阅读理解
Overseas, I Won My Dignity
One day in the fall of 2006 I found a big roll of money on the roadway near the classrooms where I was teaching in Saudi Arabia.It is quite a lot of money-about US $1000.
The next day, after finishing my teaching duties, I walked over to the military headquarters and handed over the money to one of the officers in charge.I didn’t give the matter much thought, except for wondering whether or not they would be able to find the owner of the money.I’ve ?personally never met a Saudi thief or even heard of one.It’s against their religion.
Then, within a week I was informed that the owner had been found and the money returned.A local Saudi worker, who had been trimming(修整)the trees outside the classrooms and had dropped his pay.He had reported the loss to the office.The commander of the base asked to speak with me.
Foreign workers in Saudi Arabia have a name as mercenaries(唯利是图):working for money and only money, whatever the level of skill or pay.
So, the base commander was surprised when a foreign worker turned in a roll of hard cash.He said something like,“Our Saudi tree trimmer was very happy to have his money ?returned to him.”I said something equally polite, like,“Where I come from, money belongs with the man who earns it.”
Then, the commander said the“magic words”.“Is there anything I can do for you, personally?”
“Not really, sir.”I responded.“I wanted the money returned to the owner, and that happened.I won’t take any more of your valuable time.”I turned and started for the door and, then, the commander’s aide called after me and asked me to wait outside for a few minutes.
In a few minutes, I was called back into the office and the commander said,“I understand you are a married man.Would you be interested in having a visit from your wife?”Believe me, as a matter of principle, policy and practice, the Islamic Kingdom of Saudi Arabia does not issue visiting visa to non Muslim women:never, anytime, anyhow-except in very, very special cases.
That’s how it happened!
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