Article #10 in the ESL Student Life Story Project, by Faisal from Saudi Arabia, age 28
In July of 2009, I met President Obama.
The meeting was simple and very fast.
I simply introduced myself and asked Obama, “Could I sit in your chair in the Oval Office of the White House?”
Obama shook his head in humor, and, smiling, said, “OK!”
And then I was sitting in the chair of the President of the strongest country in the world, with Obama at my side!
Sorry about my white lie in the first two paragraphs.
Actually, this all took place in Madame Tussaud’s Museum in London and the President I met was made of wax.
When I studied in England last summer during a break from teaching Mathematics in Saudi Arabia, I asked my friend, “Would you like to go with me to the museum?”
My friend replied, “I don’t like any museums. If you go to another place, I will go with you.”
I told him Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum is different.
“You will feel good when you put first foot in it,” I said.
But I didn’t give him any more information about the museum, because I wanted him to be surprised.
After one hour, my friend decided to go with me. Then we hurried to take the bus to Madam Tussaud’s.
When we arrived, I saw the longest line of my life in front of the museum gate. If we got in the line I worried the museum would close before we arrived!
Yet, my friend surprised me at this moment. He insisted we go into inside to see why all the people came.
When we got in line, two Saudi tourists said, “Come in front us if you want!”
Some people behind us became angry, but the Saudis told them, “All of us Saudis want to gather. The saying is: “ارفع راسك انت سعودي,” which means, “Saudis help each other.”
After we got inside the museum, we saw even more people than outside!
We started touring around.
After walking more, my friend opened his mouth in so much surprise.
He repeatedly bothered me by crying out, “Fasial! Faisal! Take my photo with this and these!”
The museum has many exhibitions of wax statues of famous people.
These sections include: Royalty, Sports Stars, Pop Stars, Hollywood Stars, Bollywood stars, TV stars, Cultural Figures, Fashion…
…and of course, World Leaders, where I “met” Obama.
After we arrived back home, my friend and I compared our hundreds of photos.
I laughed at him, “At first you didn’t want to go to the museum at all, but now you have 20 more photos than I do!”
And my friend smiled.
Lillie’s Note: Please leave Faisal a comment or question on his great article (and photos!) stating your geographical location.
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Qiyin Y. says
June 12, 2012 at 9:01 pmThe wax statues look so creepy! I’m from Boston and I really wish I could have went there I went to England. -__- I just visited the Big Ben and stared at the palaces.
Sofia L :) says
October 19, 2011 at 7:15 pmThat is so cool! I can make a connection to the wax museum in New York that I went to for a vacation. It was just like the wax figures in the Madame Tussaud’s wax Museum, except with out Britney Spears and President Obama. I can still remember that time when I went to the wax museum and there was a wax figurine of a door man which looked so real that I got scared so I crept over wondering if it would move, but I didn’t so I hit the doorman and it turned out that it wasn’t real. My mum was laughing at my silliness and a couple of my other friends, too. Ms.Marshall told me to state my geographical location which is Boston, Massachusetts. :)
Genesis Lumahan says
April 27, 2011 at 10:59 pmI need to go here. Britney Spears looks so real! I really thought it was Obama! This place seems so cool and fun. Good job on your article, Faisal. You made me really want to go to the museum.
Kevin Armstrong says
March 24, 2011 at 8:55 amHahaha that is so funny. I honestly thought that was Obama in that first photo then after I read about his “little white lie” I realized the wax Obama does look a little different. Great story Faisal!
shirley leung says
March 7, 2011 at 8:40 pmOk I thought he actually met Obama!
I was like Ms. Marshall knows so many capable people. I was so jelous!
sage says
December 17, 2010 at 9:40 amI really thought he met Obama, that is hilarious, even after seeing the photos I thought it was him.
Deborah Hiwot says
November 30, 2010 at 8:19 pmHa ha! Funny article but by seeing that for the first time I immediatly knew that their all made out of wax. I would be so jealous of him if they were actually real, I mean I want a picture with Obama or Angelina Jolie! He should of changed the title and add Britney Spears and David Beckham to it.:) I really enjoyed reading this article and I’m glad that his friend was finally convinced and spent the day looking at wax.:D
chris says
November 28, 2010 at 6:50 pmMs. Marshall don’t do that. I sat there yelling at the computer with anger. I want to meet Obama. Really good joke though. You actually got me.
faridat says
November 11, 2010 at 2:11 pmthis is a lovely article.keep the good work on my friend for you really got me carried away
O'Neal Mclean says
October 27, 2010 at 7:41 pmI never liked the first two paragraphs. You can’t just come out the and say something like that I was all excited to read the article intill you said “sorry for the little white lie.” You don’t play with that man. But I still liked the article dispite that big lie in the first two.
Xiu Na says
October 27, 2010 at 6:37 pmI enjoyed reading this article because when after i read the first 2 paragraphs and looked at the picture, I thought looked really shiny. :D
Tariq Albayyali says
August 18, 2010 at 7:57 amThe story is more than wonderful… I greet you a lot….
Amanda says
August 9, 2010 at 3:10 pmYour story is so funny, I very like it,
I think there is a great place
FAISAL says
August 17, 2010 at 6:24 pmAmanda thanx for your comment
Faleh Alajmi says
August 7, 2010 at 9:40 pmThats wonderful museum , you must have been excited when you were there and I think it was fun over there .
keep writing bro.
FAISAL says
August 17, 2010 at 6:23 pmthanx bro for your comment
yheizzy says
August 4, 2010 at 3:37 pmExcellent Story!, I never has visited this Museum, I want to go. I thought that was a good experience in you live. :)
FAISAL says
August 4, 2010 at 9:02 pmhi Yheizzy thanx and thanx for your comment .I am a ready for go If you want go ther .
for to be guide for you
I am waiting for your article !
Mei Chin says
August 4, 2010 at 2:40 pmIt’s so funny. When I saw the first photo, I really thought you had met real Obama.
FAISAL says
August 4, 2010 at 8:55 pmMei chin
wolcome and thanx for your comment and my when i wrote store I belived that
Norbert says
August 4, 2010 at 12:34 pmIt’s looks like you both had a great time at the museum, and it seems like your friend enjoyed it more than what you expected… lol. Really good story. It was really interesting and you picture things with your writing so vividly that I could imagine it as if I was there.
Norbert
New York
FAISAL says
August 4, 2010 at 8:49 pmthanx so much mr Norbert for your comment
yes my friand enjoyed mor than all people were there
thank you again