I just got home and read the latest FMLs. It's true -- I am isolated, and I do rely on the FML to feel connected. I do get interested and interesting responses from people, and I've made some good friends in the process over the last few years. So, since more people seem interested than offended, I'll keep posting about how I'm doing in my project to get home with my animals. It's also true that the bureaucracy here is pretty freaky, bordering on surrealistic. With the right perspective, it is also very funny. With so much at stake, my perspective wavers a lot, but I'm working on it. Today I went to Document Authorization and Registration with the first corporate minutes. The reviewer guy was moderately abusive for quite some time, and it was getting old. At one point he was looking at the clearance from Ministry of Revenues and Customs, which was written in Amharic. He asked me if I could read Amharic. I calmly said "No." Then I said, being even more low-key, "Can you?" There's always an audience in these situations, but I was so intent on the guy I hadn't noticed all the people standing around till, after a split second, they cracked up. Even he got a small smile. It went more smoothly after that. He told me what I needed to change and I'll do it this weekend and go back on Mon or Tue. I am hoping that he doesn't "discover" something more flaws when he gets the thing back. I know the guy -- he's reviewed things of mine before. You can never know what mood he will be in -- he can be delightful and friendly or the very devil. I insisted he read it all -- he'd been about to just put it down after pointing out the first flaw. I'm also hoping he keeps his sense of humor and doesn't feel he was made a fool of..... but I'm guessing that he's been there so many years he's seen it all. I'm going to ask Bill, who is good at dealing with these people, to come with me next time. Also about the reviewer -- HE was the one who, on another issue, sent me to the Investment Agency, who sent me to the Min of Trade, who sent me back to the Investmt Agncy, who sent me back to Doc Auth+Reg with a copy of the national Proclamation stating that Doc Auth+Reg, not Invesmt Agncy, was the responsible agency. Since no one likes to be proven wrong, I worried he'd take it out on me, but he was out that day, and someone else took over. They too were resistant, confused and etc, but did accept the situation in the end. I'm feeling optimistic. If I just keep at this, it will work out. "Perseverence furthers," right? Thursday, on the other hand, I was so upset I was considering abandoning the car and the resources it represents. But I got over it. [Posted in FML 7754]