives while this bus driver started his shit so they arrived on location within a few minutes of him leaving. My pick up on the other hand (my brother) was apparently sleeping because I called him around the same time and he didn't pick up. But I'm truly blessed to always be around kind and really nice people, Mijanne took me straight home. My phone rang when I was on the way, my bro still sounding half asleep "whe yuh deh now?" I told him I was fine and I sorted out a drive.
I am thankful that after everything we all made it home safely.
I'm here trying to think or come up with something bad to say about the driver and his boss and I just can't find the words...so let's leave it at...
I AM TRULY THANKFUL FOR BEING HOME SAFE AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR FRIENDS THAT LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER
NUFF LUV
No comments:
Post a Comment