Off To The Embassy I Go

As we all know, every ten years or so you need to update your passport. It's a relatively simple process despite the pain in the ass paperwork that's involved, but once it's done, you need only to see those happy pappy people in the bureau 10 years later. If you're lucky.

This is a seemingly simple process, yes, but it wouldn't be my life if it was a walk in the park. I some how manage to find every little obstacle getting me seamlessly from A to B. Today is proving to be no exception.

Fortunately for me my passport expires in February, so I am due to update. Also fortunately for me this happens to be the same year that I got married so I can do the name change in one fun swoop! But that's just paper...with a little girlishly giddiness sprinkled on top!

A few days ago I went online to find out exactly what I was going to need to bring with me to my appointment beyond the obvious. I also emailed the embassy to confirm and ask any questions before I got there so I didn't have to waste my time or theirs. Ha.

Being a super fun country to deal with when it comes to paperwork, I found it a bit odd that you could never get anyone on the phone and that everything was done directly online. While I do understand that it more organized and centralized, there are some things I like to have human contact for and this is one of those things. No such luck. So I make an appointment online, get the confirmation, double check the address and inform work of my plans.

I manage to find my way. I'm not really familiar with Zurich yet, but I'm no stranger to public transportation systems and bing bang boom, I'm at the door. Which I ring. 15 minutes early. Three times. With no answer. Shit.

Then this little woman with a strong face fiddles with her keys and opens the door. We both step onto the elevator and I let her select her floor first only to obviously discover we are headed in the same direction. She gets out, I charmingly smile and say "hello, I am your 9:30 appointment."

"Thats impossible" was all she said. Ummm, but I have an appointment. Your website said I needed one, I made one and now I am here. "Well we dont open until 10." Ummm okay, well why did your site allow me to be here at 9:30 then?!?!? The guard wont be here until 10 today, so I have to come back.

But what about my appointment! Do I need an appointment?! Yes. But do I need a new one?! It's still not clear. I need to go back at 10 and hopefully she sees me. Hopefully I have all of the right paperwork and things go smoothly from here. But as always, anything is possible.....

TBC 9:53
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