San Diego Away

(I work for a federal agency that takes phone calls from people all over the USA who need assistance in applying for passports.)

Customer: “Hello, I would like to make an appointment to come to the Los Angeles passport office to get a passport.”

Me: “Certainly. Where are you planning to travel?”

Customer: “Oh, I am traveling all over. To China, to Japan, then to Indonesia!”

Me: “Great. Okay, I am sorry but right now I can’t get you an appointment at the Los Angeles office. However, I can make an appointment for you at the San Diego office.”

(San Diego is about a two-hour drive from Los Angeles, and in the same state, California.)

Customer: “What? San Diego? No way am I going there! That’s too far away!”