Over the last few days, I've been busy running errands. There is so much paperwork to take care of. Examples: city transit passes, a notarized and signed rental agreement, health insurance, local bank accounts, cell phones, Tim's permanent residency, yadayadayada... the list goes on.
Of course, for each little thing I have to go to a different office. Just the transit passes we have already attempted to get three times to no avail! I'm having flashbacks to the Communist Era - seriously. Queuing forever just to ask a question and learn that one has been standing in the wrong line!
The transportation passes, for instance, require photographs, but the places where the passes are made don't provide an ID photo service. Also, some vendors sell certain types of passes, others different types. We tried one little photo store, but the lady told us grumpily that she ran out of photo paper and to come back the next day. We went to a different shop, of course. Today we waited in line for twenty minutes with our little photographs and filled out forms and learned that we were in the wrong line. We had to head to a different location, about ten minutes away, to get into a different queue. As soon as we got in that line, I noticed that the only vendor helping folks had a sign that she takes a half-hour break every day precisely just at the time we had arrived, and -- in typical Czech fashion -- right smack in the heart of rush hour, the busiest time of day. So, still no transit cards.
It's quite amazing. Just when a person lets out a sigh of relief that one document has been taken care of, one realizes a component is missing! That happened to me with our bank account, phones, and the rental agreement. So, back across the whole city on the subway and tram we will have to go to provide the missing signature or to show up again when supplies have been delivered or a computer system fixed. Wow!
Of course, the ultimate queue, in which people get one to three days ahead (and stay overnight just to be sure their turn comes when needed) is the Foreigner Police office where all non-Czechs have to report within three days of arrival to the country unless staying at a hotel which registers visitors automatically. You remember that video I shared? Well, thanks to my dad, the Senator, we will be able to bypass that mess by going directly to the Chief of Foreigner Police to apply for Tim's permanent residency status. Talk about a sigh of relief!
I can't wait till all the paperwork has been taken care of. Hopefully this will be by the end of the month!
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2 comments:
It reminds me when John was in the Army and we went to Germany - always a line; for groceries, gas and medical treatment. Oh, I guess John shouldn't complaint when we wait in line behind three cars for out latte.
Foreigner Police? I'm pretty sure those were two different bands. Yeah.
And that makes me think of Sting who is The Hottest Guy Ever. My day is so much brighter now. I'm not kidding.
And: Hooray for Senator Dad!
And did you know it's cold and rainy this week? THIS week--the third week in AUGUST. I'm just sayin'. It ain't right.
Love you. Miss you.
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