Argh!

Mood: mildly frustrated
Stage notes: sitting at a public computer at CDC, looking at a 1500 year old city wall out the window

My day started with a mad dash to the main train station to exchage US currency so that I would have EUR to pay for my visa. I was there a few minutes after 7 when the exchange office opened, and was feeling good about being so ahead of the game. I then proceeded out of the station for what I thought would be a 15 min. walk to the government building. Too bad I got lost and did not get there until 8AM.

Heike had been awaiting my arrival, and after greeting me, led me to the 'elevator'. This consisted of a platform that continuously moved from one floor to the next. There was no door, it never actually stopped, and there was an 8-12 inch space between the elevator car and the floors. If you had children, I am pretty sure that they could fall right through. Since there was just enough room for two people, however, I can't imagine taking a child on the contraption. I held my breath and took a leap of faith. Thankfully we got on and off without incident. I am wondering in my mind, what happens if you reach the top floor without getting off? I am tempted to go back, take the stairs to the upper floor and check this situation out.

Now, the office does not even open until 8, but there was already a significant line in the hallway. It was like a scene from Babel, with people from all over the world waiting more or less patiently for their turn to come. A woman collected all of our passports and we took a seat. There were no signs in any language to tell people what forms were necessary for the various visa types, and there were no blank forms for people to fill out as they were waiting. After about a hour and 15 min., number 9 was called. That was us!

We went into the office where a surly seeming woman with deep circles under her eyes was sitting across from us. Although she apparently spoke English, she did not use any of it while I was there. After a flurry of paper shuffling she told us that we would have to come again with my bank statement and health insurance papers translated into German. Why they did not tell me this in my phone calls to the US consulate, German foreigners office, or at the visa help desk of CDC, I do not know. Oh well, I was still able to go to class for most of the day, and I am looking forward to swimming this afternoon with a college student I've gotten to know a little bit.