Smokey Day 2

So I realized once I had my residency visa i was supposed to transfer my US driving license here and get a UAE license.  I have been driving illegaly for over a week!

I chose today - the thick thick fog should have been a warning that I would have yet another crazy bureaucratic day but who could tell?  This time I find out what I need ahead of time - my license from the US and my passport with visa.  No problem I scan them and print them out know i would need copies!  I was psyched because i printed them on the laser and they were in color and really clear and legible - unlike those ridiculous crap black and white copiers sitting around in the government buildings getting abused all day.

I am thinking that this is a good thing.  Somebody mentioned to me that the license has to be translated but i looked at it and there is no more information on it than my name and US address so it hardly makes sense...i go with out it.  (dumb.)

So i get to the building and climb 100 steps (not sure where the accessible entrance is) up to the piano nobile.  I am thinking to myself this is what those incredible fascist buildings of italy or communist russia would have been like.  I digress.

So i get inside i wait in a short line and tell the lady at the counter that I wish to transfer my license from the US.  She asks for my paperwork which I handover gleefully because I know i have a good looking scan of my passport.  SHe holds up my license "you need translation"  Of what I as her - there is no information on it...she looks at it and i say it just has my name and license number.  She looks at me and says "translate your name, address....translate."  I can't win this one so i retreat easily because I knew better and thought i could BS my way through it.  Then she holds up my nice color scan...."black and white...this must be black and white"  I just say OK because i already gave in.  Black and white over legibile color and translation of my arabic name and US address.  Whatever.

I go and pay $40 for the translation and make my way back to the fascist office in the sky.  I hand over all my paperwork again after wait in a slightly longer line this time.  This time she looks at my official translation and my color scan of my passport which i changed to greyscale and brought along with me.  Still bettr than the b&w copier and legible.  She tells me "black and white"  I tell her it is black and white and show her the color scan i had and stell her "this is color...that is black and white."  She gives me my number to wait for a transaction desk.

All of these government offices have the same deli counter tickets and the exact same announcement system  "nimra meya siteen we telathi, shobak wahid...number one hundred sixty three window one"  I get up to the window and i giver all my paperwork.  she looks at the translation...my license...my scan...."black and white - this must be black and white"  it is i tell her and show her my color scan...this is color.  mistake.  "sir..i know what black and white looks like and I know what color looks like and this is green or grey..it is not black and white"  "You can get black and white copy over there she motions towards the end of the building.  over there where exactly i ask her.  She motions waving like one shooing a dog and says "there..there.." 

So i get up and go wait in one of these typical mob lines to get a copy.  Yes...a shitty black and white beat to death copier copy of my nice crisp (greyscale) scan.  I go back over to my window and the woman is still holding my spot and never called anyone else to the window.  I giver her my 1983 quality copy. She looks at my picture, and then asks "where is your employer letter?"  employer letter?  I'm sorry i didn't see that on your website list of required documents (neither was the translation for that matter)  "sorry...you must have the letter."  I realize it is better to cut my losses at this point.  I am clearly frustrated but she is very sweet (but stern and bitchy all at the same time) and says..."i'm sorry but...sorry."  I tell her thank you.  she tells me i am welcome - again....sweet and sour.

I am ready to stormout of this place when i ask the info counter if there is a fax machine.  Yes there is....customer service!  Nice!  I go over there, i call May in the office and ask her to fax me the copy i had from EHAF (my sponsor) which she does lickety split.

I get a new deli number and wait....then...i get little miss sweet and sour again.  I hand all my paper work over to her again....she looks at me again and says "this must be original...on letterhead....sorry."

i just leave so i don't make a scene.  "thank you" i say.  "you are welcome."  (steam is coming out of my pores at this point)

I go to EHAF's office and ask for the original letter.  They quickly write something up and print it on letter head and then tell me the director is not inthe office to sign it.  Thinking to Margaret who can forge most of the partners signatures I ask here if there is someone who can do it..."noooo."  well....what about him!  i say as i point to my colleague.  "not unless he wants to get fired."

I look down at the desk and see a sign in sheet - the directors signature is on there.  I look to the HR director..."give me that"  i say as i take the letter, grab the signature sheet....make my way to the glass door and forge the damned thing myself.

On my way again....i am not giving up...i have wasted half a day doing this nonsense and will not go through it again.