Unexpected Reactions

Tweet

I was with our company driver at the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia to apply for a new passport. At the main gate, one of the security guards who was a Saudi National confronted us for identification. Our company driver produced his driver's license and the guard acknowledged it and I told our driver to wait for me in the waiting area inside the Embassy. Then I handed my company ID to the guard in which my name was written in Arabic but the guard ignored it. I produced another ID from my wallet that I used to remit money to the bank. The guard looked at it and then said, "I'm not a bank teller." Fed up but I remained cool, I took another ID. I gave it to him, and he looked at it, turned it this way and that. I saw him smiling while looking at the picture, which I attached on the card with those numbers the date of expiry - January 31, 2003. It was my membership card for the Freelance Writers Group. Then he gave it back to me with his approval and comments, said: "You look alike, my grandpa!" I wanted to reply to his comments though I did not pursue it because I was afraid he might change his mind so I left him and walked inside the Philippine Embassy's premises without looking back ignoring his unexpected reactions! I feel happy and feel younger every time I remember that memorable incident that happened to me 13 years ago...