I literally NEVER forget my wallet. In my memory, I have not done this in the past 40 years. (Quit laughing...I just forgot something and now I am telling you "in my memory"!)
What!!!??? The wallet with my Panama residency visa, the visa I need to leave or get back into the country. Yah, that one.
It would take us an hour to turn around, get my wallet and return to the spot where I realized I didn't have it. That would make us miss our flight.
I called my Panamanian friend that knows everything and asked her if I could travel on my passport only because I did have that with me. She said no problem.
So much for good advice for free.
When I was trying to get through security in Panama City for the international flight, the immigration agent stopped me because I either had to have my residency visa or be considered a tourist, in which case I had been in the country over 90 days and would have to pay a stiff fine and that would take a day.
What to do?
My travel partner was already through security looking back wondering what was going to happen. I really felt bad for him. All this planning and now his traveling companion may not make it.
This is where the best qualities of Panamanians comes out...when you need help.
The agent called his office on his radio, explained the situation, then told me I could fax a copy of the visa and that would do it.
Simple, right?
As I am standing in line, making a bit of a disturbance, I called my wife and asked her to find my wallet, find the visa, copy it and fax it. So off she went.
It was Sunday. No copy-fax places open. She went to a friend who had a fax...no go because it was North American protocol and it didn't work. So she sweet talked a hotel into faxing it.
All of this took 45 minutes and mucho brain damage to get done. Thanks to my wife!
As I was giving up hope, the agent gets a radio call from his office saying they received the faxed copy and all was good for getting out of the country.
Hurray!
While I was standing in line, I used my cell phone several times talking to my wife and travel partner. The agent let me use my phone while he was telling everyone else that they couldn't use their phone...all to help get me through...breaking the rules for me...not something normally done in this country.
And the agents changed during the 45 minutes I was standing there. The first agent made sure the second agent knew what was going on...he certainly didn't have to do that.
When the chips are down, Panamanians come through!
Now all I had to do was get back into the country!
2 comments:
Loved this post Tom. So True, how some people really come thru in a pinch. I know that most Americans will, too, if they see it, but most don't even register 'pinch' in others - because they never had one! but the ones who have had, come through - that I have seen. for me, it seems that in those countries where most of the people live in a bit of a pinch 24/7, there is this beautiful sensitivity. Bless those Panamanians. Indians are like this, too. Love, Darshan
Thanks, Darshan. I think you nailed it. Once you've been in a pinch, it all changes and "help" becomes a real, tangible thing. I was especially impressed with them letting me use a cell phone in a prohibited area. I almost missed this courtesy. Glad I didn't because this was a huge thing...in a security line of all places! I don't think that would happen in the US. We are too whacked out about "Homeland Security", another clever marketing name for "you're fu#$#!!". But, you never know when kindness will show up.
Love, Tom
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