Yesterday was okay. Today has pretty much gone the way of the steaming pile of dog crap.
My passport is not availiable. After explicit promises from both the passport office staff and Anatoly, I gave it to them on Monday to get my exit visa. They swore up and down that it would be availiable by friday. It's not. I have to go to Moscow today.
I'm going anyway. I'm not 100% sure that the travel office will give me my plane ticket and I run a significant risk of being harassed by the police. I have a replacement document that is completely legal, but the Moscow police are notorious for stopping foreigners and asking them for their documents, finding something miniculely wrong (or, at least they say it is.) And then telling them to come down to the office..this can usually be avoided for a small fine (paid directly to the officer of course) of around 1000 rubles. It's corrupt, it's awful, there's no way to stop it.
Well, there will be for me, they want to play? I'll gladly go to the office, demonstrate that everything is in order and ask to phone the American Embassy. I hear that makes you hit the street preeeeeety fast. I'm just really furious with the beauracracy here. Nothing is ever the way they say, nothing. And there is absolutely no way to hold anyone accountable for anything. You know why my passport isn't ready? Prolly simply because someone didn't want to show up for work today, or just ignored the rush request or whatever. People suck.
People have also been asking me for a christmas list. So, I'll post it here.
1. Money. No, not kidding. I have to buy something extremely expensive and if you want to give me something, helping me along that path would be the best for me.
2. Red Vs. Blue DVD. Can be found at www.redvsblue.com
3. Playstation games - Dance Dance Revolution Max 2 (DDR MAX 2). Karaoke Revolution (with headset). And Final Fantasy X:2 (That's the sequal to 10...but not 11, requires explaining that you don't care about.)
4. Refer to option 1.
I've also seen a digital sundial online today that tops my list of worthless stuff...worthless stuff that there are WAY to many Americans that will buy. Wow.
Anyway, I'm off to Moscow. Hopefully I'll make it back without seeing the inside of a jail cell. And for you worry-prone individuals, don't. I'm fine, just venting.
~J