On the morning of my graduation at 6am, I was awakened by the ringing of the phone. Still exhausted, having only had 4 hours of sleep, I was thinking it must be one of my cousins in need of directions, but I could not place the accent at the other end of the line.
It turns out I had neglected to include my passport in my visa application packet. I say neglected, but that is not the correct word choice. See, I didn't realize that I should include my passport. (I told you that I have never been to a country that required a visa before.) In my ignorance, I simply made a copy of my passport and sent that along. It never would have occurred to me to send my passport to an unknown through the mail. While the consultate was talking I started to get very nervous thinking that I had plans to fly to Mali shortly and I had yet to secure the visa. Yikes!
Me: I'm really sorry. I didn't realize that I needed to send my passport with the application.
Consulate: (sounding peevish) Yes, the application called for a passport not a copy of a passport.
I wanted to say that the application should have stated the difference between needing to have a valid passport and needing to send a valid passport, but knew that it would do no good to irritate the man.
Me: Sir, I apologize for my neglect. I am graduating today and I have had my mind on a million different things. Will this issue be resolved if I overnight my passport to the embassy?
Consulate: (in a completely different tone of voice) Oh Congratulations!! Yes send it overnight care of the Consular Services and we will take care of the matter.
Me: Thank you very much! I apologize again for my error.
Consulate: Okay. You're welcome! Congratulations again!
Phew!
So that was how I ended up further postponing the writing of my commencement speech on the morning of my graduation day (could it have gotten anymore last minute?) until after I returned from the post office. And yes the speech went well!
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