You're Black, she said and laughed out loud!
By cynthiann
@cynthiann (18602)
Jamaica
August 29, 2015 6:15pm CST
I went to a photo shop today to take photos for a new passport. I was horrified to see that it had expired and my sister is in hospital again in the U.K. I wish that I hadn't bothered to go to the hairdressers as my hair was pulled away from my face and my glasses were removed and I was asked not to smile - so of course, just like a kid, I smiled and they had to take another one!
I returned later to collect them and the young lady looked at me and started to laugh. I greeted her and then she said, 'Mrs. S______ you are black'. I looked at my arms and then said that I thought that I was the same shade. She was laughing so hard that she could not talk and then put the photos in front of me - and yes - I was definitely black in the photos! Customers crowded around and started to kid me.
Everyone in the shop just cracked up when I pointed out that Immigration control might have a problem with this and then the technician said that the machine was defective and he needed more time to correct the fault.
Try not to make me Asian, I said and they all cracked up again. I did collect them a few hours later and there was improvement as apart from the white blotched under my eyes, it is me with a suntan.
I returned later to collect them and the young lady looked at me and started to laugh. I greeted her and then she said, 'Mrs. S______ you are black'. I looked at my arms and then said that I thought that I was the same shade. She was laughing so hard that she could not talk and then put the photos in front of me - and yes - I was definitely black in the photos! Customers crowded around and started to kid me.
Everyone in the shop just cracked up when I pointed out that Immigration control might have a problem with this and then the technician said that the machine was defective and he needed more time to correct the fault.
Try not to make me Asian, I said and they all cracked up again. I did collect them a few hours later and there was improvement as apart from the white blotched under my eyes, it is me with a suntan.29 people like this
22 responses
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
30 Aug 15
lol! hat sometimes happens when a kid yells out 'Hey White Lady', and I find myself looking around for the white person! They do not mean it in a derogatory fashion - it is said as a means of identification. They would also say, " Hey, Mister half-Indian' - whatever! .
3 people like this
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
27 Sep 15
felt the same way as @dawnald except I was in China town with my then BFF from HS and well I was the only one who wasn't Asian. I felt quite out of place and very little was in English. Though she is Chinese she felt a bit out of place as we had to get her sister because she never learned how to read Chinese so we could read the menu and order some lunch
2 people like this
@celticeagle (166911)
• Boise, Idaho
30 Aug 15
That was a good one. Hadn't laughed all day until I read this. Glad it all turned out.
2 people like this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
30 Aug 15
It was so funny - in Jamaica we are not politically correct so I could not repeat all that was said. So funny!
3 people like this
@much2say (55601)
• Los Angeles, California
30 Aug 15
Ha ha! Oh why not Asian - then we can pass as relatives - hee hee! My dad is full Japanese with very, very dark skin for an Asian dude - and he often looks even darker in photos! I guess some photo taking machines are just color blind - hee hee! 
6 people like this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
30 Aug 15
@much2say Our citizens of Asian origin are very hardworking and contribute a lot to our society especially in Medicine and other disciplines!
2 people like this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
30 Aug 15
We do have many Jamaicans who are Asian - mostly of Chinese origin and also of Indian and Syrian origins who migrated or were indentured labour from the 18th century. Our Japanese friends are usually tourists who love to play golf! Our national motto is 'out of many, one people'. I am glad that it caused so much laughter!
4 people like this
@much2say (55601)
• Los Angeles, California
30 Aug 15
@cynthiann Really? I didn't realize there were Asian communities out there! Golfing - hee hee - must be businessmen - my uncle was one of those golfing travelers! He was never dark from golfing though. My dad was dark from farming in his youth - and gardening as a profession out here. You are always making people laugh no matter what you do - hee hee! 
2 people like this
@allknowing (136369)
• India
30 Aug 15
We need to go to these units to take pictures for many of these government documents including the passport and the photos taken do not look like us at all 
2 people like this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
4 Sep 15
@cynthiann i woner why they won't let you smile and hair pulled back. here they turn out awful usually but they don't have all those stipulations.
