First impressions last. Really, they do. Whatever we do, whoever we meet, the usual things that stick to other people's heads about us after parting would have to be the odd, the good, and the bad--and first encounters usually count!
In the case of foreign tourists, the first contact point between them and their travel destination will have to be the immigration officer who handles their travel documents, right before they can officially say they're 'in.' While it is neither necessary nor customary for immigration officials to wear a smile when dealing with newly arrived tourists, there is no rule in the book that says they shouldn't. I know there is also no mention against frowning but come on, smiling is a lot less straining on your facial muscles than frowning. If you don't believe me, Google that.
So what's the connection between immigration officials and first impressions, and how are they significant to what I'm writing? Well, they're all cooking in one pot.
I chanced upon a very disheartening sight while stuck in a long queue, waiting for my turn at immigration at the NAIA 3 last Sept 17. I took Cebu Pacific, of course, and our plane landed at around 5 AM. Fellow passengers were still disoriented (or maybe just some), with a group of traveling students queued in a different line as they were holding foreign passports. These were young people in there teens, and judging from the matching jackets they were wearing, I assumed they were here for an event or a sports meet.
Now, I'm no expert at judging people but three of these young travelers seemed like it was their first time at a Philippine airport, and they had no clue how procedures are supposed to run. Finally, it was their turn and the immigration officer didn't appear to be the friendliest officer a first-time traveler would expect to see in our airports.
The kids were still a bit unsure of what to do and kept looking at each other. The immigration officer wasn't going to just let their age be an excuse to make her wait or at least explain properly what to do.
"PASSPORT!" shouted the immigration officer. Startled, the one at the front end of the line hurriedly gave his passport document for review.
"WHERE'S YOUR ARRIVAL CARD?" again, the immigration officer said in an alarming and intimidating tone. "YOU DIDN'T FILL IT OUT! WHERE WILL YOU BE STAYING?!"
The boy, unsure, asked his companions for the address or at least a place of reference to give to the officer as a response. The immigration officer, with an annoyed look, asked, "WHERE?! ARE YOU GOING TO BORACAY?! WHERE?!"
The boy eventually got past immigration, leaving his two other companions behind (others from their group was still at the latter parts of the line). Just as the second boy's turn was up, he handed his documents to the immigration officer but forgot to prepare his passport. Annoyed and fuming, the immigration officer hollered at the boy, "PASSPORT!" And if that wasn't enough, she had to panic the kid even more by following it up with a forceful "HURRY!"
Other people who were also waiting for their turn at immigration were looking at what was happening. Imagine: more than a hundred people, some of which were foreigners, saw with their own eyes how rude and unwelcoming immigration people can be. It could have been me, panicking due to lack of sleep from a four-hour flight from Bangkok, or an even longer one from some other place. I don't believe what happened was because the travelers the officer was talking to were young, or that they were foreign. Something might have happened earlier that incensed the immigration officer mentioned, but whatever it was that caused her to become irate at 5 AM on a Saturday, her being rude was uncalled for.
First impressions can be established anywhere, at any given time. You as a traveler, a representative of your country, bearing the features and culture that define what you are as a national automatically gives you the responsibility to leave a good and possibly lasting impression that, where you came from, people know how to smile, respect, and honor other people regardless of race, creed, gender, or age.
So the next time you deal with people be sure you're at your best self. Never mind knowing if they're foreign or local, just be responsible and nice.
**
To the Bureau of Immigration:
I still believe that there are dedicated people from your office, and that there's a credo that you uphold and live by. But please, be vigilant in determining which of the people from your ranks know the true meaning of service, and not lip service.
In the case of foreign tourists, the first contact point between them and their travel destination will have to be the immigration officer who handles their travel documents, right before they can officially say they're 'in.' While it is neither necessary nor customary for immigration officials to wear a smile when dealing with newly arrived tourists, there is no rule in the book that says they shouldn't. I know there is also no mention against frowning but come on, smiling is a lot less straining on your facial muscles than frowning. If you don't believe me, Google that.
So what's the connection between immigration officials and first impressions, and how are they significant to what I'm writing? Well, they're all cooking in one pot.
I chanced upon a very disheartening sight while stuck in a long queue, waiting for my turn at immigration at the NAIA 3 last Sept 17. I took Cebu Pacific, of course, and our plane landed at around 5 AM. Fellow passengers were still disoriented (or maybe just some), with a group of traveling students queued in a different line as they were holding foreign passports. These were young people in there teens, and judging from the matching jackets they were wearing, I assumed they were here for an event or a sports meet.
Now, I'm no expert at judging people but three of these young travelers seemed like it was their first time at a Philippine airport, and they had no clue how procedures are supposed to run. Finally, it was their turn and the immigration officer didn't appear to be the friendliest officer a first-time traveler would expect to see in our airports.
The kids were still a bit unsure of what to do and kept looking at each other. The immigration officer wasn't going to just let their age be an excuse to make her wait or at least explain properly what to do.
"PASSPORT!" shouted the immigration officer. Startled, the one at the front end of the line hurriedly gave his passport document for review.
"WHERE'S YOUR ARRIVAL CARD?" again, the immigration officer said in an alarming and intimidating tone. "YOU DIDN'T FILL IT OUT! WHERE WILL YOU BE STAYING?!"
The boy, unsure, asked his companions for the address or at least a place of reference to give to the officer as a response. The immigration officer, with an annoyed look, asked, "WHERE?! ARE YOU GOING TO BORACAY?! WHERE?!"
The boy eventually got past immigration, leaving his two other companions behind (others from their group was still at the latter parts of the line). Just as the second boy's turn was up, he handed his documents to the immigration officer but forgot to prepare his passport. Annoyed and fuming, the immigration officer hollered at the boy, "PASSPORT!" And if that wasn't enough, she had to panic the kid even more by following it up with a forceful "HURRY!"
Other people who were also waiting for their turn at immigration were looking at what was happening. Imagine: more than a hundred people, some of which were foreigners, saw with their own eyes how rude and unwelcoming immigration people can be. It could have been me, panicking due to lack of sleep from a four-hour flight from Bangkok, or an even longer one from some other place. I don't believe what happened was because the travelers the officer was talking to were young, or that they were foreign. Something might have happened earlier that incensed the immigration officer mentioned, but whatever it was that caused her to become irate at 5 AM on a Saturday, her being rude was uncalled for.
First impressions can be established anywhere, at any given time. You as a traveler, a representative of your country, bearing the features and culture that define what you are as a national automatically gives you the responsibility to leave a good and possibly lasting impression that, where you came from, people know how to smile, respect, and honor other people regardless of race, creed, gender, or age.
So the next time you deal with people be sure you're at your best self. Never mind knowing if they're foreign or local, just be responsible and nice.
**
To the Bureau of Immigration:
I still believe that there are dedicated people from your office, and that there's a credo that you uphold and live by. But please, be vigilant in determining which of the people from your ranks know the true meaning of service, and not lip service.
On my last flight from Bangkok, the immigration officer (a young guy at that!) was so rude to the 2 French people in front of us (they were in their early 20s). He was stern with the guy. Then downright rude with the girl. Some of what he said was something like, "Is this your first time here?" "what's good with the morning?" "what? are you upset now?" and when she got past him, he just had to say to his colleagues "uptight Caucasians" (or something to that effect). We felt sooo bad for them we talked with them afterwards then offered any kind of help they could possibly need. Met them again the next day in Puerto Princesa. Saw then hanged out with them in El Nido.
ReplyDeleteThe golden rule can be aptly practiced in situations like this.
ReplyDelete