An Opportunity of A Life Time
Part 3
By: Luis Rasgado
"I never thought Mexico City could be so beautiful!!"
I always had that thought that I would see a dead body on the side of the road or someone stabbing somebody else in front of everyone, but its not even close to those thoughts.
Before I had to go through my Visa interview I wanted to release some stress. I decided to take a look and find out more about Mexico. This country has a very unique culture, and high a percentage of catholic religious beliefs and with those two combination, Mexico has various tourist attractions where I had the opportunity to be amazed by many sights.
Xochimilco is mostly known for its "Floating Gardens". I have seen Xochimilco on television, but I could have never imagined it without seeing it with my own eyes.
" I was amazed to see hundreds of boats cruising up and down the canal, decorated with thousands of different colorful flowers. The tour guy told me that if I ever wanted to go to Venice, Italy and go on vacation, then it wasn't necessary. Xochimilco is not any different than what you will see in Venice.
Sunset was about to come down on us and we had only been through half our tour. After touring around Xochimilco, I headed to Teotihucan, home of the sun and moon pyramids.
After being out all day I was wore out. I was ready to go back to the hotel and sleep because that Monday morning was going to be the big day. I was about 10 minutes away on a "metrobus" when two guys out of no where started talking to everyone on the bus. "We are not here to kill you, kidnap, rape are harm you in any way." I was literally crying, I truly just wanted to get on a plane and fly back home, but that was impossible. " Just give us whatever you have in your pockets," they continued "and we will just walk away." I was about to give them $100 when I saw a guy just give them 10 pesos, equivalent to a dollar and I just did the same. I was relieved to watch them go and the bus continue its way to my destination. "If that was a sign to what was to come tomorrow," I thought " then I really didn't want tomorrow to come."
I was scared and I couldn't sleep, Monday morning was the big day!
Have you ever had that butterfly feeling in your stomach when you are nervous? Well I had that feeling all night, and I didn't sleep whatsoever. My interview was at 6:00a.m and I was feeling sleepy and with no motivation. Lazily I ordered a taxi and asked to be taken to the Mexican Embassy, and once I got there I was shocked to see hundreds of people formed in a line. The line "without exaggerating" was about a mile long, I didn't want to go to the end, so I cut in front and many people told me to go to the back and all I wanted to tell them was "Me, no speaky Spanish," but I just ignored them and stayed put until it was time for me to go inside.
There was approximately 50 people in front of me and out of those about half of them had the chance to go in and the others were told to come back another day with the right documentations. I was nervous, I didn't want to come back another day. If that was to happen I wouldn't have had time to make it back home for orientation and to sign up for my classes. Then I would have to wait longer to try to get another appointment and see if I could have the opportunity to get a visa. I didn't want to wait, if all my papers were incorrect I would have been denied the chance to get the visa, I would have to stay and study in Mexico with no ifs, ands, or buts about it. That was the last thing I wanted to do.
As I entered the building I felt anxious and excited. I was one of the first 10 people who had the paper work in order and were ready for the interview. The first 7 were rapidly rejected, I was shocked. What had they done to be rejected and not have the opportunity to have an education? That upset me, a lot of what if came to my mind. I was scared, whenever my number was called I didn't even want to get up. My legs were shaking and it was as if I didn't have control of them. I had to get up or else the next number was going to be called and my opportunity of a visa would be gone.
Finally, I got up and went to a table where a cold looking, snake like lady was waiting to decide my fate. I was about to go through the Spanish interview. "Good morning!" I said and no answer came from her mouth. "Let me see your papers," she said coldly, quickly she scanned through my papers and as she did so, she nodded her head as if she was rocking to some hardcore rock song. "Weird," I thought After 30 seconds of looking into my papers she looked at me and asked me "what was my purpose to go to the U.S?, why do I want to go to the U.S?, and what did I want to go to the U.S?." I was seriously about to smack her in the face, all those three questions meant exactly the same! I tried to be polite with her and answer her questions with a little sarcasm. "The reason I want to go to the U.S is to have an education and to the other two questions maam, well the answered is exactly the same as the first one." She looked at me with a face of rage. "I don't like your sarcasm and I don't like your attitude, if it was for me I would have kicked you out in an instant.
Right then, I thought that was the end!! .......................
To Be Continued......
