February 4th..day at the Questura

I was up early this morning and I decided to pull out the long johns today as it was so cold out yesterday.  After a cup of java and a bun with jam I set out on my quest to the Questura.  It had been raining so I was relieved that I took my raincoat  EXCEPT it was so mild I thought I would roast because I had dressed for the ARTIC!  Well I have been on this unplanned instant weightloss so what the heck - I had created my own personal sauna!


The Questura was rather close..about a 20 minute walk.  At first I did not know which street to turn down and then saw "The Line".  There were people from all walks of life.   Then there was 'me'...all I wanted to do was change the date of my appointment and at 7:30 am there are 101 people ahead of me.  Soon we herded into a single line to accomodate the fenced railing and made our way into the red brick building.  At the door was a man who was not friendly as when I said 'buon giorno' he looked past me as if to say "this cow mooed" and handed me my ticket...A102.  Alrighty then....inside I go and grabbed a seat...on a steel frame with a steel seat.  I don't know why I chuckled inside at the lady next to me who was sitting on a piece of foam.  After 1 1/2 hours I realized why she brought it...note to self for next time.  The place was filled with a mixture of adults and children and after a few hours the children started to get restless and would run up and down screaming and taunting their parents.  You could tune into a variety of languages in this large room.  I contemplated pulling out my camera to take a picture but wasn't sure if someone was watching and thought the flash might create some attention so thought better not.  Last thing I would want this morning is to have my camera confiscated.    What...no pics!


So thinking I had #A102 wasn't bad but soon realized that it only took you to the first wicket where you got another number and now I was C312.  It appeared to me that the only wicket servicing any C's  was wicket #13.  Luck per chance?  It was now 10:30am and we are holding at #C309 because some woman decides to challenge the poor wicket guy.  As voices raised and hands started flying I was in awe at the animation of the wicket guy.  I decided to get up and stand in the middle of the Questura and all of a sudden this belly laugh came up and I couldn't control myself.  In that moment it was the funniest thing I have seen in a long time.  This was definitely worse than trying to renew your driver's licence in Ontario.  I love the way people just randomly go up to a wicket and think they will be served...NOT without the ticket...that is the first thing they ask for.  I had focussed all morning on being out of there in an hour.    I didn't realize it took me a whole hour just to get to the second wicket.  I think the kid next to me just pooped her pants and the lady across from me keeps putting her hand up her skirt tugging at her tights.  I am wishing I was in art class at this moment.


Finally, my number was called and I walked up to the wicket and flashed this big smile.  "Parla englese?".....he looked at me with a big smile and said no.   But then said a little and he would try.  I handed him the piece of paper where I had written out the italian version of what I needed.  He looked at me .. with another smile and said in broken English and Italian...he could not change the date today.  WHAT!!!!  You cannot change my appointment.....please don't tell me I have to come back here again just to get an appointment change.  Yup!  By this time some lady came over and said she speaks English...well I already understood what he said..she was getting anxious as it was her turn next....anyhow I understood totally.  I have to come back when I return from Canada and go through the same thing again to get the date changed.  I thanked him graciously.."Grazie" and then turned the corner and began to walk towards the door realizing it was now 11:30am. All of a sudden I could feel that belly laugh coming alive again and I threw my head back and just howled. I think what struck me funny was that I could have been pissed or I could have just laughed...I laughed because it was so odd that the girl that I first went to didn't tell me I could not change my appointment today...rather I had to wait 3 hours for some guy in another wicket to tell me.  So I had the choice of getting mad like everyone else or just laughing in the moment at the absurdity of it all. This is Italia..a different culture and definitely a different way of life.