#ThrowbackThursday with Juan Forteza, VoX International

It was 2012 on my first FAM to Texas. I'm constantly concerned about losing my passport because I always lose things...my wife gives me trouble for losing stuff.

So to keep it safe, I put it inside my jacket. The weather was getting warm, so I took off it off while I was walking in downtown Austin. When it was time to go to the hotel, I was waiting to cross the street and I realized my passport wasn’t there anymore, so I started freaking out.

I had lost it.

I went back to the hotel to look, just in case, but no passport. Of course, my wife called during my frantic search and I didn't want to tell her. But, she said, "Something's wrong – I can hear it in your voice." So I had to let her know what was going on.

The next morning, I called the consulate in Dallas and they said they’d issue a temporary passport. They said I could change my flight and go to Buffalo and then go home from there. My wife had to come to Buffalo with all my papers and I got a temporary passport in the end.

I have a feeling that the passport didn’t fall from my pocket. I remember a guy following me really close and I think he went for my wallet but got my passport instead.

It was close to Christmas and I needed to go back to Spain for the holidays. I had to pay double to get a new passport in time for the trip. It was difficult for me at the time because I had just become a Canadian citizen and this was the first time I was using my passport. I can make fun of it now but it was horrible at the time.