Tuesday, March 17, 2009

“It’s OK, my boy, it is done”.

The verdict?
“O” Positivo.

Doctor Saul Alejandro Ahumada Montoya came to this conclusion after he had drawn blood from the finger and analyzed it in his laboratory.

Why would a permanent pilgrim go to a clinic and get an official paper what type of blood he has?

Travelling drives to strange places.
Having to do things that are not easily expected.

The fact is that the current Spanish driving license runs out this month.
Being a Mexican resident, a new driving license has to be requested in Mexico.
Logico, no ?

In Mexico one can obtain a driving license when in the possession of a Residence Permit.
But one must also bring an official statement of what type of blood the driver has.
That will be mentioned on the credit card-like document.
Convenient when one has an accident: gives the paramedics reason to ask for the driving license also.

The blood analysis was made in a private clinic.
Simply walking in the hall of the clinic and informing the receptionist what was needed.
“Sit down, please”, she said in English.
Very painful because the request was made in perfect Spanish.

Waiting time was about 45 minutes.
Plenty of time to see people come in deadly sick and asking for a doctor prontissimo.
Oooh, how hospitals are hated.

“Ai, ai, ai, help, help”
“It’s OK, my boy, it is done”.

And then they said to go to the laboratory where this most handsome, charming and young doctor was to perform the operation.
Saùl liked to chat and was most friendly but the terrible pain of a nail being drilled in the fingertip was almost unbearable.
To act like drained in hypochondria makes a visit to the hospital much more exciting.

“Ai, ai, ai, help, help”
“It’s OK, my boy, it is done”.

Then this older man came in.
He already had his new driving license but they had made a mistake.
Instead of “O”, they had put an “A” on his card.

The gentleman was from Canada and most friendly.
He told the incredible story that he had been a soldier in the Canadian Army liberating Europe.
Actually, he said, he had been serving on a warship and not witnessed much of the liberation.
He was now 84 and told that some years ago he was invited to come to the Netherlands when they were celebrating their 40th anniversary of the liberation of the occupation by Nazi Germany.
It had been a spectacular visit with many Dutch people still expressing gratitude.
He claimed, this Canadian man, that he had even been embraced by the Queen of the Netherlands, Beatrix.

“Ai, ai, ai, help, help”
“It’s OK, my boy, it is done”.

In this part of Mexico a weekly newspaper is published called “The Gringo Gazette”.
It is one of the worst newspapers in the world.
This week there was a story about a Gringo who had tried to obtain a Mexican driving license.
It was described not only as a nightmare, but of course the Mexicans involved were stupid, lazy and ignorant.

Tomorrow an effort will be made to also obtain a Mexican driving license.

“Ai, ai, ai, help, help”
“It’s OK, my boy, it is done”.




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1 comment:

Dawn Pier said...

No Michel, I am sorry, you are wrong. The GG is THE worst newspaper in the world. Well, certainly the most myopic, bigoted and racist thing I've ever had the displeasure to read. I for one only pick it up for the upcoming events section. ;-)