ghamedalneil@gmail.com
Riot police stationed at strategic points keeping an strict eye on the demonstratos seemingly they were playing Tom and Jerry game with each other .
The atmosphere was totally inflamable , streets were blocked tightly, curfew declared from dawn to sunset.
That day of tense and heated situation I had to go to US Embassy to get a visa to Dream Land . Any delay from arriving there at the prescribed time might cost me a big price which I could not be able to compensate in the near future.
How could I cross from my house at the outskirts of the city to the embassy which is far away.
I came across a taxi driver, talented in recognition’ of crooked ways out of reach of armed forces, those moments were authorised to shoot and kill any individual breaking the law intentionly or unintentionaly .
Now exactly Iam face to face with the American Consul . I stood before a window closed by glass at its top a microphone, underneath it a tunnel like pass way to hand in and receive the required documents.
The interview began, she asked me to explain clearly and briefly why I wanted to go to America , the translator was adjacent her was about to perform his job ، l explained in fluent English that I wanted to visit my daughter , her husband and my grandchildren.Here the translator withdrawn to his desk watching the scene from afar.
O.K , but who will pay for the expenses of your stay there, she ssked .
Without hesitation I answered :
( My daughter Will take care of this mstter through her husband.
I handed her a statement indicating his annual income as a medicine doctor along with a document showing that his tax was paid in full .
Then she ssked me different questions concerning details about my daughter family like how many children does she have and their names. When I give the answer she kept saying ( Mashallah Mashallah ) in Arabic.
She noticed that I was bending when I was talking to her :
( Why you don’t stand up right ) ?!
( I can hear you better good since we are provided here with a microphone ) .
My answer came this time as follows :
( Iam bending to be as same level as you ) !!..
By the way she was very short.
( She laughed at the top of her voice ) , and from that moment I judged that the American have s sense of humour.
Finally she surprised me with a question that stunned me to the extent that the translator interfered to save me ، he urged in Arabic to answer quickly.
Her question was :
( You are a teacher and you want a visa from July through January, how can you travel and the shools have just opened their doors ) ?!
As recommended by the Sudanese translator, I gave my reply hastily for fear that I might be denied the issuance of the required visa that would take me to my daughter, my son – in – law and my grandchildren who are now live in Minneapolis ، Minnesota.
( In fact the school Iam working in is ours , so I can easily bring a replacement to cover my place ) !!..
It seems that she was convinced.
She commented with a broad smile :
( Your answer is crazy but I will accept it )
She added : Your visa is approved !!
To be continued.
Hamedalneil Fadlalmoula Abdalrahman Gorashi.
Old Teacher .
سودانايل أول صحيفة سودانية رقمية تصدر من الخرطوم