rants and raves: us consulate

Today I paid a visit to the flagship of the motherland (the consulate, not Starbucks).  And in a testimony to their awesomeness, I have mostly good things to say.

Raves:

- Location.  Just a few minutes from Marienplatz and at the edge of the English Garden, you could make your way here even if you weren’t trying.  My thoughts are with those Chinese citizens trekking out to Nymphenberger Schloss for their services.

- Efficiency.  I got my extra passport pages, absentee voting info, and found out I have to fill out an IRS form every year, even when working abroad, all in 30 minutes.  I can’t wait to come renew my passport in complete peace.

- Flatscreen tvs and internet.  Because as great as it is to have English newspapers, you can only read the International Herald Tribune for so long.

Rants:

- Bureaucracy.  After I dropped off my passport and form, the woman asked me to go to the cashier.  Despite the fact that there’s no charge for extra pages.  When I pointed this out, she said I still needed to go get a receipt.  So I walked down the hall, got my receipt for €0, and came back.  It was still a speedy process, but, seriously?

- California is one of only 15 states whose residents are required to take both written and behind-the-wheel tests before getting a German drivers license.  Half the states get them automatically, while the rest require you only to take the written test.  At least New Yorkers are in the doghouse with us.

- Columbus Day.  The consulate was closed yesterday, which I couldn’t understand until a friend in banking reminded me it was Columbus Day.  I thought we were being PC and not celebrating that anymore and letting citizens get their errands done on Oct. 8?