Hilarious. Until, being the empath that I am, I put myself in your place. Addendum 3 though. We're all nuts, those whose decision to live in Italy was a deliberate and conscious one.
I'm glad you thought it was funny, because now (at a distance), it is! Thanks for the empathy though! Gotta say it was the sane choice for me and I have no regrets. Hope the same for you.
Addendum #1 is mio preferito! 😂 And Addendum #3, well, I guess I’m still here too (and still enamored), despite so many similar experiences. Ciao from a fellow immigrant from Petaluma, CA!
This is absolutely hilarious - and spot on! OK, not hilarious, but definitely a true accounting of the bureaucracy of italian govrernment! Reminds me of paying a parking ticket in Assisi - 3 hours of wait and gesturing and hand waving and loud voices at the Questura. The officer at the desk couldn't believe I was actually paying my ticket "Well, of course I am, I did it, I even went back and saw the bus zone sign"... then it was a dash to the post office for a francobollo (oops, forgot that), got in right at 12:25 (5 minutes to spare), slapped everything on the counter... gave me the scontrino and shooed us out the door like little kids, locking the door behind us...
Thanks for sharing your story. Dealing with bureaucracy is a pretty universal woe. Utility companies can be downright mysterious! Good luck with your return!
Believe it or not, bureaucracy was worse than that in the past. Back to my memories of the 90es... It was crazy! I remember I had to wait 4 months to have my driving license + I had to go to the relevant office and shout out loud before someone pulled out my license from a box and stamped it.
My son, last year, had his driving license immediately after having passed the exam.
Brava for going there and shouting! I got my license right after the exam too, so let's hope that process doesn't go backwards. Seems like success or failure with anything depends on who's working that day and what kind of mood they're in. There's nightmare bureaucracy in the U.S. too!
Oh Cheryl, what a wonderful, upbeat story about the incredible frustrations of the Italian administration systems!! I laughed so much, snorted at the end when you found out there was no camera! LOL
Hilarious. Until, being the empath that I am, I put myself in your place. Addendum 3 though. We're all nuts, those whose decision to live in Italy was a deliberate and conscious one.
I'm glad you thought it was funny, because now (at a distance), it is! Thanks for the empathy though! Gotta say it was the sane choice for me and I have no regrets. Hope the same for you.
Addendum #1 is mio preferito! 😂 And Addendum #3, well, I guess I’m still here too (and still enamored), despite so many similar experiences. Ciao from a fellow immigrant from Petaluma, CA!
Ciao Adrienne! Glad to hear you can relate (or maybe I should say sorry instead). Petaluma is a great town! Where are you living in Italy?
This IS Italy. Beautiful, accurate, and told in an engaging voice. Brava!
Thank you, Judith!
This is absolutely hilarious - and spot on! OK, not hilarious, but definitely a true accounting of the bureaucracy of italian govrernment! Reminds me of paying a parking ticket in Assisi - 3 hours of wait and gesturing and hand waving and loud voices at the Questura. The officer at the desk couldn't believe I was actually paying my ticket "Well, of course I am, I did it, I even went back and saw the bus zone sign"... then it was a dash to the post office for a francobollo (oops, forgot that), got in right at 12:25 (5 minutes to spare), slapped everything on the counter... gave me the scontrino and shooed us out the door like little kids, locking the door behind us...
And yet, I wouldn't live anywhere else!
Hilarious after the fact, yes. I love your story—well told and rings very true! Thanks for commenting!
I know this wasn't funny for you...but it's kind of funny. At least the way you wrote it. You had a "Lucy in the chocolate factory" experience.
It's one of those "cry at the time, laugh afterward" kind of things. Definitely Lucy-esque! Glad you got a laugh out of it.
I think if you spend any time living in Italy, one has a similar story. I haven't been able to get to my home in Umbria since 2019. BUT have plans (once again) to try in August. Here is a link to my story. https://imitalianinjune.blogspot.com/2017/06/patience-is-not-virtue-but-necessity.html
Thanks for sharing your story. Dealing with bureaucracy is a pretty universal woe. Utility companies can be downright mysterious! Good luck with your return!
lol! :)
Believe it or not, bureaucracy was worse than that in the past. Back to my memories of the 90es... It was crazy! I remember I had to wait 4 months to have my driving license + I had to go to the relevant office and shout out loud before someone pulled out my license from a box and stamped it.
My son, last year, had his driving license immediately after having passed the exam.
We are improving :)
Brava for going there and shouting! I got my license right after the exam too, so let's hope that process doesn't go backwards. Seems like success or failure with anything depends on who's working that day and what kind of mood they're in. There's nightmare bureaucracy in the U.S. too!
Typical day with bureaucracy, I'd say!
Most aren't quite *that* bad, thankfully!
Oh Cheryl, what a wonderful, upbeat story about the incredible frustrations of the Italian administration systems!! I laughed so much, snorted at the end when you found out there was no camera! LOL
Glad you enjoyed it! Fortunately such days aren't the norm (though Covid precautions have made everything more difficult, it seems).