Fascinating Life
One of the perks of living in Thailand is the opportunity to visit Immigration every 90 days to check in.
To be quite frank, I didn’t use to see it as a perk, but as a bothersome nuisance that I was obligated to do if I wanted to stay in the Country.
But today was different.
I arrived at 7:45 and received my first number. It is an interesting system they recently started using that seems to work really well. My first number was 74, which meant 73 other people were ahead of me.
People are there for many different purposes, and each purpose has their own department staff. When they called my number and asked what I was there for, I was given the number 10. Ha!
I had come fully prepared, had my signed photocopies of my original Visa, most recent stamp, and a few other required pages. Except I forgot to bring a pen.
And that is when I saw her, and my whole perception of the process was changed. She was sitting up front in a wheelchair, and had a glow about her that drew me to her.
She saw I needed a pen and offered to loan me hers. I thanked her and filled out my form and returned her pen to her and thanked her again.
I went and found a seat and opened my book to start reading, closed it and went back over to talk with her.
She had mentioned that she had lived here for 10 years, so I opened up a conversation with asking her what had brought her to Thailand originally.
What ensued was one of the more interesting conversations I have had with anyone in a long time. She was so interesting, and has lived a fantastic life.
Listening to her life story, or a part of her life, was inspirational and awesome.
She had to be one of the more brilliant (3 PhD’s, 8 languages) well traveled (mostly working in Africa), contributing member of our planet. I can see where she has left an imprint on our world, one that surely affects millions (fresh water systems in many African villages, for one). Her glow was coming from her positive energy and happiness.
She was very down to earth and humble.
During our conversation I had several “aha” moments, observations she made based on her unique experience in this life.
My number was called, I completed my business, and said goodbye to her, and told her I had really enjoyed meeting her, then I left.
On the way home I kept thinking about our conversation, and realized I did not get her name, or any way to contact her for further discussion, which I would have enjoyed.
I considered turning around and going back to get her contact information, but decided not to.
I am very glad for the time we did share together, I rarely meet someone of her caliber. If it is meant to be I am sure we will meet again. If not, she left me with a new perspective on life.
I look forward to being open to who I might meet on my next visit to Immigration.