The Secret Handshake

I've often wished that I had traveled more.  I have been envious of those who have emailed fabulous pictures of foreign lands, great smiles and dark beer.  You know the ones; no kids, only seem to be back on the homeland long enough to clean up and head out on their next grand adventure.  They have some freakish, innate ability to know exactly what to pack, how much money they need, where to stay, what the rules are, where they are going and, nothing ever goes wrong.

An example?  But of course.  Here is a short email conversation with a friend of mine who has recently gone to South America for well over a month.

Traveler:  I'm staying a little longer.

Me:  What?  How can you just do that.  What about your return ticket?  Do you have money?  Don't you have to go back to work?

Traveler:  Handled.  I'm taking this boat trip to see turtles.  It's about a week, I think.

Me:  What, so you just came up with an extra $1000 to take a cruise?

Traveler:  I met these two guys who knew someone.  Anyhoo, I got a good deal.

Me:  Being a mule only seems like a good deal.  When you land yourself in some Chilean jail with your new friends, remember that cartel is spelled c-a-r-t-e-l.

Traveler:  You're an idiot.

So, back to everything that I don't know about traveling.

I am going to The Netherlands on Monday for a job interview.  I know I sound so cool and collected when I say it like that but, I am not a world traveler.  I don't know the secret handshake.  For example, I thought that the expiry date on my Passport meant that it is valid until that date, being not expired and all.  Well, this is where you from the travelers' club are having a little giggle at my naivety.

I know I'm probably breaking some pinky-swear secret by letting Joe Public in on this one but, here it goes.

Your Passport must be valid for 3 to 6 months AFTER your return to the Mothership.

So, the expiry date on your Passport is not really an expiry date at all.  It's merely there to let you know that your Passport has, indeed, already expired.

Stay tuned to learn how you, too, can spend $1000 to get your Passport renewed really quickly.

Comments

[ute]

Hey the girl I share an office with just had to do the same thing just to go to New York....go figure. Good luck and have fun on your trip.

[madonnart]

I did it in 24 hrs but had to go to Vancouver, wait in line with the united nations for 8, pay an extra $75.00 and then stay in a hotel for the next 2 days while they dug the Coq. and the Hope Princeton out from under an avalanche. In all a nightmare. I was with a total stranger and Dave both born again raw foodies....no wine.