a little taste of home

so, today we went as a whole group, with one of the professors (who is ferociously cool and i want to be her friend), to get our chilean ids, which we need around santiago, just in case, i guess. so, we had to get there early so that we'd be near the front of the line, because supposedly it is a madhouse if you go any later. so, we go there, and all around, it takes about two hours (we have to wait, meet with an international policperson, and they type out a card), which wouldn't have been so bad, but because we're a big group of "pretty american girls" they were a little slower than usual, it seemed. and in fact, a few of us had met one guy randomly at a restaurant last week, and he was trying to show off a little bit and ended up taking longer than anyone else. but regardless, we got them and went off to the next stop.

we now had to go to the 'registro civil' to get the actual id. this place was, honestly, like the dmv from hell. i know that sounds redundant, but they don't use air conditioning in santiago, and instead of a seated, number calling system, like the first place, it was a long, winding, rollar-coaster style line. we waited for almost 2 hours in this line.

so, i finally got up there to go have my little meeting, get my picture taken, etc. i sit down, the lady was very nice, but then...she told me...the date on my card from the international police was wrong. the *-*** (you may know what i want to type, but my mom reads this) at the international police was trying to show off too much and he screwed up my paper. so, i needless to say, i was pretty pissed. it had been a long day, and i have to do it all over again on monday. luckily, it happened to another girl, so we're going to go together, and i think i might also beg my host brother to go, so he can be "pissed off in spanish" like my professor told us to be in the international police. ha.

and how this is a taste of home? i was reflecting on it as i laid down for my daily afternoon nap, and i realized that this is nothing new to me at all. in fact, it was really bound to happen, which is probably why i was only mildly pissed when it happened. let's go back, shall we?
flight to santiago--1st missed, had to take a different one
my visa--2 trips to the consolate
passport--3 trips to the post office
renewing chicago parking pass--2 trips to the downtown office
originally buying chicago parking pass--3 trips, plus a 50 ticket on the first day i was there.
most recent drivers license--2 trips to the dmv

i believe life has themes, and honestly, this is one of mine. maybe i'm being taught patience. who knows? but if you ever need any type of official documentation for anything, leave me at home.

chao!