Page 18 of Status Undefined
I looked at this fearless man, so hungry for life and unafraid of getting hurt. I wished I could be like him, think only about the present and take risks like there was no tomorrow. But there is a tomorrow. I wanted there to be a tomorrow, and I was frightened to death of not wanting that anymore. That seemed a real danger if I let myself fall in love with a nomad who would decide at some point to stay true to his wandering spirit and leave.
December 15
(visa expires in 30 days)
“So what kind of visa do you have?” Daniel squinted at me in the glare.
“A student visa.”
We were on our way to the Phuket immigration office.
“But you’re not a student.”
“I am. I have a once-a-week online lesson with a teacher from Chiang Mai.”
“Really? What are you studying?”
“Thai.”
“Liar! You can’t speak Thai.”
“Well I guess I teach her English more than she teaches me Thai. But it’s nice. I enjoy it.”
“And you don’t need to renew your visa?”
“I have to fill in a form every 90 days, but I do that online.” Daniel had begged me to come with him, like a kid pleading with his mommy. I wasn’t busy, so I agreed.
“So why do I have to show up in person to extend my visa?”
“Maybe they follow you on Instagram and really want to meet you.”
Daniel pulled a face, but I knew he was amused.
The first step was to get a photocopy of his passport. The clerk asked for three baht. Daniel fished around in his wallet and found he didn’t have anything smaller than a 1,000 baht note. The clerk smiled in horror (there’s no other way to describe her expression) and Daniel mumbled sorry, over and over, as she struggled to make change.
I took a seat while Daniel filled out the forms and got a number. A lot of people in the waiting room were speaking Russian, which I recognized from hearing a lot of it in Israel. Daniel came to sit down, looking confused.
“What’s up?”
“I handed the clerk my passport and 2,000 baht. The fee was only 1,900 so I asked for my change. She looked at the next clerk and laughed, then told me I’d get the change when I got my passport back. Do you think they’ll give me a hard time about the visa?”
“I doubt it. Sometimes the clerks are just robots – not used to getting asked questions. Let’s hope she doesn’t keep you waiting just to be difficult.”
But, of course, she did. People who came in after Daniel received their passports and visas before he did. Daniel looked upset, frustrated, and I thought I’d better cheer him up.
“There’s a really good Instagram-worthy ice-cream place just near here. Let’s go after this. My treat.”
Daniel smiled.
“You already know me so well.”
“I bet there are tons of followers who know you better than I do.”
“No Instagram follower ever…” Daniel’s name was called.
“About time!”
Daniel got a one-month visa extension – and his 100 baht change. He decided to invest the money in a wildly decadent caramel ice cream which he photographed from every possible angle and still managed to eat before it melted.
