A Night To Remember and What I Learned

"It is more from carelessness about truth than intentionally lying that there is so much falsehood in the world."

Samuel Johnson

Carelessness is sometimes the root cause of lying. That when the moment of truth is right there in front of you - would be the only time - you would tell yourself how careless you were.

"Where is your passport?", a police officer suddenly appeared in front of me and my boyfriend while waiting for a bus to his home that late Friday night. It was traumatic to me. It was a nightmare!

Sitting on the tiled floor, looking around, speechlessly disbelieving what just happened a while ago. For nine years working in a foreign country, walking and traveling in Bangkok, when I have to go to the embassy for legal purposes, going to the mall with friends or alone, strolling freely - had I been so comfy that I thought I can always walk back and forth when suddenly was I caught without my passport or my teaching license once.

Feeling terrified I tried to struggle for explanations that I have to contact a Thai co-worker to talk to them in my behalf - so disgustingly irritated that these officers cannot speak English! 

I just did my 90 days a day ago and submitted to the school personnel my passport and work permit for my one year visa which is going to expire on the third of April. It is always wiser to submit to her at least two weeks before the deadline. But that same day I don't know why she didn't make a copy of the necessary pages so that she could give it back to me. She required to keep it for the whole non-working days. I agreed with her and even reminded her to keep it safely. That was my mistake. I should have asked for a copy of my passport. It's also my mistake why I have never kept a copy with me to protect me wherever I go. 

My boyfriend has the same case. He had no copy and his was with the agency who is paid to do the visa run. He's also a foreigner and no valid ID because the officers do not accept foreign driver's license or any type of identification card except passports.

My loving brother and a couple friends helped me out. My boyfriend's friends helped him out. We signed the reports after reading it to us what the case was all about. Honda, the petite young lady who is the Head of the criminal case, had been very nice and sweet. She's the only person who can speak and understand English in that department. She's the light that gave us hope and made me feel like human again. Unlike the police officers, she was NEVER rude. 

But it was in the end I discovered the falsity of arresting people. You pay but no receipt if to say it is a LEGAL thing? Money and friends saved our lives from more hours of humiliation.

As we were walking away from that department...I promised to myself it will be first and the last. 

Bottom line: To you who is reading this now, if you are a foreigner, carry with you your original passport or even a photocopy of it wherever you go. Be sure you have good friends whom you can run to in times of unexpected problems. Pay back the good gestures of kindness. Learn the lesson and accept that carelessness is no excuse.

It was a night to remember and I learned my lesson.

Sofia Ann

SWEETLIFE Author