So I'm sure we've all experienced it one way or another. It happens to the best of us in public restrooms, at ATMs, at the banks, at restaurants, on the road… yes, pretty much everywhere. The intolerable people who refused to queue. But you wouldn't think that it would happen at an embassy? Because surely it's a place where order is very much the norm. Well, I beg to differ.
This morning my husband and I were at the Turkish embassy to apply for visas. As we got into the waiting room, I saw a man standing in front of the visa window and others were seated as they wait for their turn. Immediately I thought to myself "how do we do this? Is there a line? How do we know who's next? Do we have to take a number? Hmm…" I get tense at situations like this. But my husband calmed me down and assured me that we'll go after all the ones seated down have gone. Still, I didn't like it one bit.
So this lady comes in with another man and sat next to us. They were tour & travel people, you know, the ones coming into embassies with stacks and stacks of passports. I'm thinking "she better not cut us." and what do you know? Even before I finished my thoughts she told the other man to chuck the passports at the window, as my husband was standing there waiting for his turn. Unbelievable!!! And the man did so and I was so furious. I mean hello!!!!! We were there first!!! Can't you see woman that we've been waiting forever for our turn as well???? Luckily the visa lady told them in a rather sharp tone to sit her butt down. And she finally did with a stupid grin on her face.
The whole point of this is why would you wait for someone to tell you off in front of other people? Isn't it embarrassing? But I guess it all comes down to the fact that most people here are not familiar with the concept of queuing. You must give them a number or rope them or write in big letters to "please queue" or finally, if all fails, shout at them. My advice is don't wait to be told off!! Have the common courtesy to queue wherever you are. If you don't know how, well don't you think it's about bloody time you learned it?! - Gwen Winarno
