Not every day in Italy is Wine & Chocolate
We are learning a great deal about the way things work in Italy. Friday we had our appointment to be interviewed by the Polizia to stay here for one year. At a few minutes to 9, our appointment time, we showed up to find a large line of immigrant hopefuls, also wanting to stay here.
Even though their appointments were after ours, it was first come first serve. After the shock of it, we understood. One doesn't get to pick his appointment time, it is assigned to you. The only control you have is arriving before others.
We waited two hours to be seen followed by: fingerprinting by two different officers; a trip to the post office to purchase Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (Italian insurance); concluding in a return to the police station where we had to demand to be seen to give our proof of insurance. After four somewhat frustrating hours and a great deal of interesting conversations, we had finished all we could do to be "legal". Now we sit and wait. The polizia will come to our apartment, unannounced, to interview us one more time. Good thing a Year in Spoleto is worth it.
Today was spent cleaning, organizing life, visiting with our neighbors for un caffè and then while Steve attended to business from home, I created crafts for the children's reading group. Here in Italy, Halloween has been making amazing progress over the past few years. And I'm doing my part in helping! Friday, we will be at the library participating in a Halloween party. I really wish we would have brought costumes. It is exciting to share some of our culture.
Even though their appointments were after ours, it was first come first serve. After the shock of it, we understood. One doesn't get to pick his appointment time, it is assigned to you. The only control you have is arriving before others.
We waited two hours to be seen followed by: fingerprinting by two different officers; a trip to the post office to purchase Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (Italian insurance); concluding in a return to the police station where we had to demand to be seen to give our proof of insurance. After four somewhat frustrating hours and a great deal of interesting conversations, we had finished all we could do to be "legal". Now we sit and wait. The polizia will come to our apartment, unannounced, to interview us one more time. Good thing a Year in Spoleto is worth it.
Today was spent cleaning, organizing life, visiting with our neighbors for un caffè and then while Steve attended to business from home, I created crafts for the children's reading group. Here in Italy, Halloween has been making amazing progress over the past few years. And I'm doing my part in helping! Friday, we will be at the library participating in a Halloween party. I really wish we would have brought costumes. It is exciting to share some of our culture.
1 comments:
WOW! What a story! It so worth all the waiting! I am sure you can whip up some type of costume for the party! Ciao!
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