devilmotors

so, dig this:

i was born in germay (my home country) over 30 (THIRTY) years ago. until my days as a teenager i have been in the possession of a child personal ID. when i became 15 (FIFTEEN), i aquired my first adult personal ID. since these things expire every 4 (FOUR) or 5 (FIVE) years, you can do the math and figure that my THIRD personal ID is about to expire. during these 15 (FIFTEEN) years, i was also able to obtain 2 (TWO) traveller IDs.

now, to get anything “official” done in this country, you need to personally head to the registration office. since these offices usually are open from 8 (EIGHT) o’clock till 12 (TWELVE) o’clock (16 (SIXTEEN) o’clock on some days, if you’re really, really, really, really lucky) you normally have to go there during your work time. which roughly means it costs you money, since you can’t be at work. so i went there to aquire my new FOURTH personal ID, since my THIRD is about to expire. this “procedure” (taking the time, making a picture for the ID, actually going there waiting for a free worker that can help you, which can easily take up to 2 (TWO) hours, he or she then takes your old ID, the picture, your signature, stamps somehing, puts it in the envelope and off you go again) costs roughly, picture included, about 60 (SIXTY) euros (€). now the nice, grumpy blonde (i interrupted her morning chatter with a fellow co-worker) at the front desk told me that new requirements are in place and i would also have to provide a birth certificate. for this birth certificate i would have to get the family register from my parents, go back to the office again and pay roughly 30 (THIRTY) euros (€) again. please note that at this time this is the FOURTH personal ID i want to aquire. my old (the THIRD) personal ID states when and where i was born, where i live, etc., etc.

so, to sum it up:
- i will have to pay up to 90 (NINETY) euros (€)
- add to that amount the time i can not be in the office (approx 4 (FOUR) to 5 (FIVE) hours)
- i have to provide a picture
- i have to aquire and provide a birth certificate, even though my actual ID states the neccessary information
- i have to wait up to 6 (SIX) weeks for my new ID to arrive and then go there personally to sign for and receive it

basically i have to do all the work, pay for it or else i will be fined if i get “caught” with an expired ID.

i so hate german officialism!