I went to our neighborhood post office once again this afternoon. Somehow I had the bright idea that the post office that is unable to simply give me a simple parcel when I require them to would be able to process a passport application for me.
I'm an idiot.
First I made the mistake of waiting in a line for the window marked, "Passport Applications." After reaching the window they told me that I had to go to the other side of the post office to another window marked more simply, "Passports." After waiting in line for 45 minutes (yes, seriously) I reached the window. The woman explained that her supervisor told her to do something else so she put a giant piece of torn cardboard blocking the window. On the piece of torn cardboard the word "closed" was inexpertly jotted in Sharpie.
Before shielding her window with the ripped cardboard she told me to go to the next window and wait in line. The word "passport" did not appear anywhere near the window. For a moment I wondered if that would be an issue. I wondered this while I peered through a sliver of uncovered glass at the woman who had just kicked me out of her line. She was consuming a large sandwich.
The new woman was much more surly, to the level I have come to expect from my shitty post office. She took one look at my passport application and made a sigh so audible that I'm sure you heard it if you were on planet Earth at the time. As she inhaled there was a quick rustle of papers and forms that swirled through the station and as she exhaled, the clouds were dispersed above the skies of uptown Manhattan.
"I'm going on my break," she proclaimed. "You're just going to have to wait."
"Um, is there anyone else I could go to while you're on break."
She looked at me as though she had just discovered I had spooned oatmeal into her pants pockets. "No, there isn't."
Then she just left. I had no idea how long a standard post office break was. 10 minutes? An hour?
Having no desire to find out I left and returned home still clutching my passport application.
I can't wait to try again! It'll be great because I didn't even get to the stage where someone critically looks at my application and then does everything in their power to make sure I do not leave having turned it in. Think of what wonders will await when I finally reach that stage and am subsequently disappointed!
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When Will I Learn? Monday, June 18, 2007
#1
Posted 18 June 2007 - 01:23 PM
See Chefelf in a Movie! -> The People vs. George Lucas
Buy the New LittleHorse CD, Strangers in the Valley!
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Buy the New LittleHorse CD, Strangers in the Valley!
CD Baby | iTunes | LittleHorse - Flight of the Bumblebee Video
Chefelf on: Twitter | friendfeed | Jaiku | Bitstrips | Muxtape | Mento | MySpace | Flickr | YouTube | LibraryThing
#2
Posted 18 June 2007 - 01:47 PM
I hope you already got your pictures taken somewhere else. If you go to Eckerd or somewhere that takes passport pictures for you, and bring them to the post office, it will help the passport application process at least a little. Luckily, the post office I went to, hardly anyone uses - partly because it's out of the way, partly because no one even realizes we have a post office right next to our small airport. So I had a pretty good experience receiving and turning in my application in the same visit.
I am writing about Jm in my signature because apparently it's an effective method of ignoring him.
#4
Posted 19 June 2007 - 08:55 AM
When I went to turn in my passport they guy eyed it critically and demanded to know if I had any other identification aside from my old passport, my state ID, my birth certicate, and my college ID, which is 1 more piece of identification than is asked for on the instructions from the US Government. "Anything? A library card?"
I did have a library card, but I told him I didn't because I didn't see how it could possibly do any good. It didn't even have my name on it.
Also, I had a Canadian citizenship card, but I thought that might do harm. "No," I said.
He heaved a great sigh and processed my application anyway.
I still wonder why he wanted that extra ID.
I did have a library card, but I told him I didn't because I didn't see how it could possibly do any good. It didn't even have my name on it.
Also, I had a Canadian citizenship card, but I thought that might do harm. "No," I said.
He heaved a great sigh and processed my application anyway.
I still wonder why he wanted that extra ID.
#5
Posted 19 June 2007 - 11:25 AM
QUOTE (Chefelf @ Jun 18 2007, 01:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
"I'm going on my break," she proclaimed. "You're just going to have to wait."
"Um, is there anyone else I could go to while you're on break."
She looked at me as though she had just discovered I had spooned oatmeal into her pants pockets. "No, there isn't."
"Um, is there anyone else I could go to while you're on break."
She looked at me as though she had just discovered I had spooned oatmeal into her pants pockets. "No, there isn't."
I'd ask "What am I paying you people for? Taking breaks? While serving?"
One time I remember when I first opened up a bank account. I was waiting at the back of a long queue. A manager or uniformly dressed man I think took me into a room and asked me for my passport and he looked so relieved when he came back. He said that I looked suspicious because of my beard and that they have to be careful. He served me first but the good thing is that people take me seriously and I get served first when they make a mistake about me as it is not the only time since.
When I have no beard surprisingly I notice a lot of people belittling and being nasty to me outside and from the shops. When I leave the beard to grow the more respect I get from them now (until it is too big) and I get left alone apart from some occasions involving thugs who ask rude questions. So there is an advantage but I hope it doesn’t get too serious.
#8
Posted 21 June 2007 - 03:56 AM
Try Another post office!!!!!!!!!!
i mean really, the service at this one is just atrocious
i can't believe that a city as advanced as New York
would have such rudimentary ways to something
that shouldn't even be that big of a deal
My advice is even if its across town or
in another state find another office
there must be one thats better
i mean really, the service at this one is just atrocious
i can't believe that a city as advanced as New York
would have such rudimentary ways to something
that shouldn't even be that big of a deal
My advice is even if its across town or
in another state find another office
there must be one thats better
Duct tape is like the force....
There's a lightside, a darkside
and it holds everything together
There are too many people in the world...We need another plague -Dwight K. Shrute [The Office]
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