I take off work and drive to New Orleans to take care of the passport that the fellowship program needs to see ASAP (if not yesterday). The way the in-person applications work, you go to the office with documents, $135.00, and a plane ticket or letter from an employer. You gotta have an appointment to be let in the building. They let you leave for lunch while they run everything about you through the feds' computers, and if you're clean, they give you a passport when you come back after 3 the same day to pick it up. I walk the French Quarter in the hot sun all day, come back when they said to, and check in with the guards. Most people from that morning are there, and the lady at WINDOW 7 says to sit until our names are called, since that day's batch hasn't been delivered yet, but was on the way. Then, she starts calling names. As people walk up to the window, a security guard very rudely starts telling each person to "GIT IN LINE OVER THERE!," especially those who are brown-skinned. The people are assuming she meant to come directly to the window. I am in line next to Cajun Guy. He thinks Security Guard is full of crap, and starts having a big ol' laugh with his buddy from that morning about the Soup Nazi from "Seinfeld." Laughter is infectious, and soon every guy our age who isn't there with wife/kids is just about rollin' in the floor. I ask Cajun Guy if he's local. "Nope, from up the bayou." I say I'm from Alabama, and "Monroeville" pops out of his mouth immediately. I've never met Cajun Guy before, but his brother-in-law went to my high school. Already, I see our small world shrinking.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Preparation - Phase I - Passport Office, New Orleans
I take off work and drive to New Orleans to take care of the passport that the fellowship program needs to see ASAP (if not yesterday). The way the in-person applications work, you go to the office with documents, $135.00, and a plane ticket or letter from an employer. You gotta have an appointment to be let in the building. They let you leave for lunch while they run everything about you through the feds' computers, and if you're clean, they give you a passport when you come back after 3 the same day to pick it up. I walk the French Quarter in the hot sun all day, come back when they said to, and check in with the guards. Most people from that morning are there, and the lady at WINDOW 7 says to sit until our names are called, since that day's batch hasn't been delivered yet, but was on the way. Then, she starts calling names. As people walk up to the window, a security guard very rudely starts telling each person to "GIT IN LINE OVER THERE!," especially those who are brown-skinned. The people are assuming she meant to come directly to the window. I am in line next to Cajun Guy. He thinks Security Guard is full of crap, and starts having a big ol' laugh with his buddy from that morning about the Soup Nazi from "Seinfeld." Laughter is infectious, and soon every guy our age who isn't there with wife/kids is just about rollin' in the floor. I ask Cajun Guy if he's local. "Nope, from up the bayou." I say I'm from Alabama, and "Monroeville" pops out of his mouth immediately. I've never met Cajun Guy before, but his brother-in-law went to my high school. Already, I see our small world shrinking.
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I really like this post, Cary. It shoes a lot of humanity, and a frustration with an over-reaching, top-down system. Seems we'll get along..!
ReplyDeleteThanks, man! This blog was created for posting observations and photographs from Indonesia, and several people back home have already noticed that I'm not all that disciplined about posting. Especially Jerry, who said, "You really started out strong, but...."
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