Vacation and the Days Surrounding...

Sorry about another disappearing act. The days before, after, and during vacation have been quite busy.

In December I realized it was time for a break. I had reached what they call culture fatigue. I was tired and upset always. I wanted to bodyslam nationals. I new I had to get away. I looked at a few options and decided the best was to go and spend a week or so with some close friends living near Paris.

For ten days or so I saw tourist sites, went to movies, ate at American chains, and hung out. I only spoke the language of here when I couldn't communicate in French. That was actually more than would be expected. I had a great time. It was a good break. My prayer was answered...by the end of my time there I was ready to get home.

I returned to fall into full speed mode. I left two days after arriving for a two day drive north. I got there spent a day and flew home. On returning home again I dove into work. The first day mapping will go down as a least favorite day here. My van was broken into and about $1500 of stuff was taken. My camera was taken, my Palm Pilot, some money, and a few other things. My national coworker and I were so disappointed. He also had his coat taken.

We decided to go and report it to the police. It is sad that that might not have been the best choice. Once the police are involved the chance of it being returned by the taker's choice is unlikely. Often they will ransom back to you things they can't do anything with. Once the police join in, it won't happen. However the police seemed to believe they might find the thief. I tend to doubt it. I also have no assurance that if they found them they wouldn't just split the booty. Police aren't highly trusted here and with due cause.

The next two days were spent trying to get my passport and local driver's license replaced. The passport was relatively easy. It had its share of local bureaucracy tied in too. I got the needed forms online. Then I found out I had the wrong ones, plus they didn't print well. They gave me two new forms to fill out. One of those was wrong, so I started again. Eventually I paid and had everything filled out. They told me they needed a police report. I told them that I had filled one out but the police had told me I couldn't have a report without an official request from them. They looked confused and told me to get one. I pleaded my case again. They wouldn't give it to me yesterday; they won't today. It is an hour away from here. It is in a language that is no good to the US Consular. I eventually convinced them.

Then I began with the license. They did want the report and gave me the appropriate paper work to get it. Do you know your license number? Not the plate number, that one is shorter, the one in your pocket. Me either on either license. I had to get them to look my number up...easier than I expected. I took the form to the exact opposite side of the city...it was about a 45 minute drive around the "bypass." It took over an hour for them to fill out their part. Correction...it took about 30 minutes to find out who should fill it out in what office.

I started where I had been the day before. He led me to the second floor. Then we went back to the first. Then back to the second before we actually got started. From there I was in four different offices and two of those more than once. It was too late to return to the other side of the city so I waited until the next day.

The next morning I tried to go early to beat the rush...too late. I started the process. Office 1...office 2...office 1. I had an abrupt stop at this point. Apparently they had given me the wrong number the day before. She sent me to office 3. They said the number was actually correct and back to 2. She again disagreed and took me back to 3. After finding the computer must be wrong they looked in these massive books they keep. It was in fact wrong. The solution...take a new paper to the police. "You are joking," I told her. Nope! I started across town with the new one. This time we were friends. Many jumped to my defense. They cut me in line; they demanded I shouldn't have to pay again. In the end it took about 20 minutes and I did in fact have to pay again.

I returned to the other office. I got there about 11:15. At 11:40 they told me I could come back after lunch. I argued that I had already been there three times...two today. Sorry. I went and got lunch. I came back early and continued. Office 4...office 1...office 4...office 2...office 4...office 2...office 5...office 6. Finally I was done; new license in hand. What a way to live.

Now I'm trying to get back in the swing of normalcy. Except this is the season of volunteers. The first got here last week. We will go through many more before I finish here in August or so. I love having people here though.

I'll try to do better about writing in the days ahead. Thanks for continuing to come back even when there is nothing here.