DMV adventure

or perhaps nightmare?
Over a year ago I went to the DMV to register my car. I was expecting bureaucracy and some hoop jumping; what I got was something much more painful. The DMV here is a complete mess. It is backed up beyond belief and moves at a snail's pace.
You can not complete a single transaction in a day at the DMV. Instead you need to come back over multiple days to wait in line and be harassed for 1 to 3 hours before you speak to someone for about 15 mins before they tell you "now you need to do this with that and if you don't have that you need to come back tomorrow" or they tell you "we can not complete this today because it will take too long and we are closing in 30 mins".
Mr C and I need to both get driver's licences here and to do this you need a passport. No other documentation is accepted. Would it be relevant then for them to add this tiny gem of information to their website under foreign licences section. I would think so but apparently they don not think it is relevant. Luckily for me I carry my passport with me in case something crazy happens and I need to get out fast. Mr C not being as paranoid about this country does not. So I started the process and he sat in a chair holding my bag. This is where I got the "please pay us money and then stand in that line". After standing in that line for about 10 mins I am now next in line to get my photo taken. The machine they use, an antiquated computer, stalls as the person in front of me gets a photo taken. Fixing the machine takes about 10 more mins, then It's my turn. I get my photo taken and the operator tell me "unfortunately it is now after 4:30 and we can not give out written tests after that because you do not have enough time to complete it". I tried arguing that I was in the line for the past 20 mins or more at which time it was not past 4:30 to no avail. I asked what was this written test that could not be completed in the remaining 20 mins of them being open? "It is a written test". Nice description there. I assumed that meant the answers must be written in sentences so that would take me maybe 30 mins to answer or something.
So I return the next day and start again. This time I manage to get my written test. It turns out the test is a 36 question multiple choice (3 choices) test. Where you check the box to answer the question. I may have more experience than some taking test, since I am a student. But please! That can not take anyone more than 20 mins! I finished in less than 10 mins. I believe after about 10 mins I was already through yet another of their stupid lines and back at the window turning in my test for marking.
At this point I received the "call or go online to book an appointment" for an in car driving test. I tried online. I am apparently ineligible to book an appointment. So now I have to call. But who doesn't have the number to call? Me. I also can not find it online, although that is more likely that I was too angry to read the text to find a number to call.
Oh and they still have the title to my car. And do not seem willing to give it back. I need to call someone else about that issue.

Back in blogging.

Years ago, at the beginning of my undergraduate degree, I blogged. It was on LiveJournal and seemed fitting at the time to be connected with all the other students in my small residence. After leaving communal living spaces it did not seem so important. However, it seemed to allow me to de-stress a little and collect my thoughts. Therefore I am back in blogging. I have a lot of tasks that I am trying to accomplish and I need somewhere to put all the information. I just do not think that my brain can hold it all; I might start losing precious pathology information and then I would be in trouble.
In some small way, I am hoping to use this blog to stay connected with my family. Sometimes I feel so alone out here when Mr C is away. And he is away a lot. Apparently, Mr C has amassed over ninety thousand air miles on one airline this year. Yes, in one year. And I'm pretty sure that he flew on other airlines as well.