bout de papier, Vol. 27, No. 4 (2013) — Winter 2013–14 // Hiver 2013-2014, p. 31
Many years ago in a galaxy far away (aka: my first posting, in Mexico) had what might have been described as the consular job from hell — there were two of us with over 230,000 Canadian tourists a year in the country, some portion of whom had an unerring instinct for trouble. Our job was to help get them out of it and, more important to the Ambassador, never let a case find its way into question period in Parliament — never. Not to overdramatize, but basically we had two options: a) find every opportunity for fun and stay sane; or, b) shoot yourself.
I opted for Plan A. Trudeau had visited Mexico some We were soon called to dinner. Toasts, mercifully time earlier, planning to scuba dive; the Ambassador brief remarks, and then liqueurs in the living room. I wasn’t going to let the PM out of his sight, knew the found myself with the Ambassador again. Taking pity RCMP officer was a NAUI trainer, and so began a short (that, or he was visibly annoyed by now), I explained tradition of scuba instruction at the Embassy. Eight that we were diving buddies. God’s truth, he looked at weekends of six hours each in a murky, cold pool with me with astonishment and said loud enough for all to an instructor who would step firmly on your handif you hear in that unmistakable down under speak: “Oh my dared rest for a moment hanging onto the side of the GAWD, I didn’t recognize you with your clothes on”. pool. However, the open sea test over Palancar reefin Ouch. Purely a coincidence I am sure, but I don’t Cozumel was absolutely fantastic and the rigours of the remember being invited back.
pool were instantly forgotten. Flash forward a few weeks and we are in Cozumel.
What has any of that to do with Australia? Well, His Excellency, commenting on our first dive, offered there’s a buddy system in diving and mine was the a few thoughts to the lot of us on good aspects and a Australian Ambassador, a bachelor and somewhat suggestion for the not so good. Thinking earnestly in eccentric intellectual. Do you know what damage my Canadian way, I said, “you know that’s not such a was wrought by Walt Disney’s trivialization of nature? stupid idea!” How was I to know that Ambassadors are He did. But I digress; the Ambassador needed hydro- a sensitive bunch? Brow furrowed and eyes narrowed, therapy after a nasty car crash and had joined the scuba he pointed his nose at me and said: “Thank you VERY training course. much”. Afterwards he always turned to me first in
One evening I was invited to the Algerian making a suggestion, cock his head to one side, and say Ambassador’s for dinner; his spouse was an anthropol- “With your permission…”. My “revenge” may have ogist by training, something we shared. The Australian been completely inadvertent, but still delicious. I have ambassador was the guest of honour… and he clearly opted for Plan A ever since. 9 had no idea who this third secretary and vice consul might be. Amused, and a bit of a tease, [chatted amiably Stuart Hughes is a retired Foreign Service officer and but did not give him the slightest clue as to why I should Editor of bout de papier. (Have a favourite vignette? address him so familiarly. Send it!)
Conçue exclusivement pour les lecteurs de la revue bout de papier, la série traite de la vie de famille dans le contexte de l’expatriation professionnelle, à travers du regard d’une épouse. Quatre planches dessinées, telles quatre fenêtres offertes aux regards curieux, offriront aux lecteurs une perspective inusitée sur ce que l’âme publique conçoit comme une vie de rêve.
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Publié à l’origine dans bout de papier, Vol. 27, No. 4 (2013) — Winter 2013–14 // Hiver 2013-2014, p. 31. Lire le reste de ce numéro →
