Visa woes:part 1wish Richard Gere was here (diff kind of visa though)Having grudgingly relinquish all ownership rights of the remote to my dad so that he relish in his favorite soccer teams from 4 different camera angles.. I guess I have a try at blogging about my painful experience at the visa office.
If you were to ask me about it on Friday I would have told u that that it was the most stress inducing, tear-jerking, feet aching, heart wrenching, demoralizing and down right annoying morning I ever had-- though I have been known to
over exaggerate.
Today though, ask me and I will nonchantly blurt out a simple "alright" or "almost there" cos I'm completely over it...
really..*throws a convincing smile*and so that Mr. "see I told you not to choose tt country in the firstplace" can't rub "see I told you not to choose tt country in the first place" in my face.
*roll eyes*well mr
s.i.t.y.n.c.t.c.i.f.p thanks for the tip but it's too late isn't it.. maybe the
friendliness/efficiency of the embassy should be factored in to decision of which country to go, after all an embassy should be a reflection of what the country's bureaucratic structure and overall warmth towards foreigners...
I guess I'll just do that the next time I go on exchange..oh wait which like-
NEVER again! (opps apparently I still have a tat of left-over hostility)
Well, for those of you are a fortunate enough
not to have encountered the office, it's a dingy little hole in the wall whose entrance, a non descript wooden door, looks like it leads to a storage closet. Anyways, you can't just waltz into this storage closet, you gotta do this new york apartment thing n buzz and speak thru the voice box
(think Mac's drive thru). Meanwhile, you stand around like you've been locked out of your building in the common corridor. So this was me:
8:55am: I played
kiasu singaporean and turned up early -
the embassy was due to open at 9am- to avoid crowds (
there were none btw) and so that I would get the forms done early enough and have time to make some last minute amendments (
was hoping that my internet print out of my bank account would just make the cut---well, it didn't) and make it back by 12 noon, which is when they close
oh n fyi they only open 3 times a week-nice8:56 am: Surprised by the
unglam odd-looking entrance, I patiently waited outside in a corridor which meant that I was waiting at front door of one of those really glam suntec office with a cool high tech biometrics security system
(cos the two doors were perpendicular) and as I waited
with my free copy of today the staff arriving at their office were casting suspicious-
are you a terrorist bomber-looks at me as they thumb-scanned their way thru.
during my excruciating 5 minute wait: same staff on their way out for coffee throw more curious-
why is this girl still outside i'm going to call security-glances my way while i nervously try to flash back my innocent
i'm really not a weirdo..honest face.
9:01 am: Buzz, no reply.. more waiting.. more stares
9:10am: Buzz, Buzz *
people are suppose to be buzzin this right?*
9:11am:
raspy voice goes Our office is not open yet.
*hmm..if u're answering kinda means you're open right, letme in pleaaseee*9:16am: Buzz!
raspy voice goes Our consular is late please wait a moment.
*opps one buzz too many?*9:22am: Click!.. door's unlock...
*hooray!!*I meddle with the door knob to no avail..
*damn i'm locked out still. heeeelpp*
9:24am: recept opens the door for me.. slightly irate
--it's written all over her face:i don't think i should have to open the door for you-- Me: Hi!
Recept: you've got to push!
Me: oh erm ok!
*gulps.. this isn't going so well.. is it?*lessons learnt
#1: no need whatsoever to go to the embassy early-see above for example- actually arrive late
but not so late that you reach the embassy only after closing hours#2: You've got to push!
To be continued....
not quite the happy gelato stained postcard.
--9:40 PM--
