Oh the trials...
Plagued by inefficiency...Bureaucracy exists here too. I recount this episode out of sheer amusement...no hard feelings at all.
I went to the immigration office yesterday in an attempt to get a temporary work permit, only to get yelled at by a fat man in an awful Hawaiian/ African shirt and 2 cell phones that would not stop ringing in the middle of an overcrowded office while 2 apparent subordinates also vied for his time to get something or other approved. I just sat back, took it all in, and reveled at this office catastrophe of filth and inefficiency while he was busy attending to everyone else but me. And then there was the other white lady on the waiting couch behind me who stared a hole into my face cause she thinks I cut in front of her in line, but really the fat man just TOLD me to sit down at his desk, so I did. I apparently didn't have the right forms to get my work permit and I was also not the one who was supposed to be applying for it...that is my employer's job. So he told me to go to reception to get the right forms after I convinced him that I was there for my perspective employer and that I would be sure to have them fill out all of MY personal information required on the form, and that one of them would return to file it. Reception (and I thought that meant a place where SOMEONE receives you) is really this big box looking desk with tons of photocopied forms strewn all over the inside of it. Apparently it IS actually someone's job to man this box, but not today. It was abandoned. So instead of waiting on figment the imaginary Zambian worker to come and give me a form, I shuffled around back there and got one for myself...until a shrill, tall lady came and told me that was UNACCEPTABLE, to which I replied that I didn't have all day and where the HECK was the person who is getting paid to stand behind this box and give me bad quality immigration forms. She loosened up after that. So, no work permit yet. And I am sure with my cheery demeanor they will give me one super soon.
then I had the pleasure of going to the American Embassy and almost getting shot on the curb by the guard there. Apparently, my driver was not supposed to stop the car and let me out on the sidewalk in front of the embassy. BIG no no. But I obtained an absentee ballot and registered with the warden in a most efficient way (I even got a confirmation email from the very friendly lady who works there and offered a job as the social coordinator for the embassy - too bad I can't take it. Can you imagine, throwing parties and planning trips with an embassy budget?! Heck yes I can!)
but seriously, things here are really not bad...just a little frustrating at time...but then again so are 99% of government entities in The States. And Bradford says that dealing with foreign bureaucracies is good preparation for children...thanks for the advice on patience Bford.
I went to the immigration office yesterday in an attempt to get a temporary work permit, only to get yelled at by a fat man in an awful Hawaiian/ African shirt and 2 cell phones that would not stop ringing in the middle of an overcrowded office while 2 apparent subordinates also vied for his time to get something or other approved. I just sat back, took it all in, and reveled at this office catastrophe of filth and inefficiency while he was busy attending to everyone else but me. And then there was the other white lady on the waiting couch behind me who stared a hole into my face cause she thinks I cut in front of her in line, but really the fat man just TOLD me to sit down at his desk, so I did. I apparently didn't have the right forms to get my work permit and I was also not the one who was supposed to be applying for it...that is my employer's job. So he told me to go to reception to get the right forms after I convinced him that I was there for my perspective employer and that I would be sure to have them fill out all of MY personal information required on the form, and that one of them would return to file it. Reception (and I thought that meant a place where SOMEONE receives you) is really this big box looking desk with tons of photocopied forms strewn all over the inside of it. Apparently it IS actually someone's job to man this box, but not today. It was abandoned. So instead of waiting on figment the imaginary Zambian worker to come and give me a form, I shuffled around back there and got one for myself...until a shrill, tall lady came and told me that was UNACCEPTABLE, to which I replied that I didn't have all day and where the HECK was the person who is getting paid to stand behind this box and give me bad quality immigration forms. She loosened up after that. So, no work permit yet. And I am sure with my cheery demeanor they will give me one super soon.
then I had the pleasure of going to the American Embassy and almost getting shot on the curb by the guard there. Apparently, my driver was not supposed to stop the car and let me out on the sidewalk in front of the embassy. BIG no no. But I obtained an absentee ballot and registered with the warden in a most efficient way (I even got a confirmation email from the very friendly lady who works there and offered a job as the social coordinator for the embassy - too bad I can't take it. Can you imagine, throwing parties and planning trips with an embassy budget?! Heck yes I can!)
but seriously, things here are really not bad...just a little frustrating at time...but then again so are 99% of government entities in The States. And Bradford says that dealing with foreign bureaucracies is good preparation for children...thanks for the advice on patience Bford.
posted by Jeff and Stacey at 8:55 AM
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