At the Immigration Department.
I was queuing to submit a visa application for my co-worker (as a part of my day-to-day tasks) when a young man turned to me and heaved an exasperated sigh - so loud that it caught my attention. I looked up as a natural reflex, and our eyes met. We both wore masks, so neither of us could tell what the other looked like. I remember he was very tall, with blonde curly hair and tanned skin, making it quite apparent that he was a backpacker traveling to Vietnam on a summer vacation. I looked back at my Kindle and didn't give it much thought.
About 5 minutes later, he turned to me again and said:
- I run out of patience. Do you have any idea how long I need to wait?
This time I was sure he was talking to me. I turned to him and replied:
- For every application, the officer takes at least 5 minutes to process. Given the number of people standing in front of you, I'm afraid you will have to wait another hour. Brace yourself!
- Another hour? Goodness me! Is there anything I can do to speed it up?
- I'm afraid not. If there is something, I wouldn't be here for that long.
- Is it a common practice in Vietnam? You seem unbelievably relaxed!
- Haha, do I? Well, yeah, I'm so used to this process that waiting has no longer bothered me. I even enjoy queuing here as I can take some time off my office hour to finish reading my new book.
- What book are you reading?
- "Beautiful World, Where are You?" by Sally Rooney. I showed him my Kindle library.
- Great choice! I read it last month. There is a lot of humanity and honesty in it. Would you like to take a seat and chat about it for a bit?
- Sure!
On the waiting bench.
From books to schools, part-time jobs, hobbies, family traditions, childhood dreams to third-world problems and gender inequality, we moved smoothly from one topic to the next. That British boy had such a great way of speaking with people, and it was a pleasure listening to his stories. He just finished high school and successfully got into one of the most prestigious universities in Northern UK, majoring in Engineering. To afford a trip around Asia, he had to work night shifts in a factory and slept less than 4 hours a day for a year without missing a single class at school.
- People say that I can't have my cake and eat it, but I proved them wrong. I want to see the world, and I also want to get into a high-ranking university, so I find ways to achieve both goals. And now you see: I did it!
- Hats off to you, man! You're really something! Now that you've been around Asia, what have you seen?
- I've seen a lot, and it changed my mind forever. Breath-taking view. Pollution. Peaceful villages. Poverty. Beautiful girls. Prostitution. Everywhere I go, there are always bright and dark sides. I felt exhilarated, bitter, privileged, sorry, amazed, and, sometimes, powerless. Dealing with that emotional roller coaster is not an easy job, but it made me a better, more rounded person. It urged me to do something.
- Like what?
- I learned how to be a responsible tourist. I always ask myself a few questions before partaking in an excursion or buying a local product. For example: Is it illegal? Would it be allowed in my country? Are people – or animals – being paraded in front of me? Do I know where this product comes from, or is it from an endangered source? Is it natural/normal? Also, to support and empower local communities as I travel, I often stay in local guest houses rather than fancy hotels and choose locally-made products over global brands. Being a responsible tourist entails not only respecting the local population but also respecting the local environment. Hence, I bring my bottle and other reusable toiletries to avoid using disposable plastics. There are so many more things you can do to travel guilt-free - I can keep going if you want.
- I would love to hear more, but I think it's my turn to submit the application. The officer just called my number.
- Yeah, go ahead. Would you like to have a coffee afterward and continue our conversation?
- That sounds great, but what about your visa application? You haven't submitted it yet.
- I passed my turn already! I will submit it tomorrow - it doesn't matter. I'll wait for you outside, ok?
- Okie Dokie. See you outside!
We resumed our conversation at the nearby cafe until the sun went down, and we had to part. While writing this post, I realized I didn't even know his name as we hadn't introduced our names the whole time. Nevertheless, I'm convinced meeting him is an experience I won't soon forget.
Bee #13 is a reminder that minding our own business is not always a good thing. Thinking back, if I had ignored his question at that moment and kept sticking my nose at my Kindle, I would have missed out on such an informative and intriguing conversation. Sometimes, an extra effort to care for strangers can connect you to many interesting people with many great ideas. Believe Bill Nye: "Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don't."
Comments