1990, Tel Aviv Airport, being questioned by Israeli security on leaving the
country. On noticing a Syrian visa in my passport, the security man not
unexpectedly began to question me on my reasons for entering Syria. I
truthfully explained that I was researching the life of a Syrian bishop and
that my reason for entering Syria was therefore in connection with my work.
Unfortunately, I failed to make it sufficiently clear that the said bishop
had been dead for over 1500 years. The security man questioned me at
length over my Syrian contact until I realised that he thought that the
said bishop was a contemporary and not a somewhat departed figure. At
least when the truth was divulged, he was quick to let me through.
Ian T.
At 21:28 18/11/99 +0000, you wrote:
>
>> >>> "George FERZOCO" <[log in to unmask]> 11/17/99 01:58PM >>>
>> By all means, let's stay witty, but within the context of medeevil
>> skawlership.
>>
>> Surely, George, you mean "mid-evil" ?
>>
>
>Once, when seeking to enter the U.S. from Canada, I encountered a
>border crossing at a place called, as I remember, "One Horse Junction".
> I was the only person on the bus who was not a U.S. or Canadian
>citizen; and I think the only such person the immigration officials
>had ever encountered. They asked me what I did, to which I replied
>that I was a student of Medieval Studies. The official carefully wrote
>'Medi Evil Studies' on my visa. With the solemnity which the occasion
>required, I asked that he correct the word, in case anyone should think
>I was the student of something evil, and therefore not a fit person to
>be allowed into the U.S. I think it was the first time he had
>encountered the word.
>
>Still Supple after all the years.
>
>
>
>
>
>____________________________________________________________
>Do You Yahoo!?
>Get your free @yahoo.co.uk address at http://mail.yahoo.co.uk
>or your free @yahoo.ie address at http://mail.yahoo.ie
>
>
Ian G Tompkins, MA, BD, DPhil
Administrative Assistant
Academic Registrar's Office
~~~~~~~~
Warden
Neuadd Penbryn - Penbryn Hall
~~~~~~~~
Prifysgol Cymru - The University of Wales
Aberystwyth
~~~~~~~~
Email: [log in to unmask]
Tel: (01970-62)2047(day); 2900(eve)
Web: http://www.aber.ac.uk/~igt
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|