這是我的大學同學單聖明(Sheng-Ming Shan)，在美國德州奧斯汀與休士頓遇到的真實案例。
我們經常罵台灣的官員既笨又懶，但是，仍有一些很棒的駐外代表，像這位駐休士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長賴澄民(Jason Lai)先生, 就是最好的例子，他犧牲自己半夜的休息時間，協助我國在海外的僑民，這種勤勉任事的精神令人感動，值得記上一筆。
媒體天生就是愛罵人，但遇到好事情卻很少提，或只是輕輕帶過。特別把我的同學寫給外交部的這封信，放在這個部落格裡，讓大家一起分享
宏文
To whom it may concern,
I would appreciate this email be forwarded and shared with colleagues in Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as what I experienced on June 9~10, 2010 really makes me proud of being part of Taiwan.
Below is what happened:
1. 10:40PM, June 9, 2010: (9 hours before my wife and 2 children are supposed to board a flight from Austin, TX to Taiwan) This is a trip we've planned for 5 months, and the kids were in good sleep waiting to get up the next morning to leave for Taiwan. They have been excited about this for a while. It's during the final check up that I just realized that the passports of my 2 children expired on Feb 7, 2010.
2. 10:50PM: Out of frustration (knowing there is little I can do), I called a sister in our church who purchased the ticket for me to see if she can provide any leads. Through short conversation, both of us agreed that the chance is slim that my wife and 2 children would be allowed to board without valid passport.
3. 11:00PM: My wife and me went to pray as usual. Admitting that this is a stupid mistake on my side, we prayed that God revealed His plan to us.
4. 11:10PM: The phone rang, and the sister in my church called me back and gave me the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Emergency Contact number: 1-832-654-6041 1-832-654-6041 and encouraged me to try calling them to see what might be done.
5. 11:15PM: With little expectation, I dialed the number. A lady answered the phone and listend to what I had to say. She explained to me that this belongs to consulate affairs and would need another gentleman to call me back. Being afraid of getting lost here, I ask that if I can call her back again if I didn't hear any phone call within the next 5 minutes. She assured me that I will get a phone call.
6. 11:20PM: My phone rang again. The gentleman (Mr. Jason Lai) listened to my accounts. He explained to me that under such circumstances, the kids would need to have an original certificate issued by the consulate before they can check in. Sensing that he is showing some sympathy, I made that request that if he is willing to help me prepare the document in the middle of the night, I can drive to Houston to pick up the document and drive back to Austin so my wife and kids can catch the 7:55AM flight. Amazingly Mr. Lai agreed to help, so I hung up the phone and started to prepare all the necessary document and the mid night round trip to Houston
7. 0:05AM: I faxed necessary passport pages to TECO Houston, per the instruction of Mr. Lai
8. 2:30AM: Still 30 miles away from Houston, I got the call from Mr. Lai to check my whereabout.
9.3:00AM: Arrived at TECO Houston. Mr. Lai had to meet me in front of the building, showed me where to park, and led me into the office. Embarrassingly, we came empty handed and all we can offer are a series of thanks. Worrying that we might be late back to Austin, Mr. Lai urged us to leave.
10 3:30AM: With the warm certificate on hand, my wife and me joyfully left TECO Houston and praised the miracle of God. We started our journey back to Austin.
Of course, we made it back to Austin and my wife and 2 children made it to the 7:55AM flight and are now in Taiwan.
Mr. Lai and the TECO workers do a lot of extra steps to help me out through the process, and I do want to thank them and make my appreciation known to the rest of hard working people in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Thanks,
Sheng-Ming Shan
Austin, TX, USA
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