Syria 1
Salaam,
So off set the intrepid explorers on their quest to enter the ancient land of Syria, without any documentation, visas, or place to stay in Damascus if let in..
All the way to the border we were being encouraged to recite ayatul qursi as this was to help us in our confrontation (we Knew there would be a confrontation) at the border. After 1 and 1/2 hrs we got to the border and it began.
There was four of us who set out to penetrate into syria, me, one malaysian and 2 americans. First thing; "why no visa??!! u need visa! who tell u u no need visa??" etc etc but after explaining to him that we got told we could obtain visas at the border, the border guard shuffled to a back room with our passports in hand. He then returned 5 mins later; "Malaysian, u in for free, syria and malaysia good friends, british-we will see, americans. No"
So obviously we all started protesting, then pleading, then begging (it wasnt a pretty sight) for them to let us all in, and that we had to All be let in or it was no good. And then the charm offensive began. We knew from the outset that we would have to be smooth to get in so had come equipped with sweets. Yes sweets. So whilst mine and the two americans details were being faxed to the interior ministry (this is what he told us) we started to work on the guy.
Who said management wasnt a useful degree??! My paper in negotiation skills (i actually did do a paper on how to negotiate with people..) came into full practice now. First we started to just chat with the guy, then we offered him some sweets, then more talking, then we started talking about our families, then about our plans in life, then about how it was ony fair for us to be let in, then more food, etc etc...it was a sight and a half. Then SIX hours later the dreaded fax came back. I had been let in, but the americans had been refused. We were Gutted. And so was the official. Genuinly. Now what to do? I was genuinly saying to forget going as it would split the group up bt on the insistance of the two americans and the fact that the malaysian guy could speak fluent arabic, we decided that the two of us granted visa's would go for it and the two americans would return.
So off set the brit and the malay into Syria...
Next installment: Syria 2...
Salaam.
So off set the intrepid explorers on their quest to enter the ancient land of Syria, without any documentation, visas, or place to stay in Damascus if let in..
All the way to the border we were being encouraged to recite ayatul qursi as this was to help us in our confrontation (we Knew there would be a confrontation) at the border. After 1 and 1/2 hrs we got to the border and it began.
There was four of us who set out to penetrate into syria, me, one malaysian and 2 americans. First thing; "why no visa??!! u need visa! who tell u u no need visa??" etc etc but after explaining to him that we got told we could obtain visas at the border, the border guard shuffled to a back room with our passports in hand. He then returned 5 mins later; "Malaysian, u in for free, syria and malaysia good friends, british-we will see, americans. No"
So obviously we all started protesting, then pleading, then begging (it wasnt a pretty sight) for them to let us all in, and that we had to All be let in or it was no good. And then the charm offensive began. We knew from the outset that we would have to be smooth to get in so had come equipped with sweets. Yes sweets. So whilst mine and the two americans details were being faxed to the interior ministry (this is what he told us) we started to work on the guy.
Who said management wasnt a useful degree??! My paper in negotiation skills (i actually did do a paper on how to negotiate with people..) came into full practice now. First we started to just chat with the guy, then we offered him some sweets, then more talking, then we started talking about our families, then about our plans in life, then about how it was ony fair for us to be let in, then more food, etc etc...it was a sight and a half. Then SIX hours later the dreaded fax came back. I had been let in, but the americans had been refused. We were Gutted. And so was the official. Genuinly. Now what to do? I was genuinly saying to forget going as it would split the group up bt on the insistance of the two americans and the fact that the malaysian guy could speak fluent arabic, we decided that the two of us granted visa's would go for it and the two americans would return.
So off set the brit and the malay into Syria...
Next installment: Syria 2...
Salaam.
posted by Me at
12:21 PM
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