international intrigue

[gfish]

I'm sitting at the Canadian consulate, waiting to get my study permit. This sounded pretty sexy when I was gathering all the paperwork. I even dressed up a little bit! I'm sad to report that, so far, there has been a complete lack of waltzing, and no one has staggered in clutching a briefcase. It turns out consulates are more like the DMV.

Comments

[kathrynt.livejournal.com]

there has been a complete lack of waltzing

the power to correct this lies with you.

[avicado.livejournal.com]

You should try the Australian consulate. I hear they're Waltzin' Matilda all the time over there.

[meardaba.livejournal.com]

Better watch out! They're secretly recording you with their sneaky poppy coins: http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2007/05/07/tech-poppy-quarter.html

[helenangel.livejournal.com]

Well, bah, that's disappointing!

[hello-mike.livejournal.com]

You know, when you step off the elevator doors, and for visas and permits you turn left?

If you turn right, that's where Canadian citizens go.

That's where we do our waltzing.

Sorry. :)

[gfish.livejournal.com]

Ooooh. I thought I heard some 3/4 beats coming from that way.

[hello-mike.livejournal.com]

We also get comfy chairs, a conference room with all of the provincial flags in a row, and big books on international trade over there. I don't know what it's like on the riff-raff side, but it sounded loud. :)

[gfish.livejournal.com]

It was exactly like getting a driver's license. Same chairs, same number calling system, same room, same restrictions on payment. Not particularly horrible, just blah.

[hello-mike.livejournal.com]

It would be awfully fun if, when accompanied by a Canadian citizen, you got to go in the comfy side.

I really think the ideal metaphor for Canada as a nation is "a really cool club." It affords so many opportunities for non-hierarchical organization if you start thinking of it that way. Though perhaps it would be hard to sell politically, people don't seem to respond well to bringing things from the official-sounding down to the familiar-sounding, everyone wants to go the other way to make themselves feel special. (See also the word "utilize"...)

This is what happens when I don't post for a month, I end up wanting to type novels as comments.

[samildanach.livejournal.com]

... but in which currency did they accept payment?

[gfish.livejournal.com]

Both, actually.

[peteralway.livejournal.com]

The waltzing is at the embassy. The staggering in clutching a briefcase is at the other entrance. You'll only see that entrance if your papers aren't in order.

[adularia.livejournal.com]

Is waltzing at the embassy like running to the embassy?

[maribou]

I didn't get any waltzing at the US consulate but I did get a lady behind a glass window with a lot of Very Bright White Lights. And she asked me intense questions...

Would that be better or worse than the DMV approach?