Pink Tape

So I went to the GNIB (immigration bureau) today to apply for a national ID card. After waiting in line for a number to wait in another line, I was promptly rejected for failure to produce a "required" letter I hadn't known about.

Brian suggested I have a cup of tea and come back later. So, that's what Ashley and I did. We enjoyed a lovely lunch and dessert at nearby cafes and window shopped for awhile. Three hours later, we returned to a very sweet woman who asked for my passport. Upon learning I attend DCU, she replied, "Oh how lovely! Take a seat and we'll be callin ye up in a minute." (Maybe she didn't know about the required letter either.) I know red tape well, but in Ireland it seems to appear and vanish with such fluidity. Same for Ryanair, but that's a whole other story...

Everything else is going well-- joined the DCU Gaming Society. Got my chess fix and learned a new train game in which I monopolize European railways. Also fighting off a cold at the moment so I'm drinking OJ by the *blue cardboard* carton. Due to another (unrelated) protest, I'm not starting this Thursday, and can hopefully pull together a last minute trip this weekend =D (before the national bus strike on Saturday, of course.)