A day of official business…this is the worst thing about Italy, the bureaucracy. It is a nightmare.
But to begin…I had the worst night’s sleep of all time last night with (would you believe it) mosquitoes buzzing in my ear all night. On top of that I have a rotten cold with a dripping ++++ nose that didn’t help. My first purchase for the day was a large can of fly spray so I can get revenge on those buggers by killing them.
Then, much against my better judgement, I set of for the posh club. Met the Director who was just lovely and has invited me to go there any time for coffee or the restaurant they have there. Then there was the English classes…well the teacher didn’t really like the idea, didn’t think it was the right group etc etc and wouldn’t be of assistance to me. Honestly I have to say it is a relief. It means I can tell Fabrizia that I tried but can also slip out of it. I agreed with the teacher and made a rapid exit. Not sure about going back for my coffee but who knows. It might be useful.
Then I set off for my appointment at the Centro Lavoratori Stranieri- CGIL. I must say I felt so out of place in a room full of African, Asian and Middle Eastern people desperately needing their help. I was without doubt the stand out rich ‘stranieri’. Anyway after a long wait I was called in and they were amazingly, fantastically helpful. I absolutely could not have done it without them. They filled in all the forms online, they told me exactly what I had to do and were incredibly nice as well. May the gods bless a certain Camilla. They didn’t ask me to join the party and they didn’t charge me anything…I call that a good deal.
Then I had to chase up proof from Giancarlo that I was staying here which he provided via a printer in his wife’s orthodontist surgery where I picked it up. Then off to the Central Post Office. There you take a number for the one counter that deals with Stranieri. They were at 135 and I was 143 so I watched a lot of people trying to get through the process…many of whom had no Italian, lots from Asia so even the reading would be a problem. I watched this very abrupt woman dispense with them and surprisingly quickly she got to me. I thought for sure I would be sent away but thanks to Camilla’s great work she couldn’t find anything wrong. I just had to pay 150 Euros + the 16 Euro stamp I had to buy at the Tabbacchi. This on top of the $160 I paid in Australia. As Chris pointed out it would be cheaper really to pay the fine if you got caught. Anyway, it went through, I think as much to the woman’s surprise as mine.
Just got back home very relieved. At 4.30pm now it is chilly and light is starting to fade. It’s going to be a long cold winter I suspect.
So that is my day. Just so it is recorded for posterity:
CGIL- Centro Lavoratori Stranieri, Bologna Via del Porto 16/C.
My overriding impression is how much better Italy treats its immigrants than we do in Australia. This office helps them extend their visas and supports them in finding work etc.
Lots of love from this Stranieri