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To England I Go
May. 11th, 2005 02:50 pmI'm departing for England next week to attend my uncle's funeral. I'll be leaving Monday afternoon, and returning Friday afternoon.
It's not really the time to enjoy the UK like I've done on so many trips in the past. My travel schedule matches my brother's, and we'll be there to support our Mom and bid a final farewell to our uncle. One of Mom's cousin's has graciously offered to put us both up for a few nights. No museums, no countryside, no shows (dang it, I'm missing Star Wars!), no sightseeing. Just family, and memories.
During my two years of unemployment, my passport expired. I figured I wouldn't bother renewing it, since that would cost money I'd rather not have spent. Then I got my Google job, and a regular paycheck; but the inertia of laziness set in, and I never got around to renewing it. So I took the day off today to visit the San Francisco Passport Agency for an emergency renewal. They've got a flawless emergency renewal system, if you come prepared as I did.
That's got to be one of the most miserable offices I've ever been in. Like I said, the trick is coming prepared. You can learn what you need to bring, how much it costs, what conditions they'll issue a rush passport under, what constitutes a viable form of ID, etc. from numerous sources -- the Agency's website, the Agency's recorded telephone messages, the forms they provide, and the Post Office. Never-the-less, there were people there begging, pleading for a passport, crying and haranguing the poor, beleagured Agency workers. The Passport Agency is not the Visa Office. A California Driver's License is not a valid form of ID to get a passport. They can't just look you up on their computers and tell that you're a real person, even if you've got a flight to catch that very evening.
I felt sorry for the people that work there. I did my best to be pleasant and prepared, and I only had a couple of simple questions. I think the lady behind the counter was relieved that I wasn't going to scream, beg, or cry in front of her. The only personal bummer is that they couldn't hand me a new passport today, and I'll have to go back tomorrow to pick mine up.
It's not really the time to enjoy the UK like I've done on so many trips in the past. My travel schedule matches my brother's, and we'll be there to support our Mom and bid a final farewell to our uncle. One of Mom's cousin's has graciously offered to put us both up for a few nights. No museums, no countryside, no shows (dang it, I'm missing Star Wars!), no sightseeing. Just family, and memories.
During my two years of unemployment, my passport expired. I figured I wouldn't bother renewing it, since that would cost money I'd rather not have spent. Then I got my Google job, and a regular paycheck; but the inertia of laziness set in, and I never got around to renewing it. So I took the day off today to visit the San Francisco Passport Agency for an emergency renewal. They've got a flawless emergency renewal system, if you come prepared as I did.
That's got to be one of the most miserable offices I've ever been in. Like I said, the trick is coming prepared. You can learn what you need to bring, how much it costs, what conditions they'll issue a rush passport under, what constitutes a viable form of ID, etc. from numerous sources -- the Agency's website, the Agency's recorded telephone messages, the forms they provide, and the Post Office. Never-the-less, there were people there begging, pleading for a passport, crying and haranguing the poor, beleagured Agency workers. The Passport Agency is not the Visa Office. A California Driver's License is not a valid form of ID to get a passport. They can't just look you up on their computers and tell that you're a real person, even if you've got a flight to catch that very evening.
I felt sorry for the people that work there. I did my best to be pleasant and prepared, and I only had a couple of simple questions. I think the lady behind the counter was relieved that I wasn't going to scream, beg, or cry in front of her. The only personal bummer is that they couldn't hand me a new passport today, and I'll have to go back tomorrow to pick mine up.
