I think the worst-case scenario of anyone traveling is needing to replace your passport overseas.  The process of obtaining a passport in your home country is a relatively simple procedure, but like most things, the further you get from home the more complicated it becomes.  I am happy to announce that at least for USA citizens, the process is actually extremely easy.

<center> ![1539137828179.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYtf8SfM1KYJEvePqcr8AfcLhVxmupVqNhVHsaJ7BaRNC/1539137828179.jpg) </center>

Keep in mind that this applies to people that still have their old passport.  The process is much more complicated if your passport is lost or stolen.  Thankfully, I have not had this happen to me as of yet.  I simply needed a new passport because my current one was expiring soon.  There are other reasons that I have needed one in the past such as running out of stamp pages, and the process was just as quick and painless in that situation.

This experience happened for me in both Kuala Lumper, Malaysia as well as in Bangkok, Thailand.  For the former, i needed more stamp pages, the latter i needed the passport to be renewed (another 10 years.)  Both experiences were painless and if i'm being totally honest, much more friendly than interacting with my country's government back home.

<center> ![c1_636568_620x413.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmVshMEUZ434qTGyy3fbGaoTAPJAZavKPk759cS5Fb4s4G/c1_636568_620x413.jpg) </center>

I guess you could say that i felt a little bit bad about the fact that the lines for the natives of both these countries, presumably applying for visas, was extremely long but as a USA citizen I don't have to wait in line.  There is a separate line for citizens and in both instances, i was the only one in said line.  So while all of the Thai and Malaysian people likely had to wait in line for an hour just to get in, and then another couple hours waiting for their number to be called once inside, I was ushered straight in (after security, of course) and while i did hit a ticket machine to get a number, my number was being called before the machine even finished printing the ticket.   I have never been so proud of my country.  

<center> ![Automatic-queue-ticket-dispenser-machine-automatic-queuing.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmPsRLjxJ15YZbPjdmvKA4nPKZEjCv3dfvJuBUv9zSZcEY/Automatic-queue-ticket-dispenser-machine-automatic-queuing.jpg)
*this is NOT the actual machine as no one is allowed phones or cameras inside, but you get the idea* </center>

I was greeting at the window by extremely helpful consulate officers, and both times they were actual Americans, which shouldn't be that surprising but I had never been through the process before.  In the case of my new pages needed, they were put in the passport by some sort of magical machine that I guess exists behind the glass and in the case of my passport replacement, it took a few weeks because I would imagine this has to be approved in the US by the State Department or something.  

I wasn't even required to go and pick up the passport in the 2nd situation as i could opt to have it mailed to me by certified mail if i wanted and this is where something shocking happened.... they paid for the certified mail.  I had to pay for the passport of course but it was the same price that it would have cost if i was in the United States.  

I worked for 2 U.S. federal agencies and have very little in the way of good things to say about them but I gotta say, these guys were incredible, friendly, and fast.  I certainly hope that other nationalities get treated in a similar fashion in their own Embassies.  

So the point of the story is that if you need a replacement passport when you are overseas, don't get all bent out of shape.  I think that the primary objective of the staff in these facilities is to treat their own citizens like gold.  

I do kind of feel bad for the masses of Thais and Malaysians that no doubt were there all day and likely abused in loud slow English, but to be fair, that is how I am normally treated at their Embassies as well.  And i suppose that is the way it is supposed to be.