August 2: Visas

Ok, my organization level has hit its first snag. And I have to say, I just should have seen this one coming. Today was the day for me to get my Indian visa -- and years of going to the DC Department of Motor Vehicles for anything from a renewed driver's license to registering my car, has taught me that it's easy to get caught unprepared in a bureacracy if you don't do your homework ahead of time. As far as such things go, the Indian consulate was FAR easier than the DC DMV. All the information I needed was right here, clearly printed, easily explained. I got extra passport photos over the weekend, I printed up the pdf application, I got cash since they Do Not Take Credit Cards.

The Indian embassy is a ten-minute drive from my house. The website said it would take not even a full day to turn around the visa processing. I had everything I needed -- I was proud of how organized I was.

And pride goes before a fall.

First of all, let me say -- it was SO much better than the DMV. At the DMV when you pick a number, and then you look up at the flashing red digital sign to see what number they are currently on, you usually do a double take. How can they only be on 45, when your number is 162? You sit on a chair and settle in for the long hall. In this case I got number 36 and they were already on number 29. And they moved through people quickly. I should have known it was all going too smoothly.

I walked up to the booth when my number was called, handed it all over -- and she said in surprise: "You're a writer?" And I said "yes." And she said: "Your application will take ten days."

"Because I'm a writer?"

"Yes."

And that was that.

Pilates instructor. I have to remember to put down "pilates instructor."