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Mar. 27th, 2004 05:47 pm
Multiethnic Postal Fuck
My passport expired four years back, which is a depressing commentary on how long its been since I've travelled out of the country. Living with Nuphy, we managed a trip to Europe every two years, but ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
monshu and I wanted to test our ability to vacation together successfully before blowing a grand on tickets. The happy experiment was chronicled in these very pages and now it's time to think seriously of flying to Amsterdam or Asia. And have I mentioned that my sister has invited me to play translator on a Germany trip she's tentatively planned for next year?
When I investigated the process of reapplication, I was dismayed to discover it wouldn't be as convenient as it was back when I first needed a visa to study in Germany. All documentation had to be sent to New Orleans, to be returned eventually with the passport. This is a high-touch thing for me; I wanted to walk in to an office and walk out with my new booklet, if possible. Unfortunately, the Chicago office will only do that if you arrive with international plane tickets in hand and pay through the nose. So whenmonshu got a notice that there was to be a Spring Passport Fair at our local post office today, I figured, Here's my best chance for that!
( What the hell was I thinking? )
The actual processing took only a moment or two. I handed over my application, old passport, and two photos and swore an oath. She made a few marks and stuffed it in an envelope. Outside, I found Bruce waiting on the steps. I calledmonshu and arranged to meet at Pho Hoa. Over soup, we talked about condo associations, Bruce's Catholic upbringing, cooking dinner (which he never does), and an intriguing play at Balliwick on Boston's molestation crisis. Then we dragged him over to Tai Nam for show-and-tell. There's nothing in the world like showing someone their first frozen durian!
Bruce watched bemused asmonshu picked up ingredients for master sauce and I bought crazy, wrong foods, plus a gift for welcomerain. We parted on the street. I told him, "If you ever need a break in your routine, knock on the door!"
monshu and I wanted to test our ability to vacation together successfully before blowing a grand on tickets. The happy experiment was chronicled in these very pages and now it's time to think seriously of flying to Amsterdam or Asia. And have I mentioned that my sister has invited me to play translator on a Germany trip she's tentatively planned for next year?When I investigated the process of reapplication, I was dismayed to discover it wouldn't be as convenient as it was back when I first needed a visa to study in Germany. All documentation had to be sent to New Orleans, to be returned eventually with the passport. This is a high-touch thing for me; I wanted to walk in to an office and walk out with my new booklet, if possible. Unfortunately, the Chicago office will only do that if you arrive with international plane tickets in hand and pay through the nose. So when
monshu got a notice that there was to be a Spring Passport Fair at our local post office today, I figured, Here's my best chance for that!( What the hell was I thinking? )
The actual processing took only a moment or two. I handed over my application, old passport, and two photos and swore an oath. She made a few marks and stuffed it in an envelope. Outside, I found Bruce waiting on the steps. I called
monshu and arranged to meet at Pho Hoa. Over soup, we talked about condo associations, Bruce's Catholic upbringing, cooking dinner (which he never does), and an intriguing play at Balliwick on Boston's molestation crisis. Then we dragged him over to Tai Nam for show-and-tell. There's nothing in the world like showing someone their first frozen durian!Bruce watched bemused as
monshu picked up ingredients for master sauce and I bought crazy, wrong foods, plus a gift for welcomerain. We parted on the street. I told him, "If you ever need a break in your routine, knock on the door!"