Found Myself a Date…

I had to yet again, renew my visa, something I thought I didn’t need to do, but upon entering back into the country form Taiwan, I needed another extension. I was not to happy to learn this especially because it’s expensive, I have to dress up, take two jeepneys and deal with the officers, which I haven’t found too many to be cheerful. Although my last visit to renew my visa didn’t go bad at all. Remember my post about the grumpy old man before?

This time I went by myself, I was worried a bit about where to find the office again, cause I had forgotten, but I used my Tagalog skills and asked the driver to help me, in which he then struck up conversation with me, rambling on about something, I didn’t really understand him, I can pretend well though.

I made it to the Bureau easily. Upon walking to the entrance of the office, I notice the old man (Albert) from before, so I put on a big smile and greet him politely, to my surprise he was very happy to see me and ushered me in to get my visa renewed, he made sure that I was being well taken care of in the office, and speeding my passport along. After I had filled all the papers out, we chatted a while, about history, the USA, why I don’t have a bf, and other random things.

I was only in the office about an hour, which was a short time, and I was happy, I paid for the visa, which thankfully didn’t cost so much, I realized a little while later when looking over the  receipts why it was cheaper. I didn’t have to pay the express fee which cost about $30, because I had made a friend, who was the top man. I was thinking in my trip back to the base, that God had granted me favor in Albert’s eyes. I am very thankful for this, my eyes were opened in seeing God’s hand in everything. Even if it’s just a trip the immigration office.

Ok, the story gets better, Tito (uncle) Bert as he is now referring himself to me as, is sad that this will be my last time to renew my visa cause it will be the last time I see him.
I tell him, “I’ll come back to say goodbye before I leave the country!”
Then he goes on to say something like, “We’ll go have dinner.”
I jokingly respond, “We’ll call it a date!”
And that’s what it has become. I now have a date with Tito Bert, the man who frightens everyone because he’s a bit arduous.

When I was leaving he put his arm around me and we shot the breeze, then he gave me a kiss on the cheek (his stubble was abrasive). He is a cute old man, that is short and often frowns. On our date I will tell him he needs to smile more often!

What an interesting day! I’m thankful for such a stress free experience.