I am an international student in the UK, which would explain why I carry a HSBC “international” student debit card. I was naïve to think that my card would work at the Tokyo Narita airport when I confidently popped it out of my wallet to pay for the little souvenirs I picked up. Beep,beep beep -- the card didn’t work. After all my card wasn’t as international as I thought it to be, even though I am levied a 5 pound fee every month as opposed to a local student. WHY? I went in to ask a HSBC staff.
“It is an international student card, not an international card, you see,” the woman said with her eyelashes flattering. She probably attends dozens or more frustrated customers like myself everyday and still manages to look smiley and pretty.
“I clearly see that,” I told her, still unsatisfied with her explanation.
Foreigners are often slapped with such extra charges in the name of "internationalism." Tourists in my country pay double or three times more the price I pay for entry tickets to various places. Is it justifiable, I questioned myself? The whole episode made me think why aren’t we all embraced with equality?
Boundaries create such differences. They smell of separateness, reminding one of the miles away from home. I want a world where no one has to ever fear exclusion, a world where all gaps are stitched and we are citizens of the world. I am in for that sort of a world. Once those inequalities are fixed, this world is bound to be a better place, I promise.
2 comments:
hi - do all banks charge a monthly fee for International Students? Even the 2nd tier or Internet banks? If so, that's terrible.
I totally agree with 'citizen of the world'. That's what I call myself. Though, London is probably the right place for that. But, how funny you get the look more from your own people in London as well.
By the way, you can get 'no charge CCs' as well. I know few international students who have them. Use the internet for your benefit.
I was an international student 15 years back and still managed to get one. :)
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