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
4 Sep 15
@bunnybon7 You have to abide my the rules of the country who is going to issue you your passport. This was a British passport and this was their requirements
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
30 Aug 15
Oh dreadful - hair off the face, no glasses and not to smile.
We all look like criminals!
We all look like criminals!3 people like this
@jstory07 (139697)
• Roseburg, Oregon
30 Aug 15
Funny but not for you. I am glad they fixed that problem.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
30 Aug 15
I too found it funny and the problem was fixed.we all had a good laugh together. If I can laugh each day then my day is made.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
30 Aug 15
You provided light and encouragement and laughter at your expense for the others. I am sorry your sister is in the hospital again, and I am encouraged that you now look like yourself again.
1 person likes this
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
27 Sep 15
@cynthiann I hope you sister is doing better since this post? You are very generous to offer her to stay with you. Nursing homes are awful... over priced, undignified, and always short staffed.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
30 Aug 15
I so needed a good laugh and as Jamaica is not politically correct we all had one together. My sister's health continues to be a worry. MY son lives with her to take care of her but he is at work and his job is long hours (GM of a hotel in London). I am trying to tell her to come to me again as her health did improve last year when she was with me.she really needs full time care and not the 20 minutes a day to have someone help her to bathe she receives from our health service. She does not want to go in a Nursing Home and I respect that so why not come to me and I will look after you.
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
24 Oct 15
It did not suit me at all! lol. I did not look younger - just awful
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
25 Oct 15
@cynthiann I think it won't suit me either . 
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
24 Oct 15
The machine was defective so I came out black. They did some more so it was okay.
1 person likes this
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
26 Oct 15
@cynthiann Oh, okay. A defect. I got it. That had to be pretty funny then.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
10 Oct 15
glad they sorted it out for you. Passport checks here in the UK can be quite stringent. Hope your sister is going to be alright.
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
10 Oct 15
Just received word that I can now collect my passport. It is just an awful photo but I am recognisable! lol. My sister is at home but with daily care -any number can play. I expect that now all will be well. Here's hoping!
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
10 Oct 15
@cynthiann It is rare for anyone to like their passport photos
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
9 Sep 15
yepperz, might'a caused ya some troubles with yer travels. hope that all 's well with yer sis!
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
10 Sep 15
It certainly would have! My sister is out id intensive care but still in hospital. I will get an update tomorrow. Many thanks for your kindness in asking
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
10 Sep 15
@cynthiann bless her heart, i'm so glad to hear she's hopefully outta the woods! i hope that'cha update here 's well - e'en if'n its jest a pm. yer welcome 'n i'll continue to send healin' hugs her way.
1 person likes this
@ThankyouLord (698)
• St. Petersburg, Florida
9 Nov 15
That is funny! You should have kept them for laughs.
1 person likes this
@artemeis (4194)
• China
21 Oct 15
You always managed to see the humor in everything including this one, and this is probably why to this day I've always pined to read your posts.
I don't think I could ever react and write that humor that you spotted here. If I were you, I would have gone ballistics and change to another shop.
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
24 Oct 15
No it is small stuff in the scheme of things. And we all had a good laugh!
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16763)
• China
26 Sep 15
Sorry ,the photo didn't do you justice .Maybe the technician "envied " you for a Caucasian .
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
27 Sep 15
No the machine malfunctioned! They would not do this in Jamaica! Blessings
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
6 Sep 15
Wow, that is funny and like you, I would have been the one to smile, I can't help it.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137257)
• United States
24 Oct 15
Now that was really funny!
I work in a Walmart. Our photo lab had the same problem a few weeks ago. One little boy looked black in his picture and his mother looked at it and yelled, "What have you done to my little boy?" I looked from the mother to her son, who was standing calmly beside his mother and replied, "Nothing. He looks perfectly healthy to me."
She was not amused! Everyone around me was though, including the store manager!
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
20 Oct 15
Yes - I often end up laughing in stores. I could never be lonely in Jamaica as I only have to enter a store and people start chatting - sometimes too much!
