Cotton-Pickin’ Days

A friend of mine recently moved with her SO and daughter to Spain to pursue a PhD, and she is returning stateside after a little over a semester because she got sick and tired of the bureaucracy and inefficiency. It took her several months just to get phone service set up, and apparently, it was downhill from there. I had no idea that parts of Europe were still so “backward”.

Hope it gets better for you soon.

I had a particularly hard time setting up my first bank account in the UK. They’re especially tough on foreigners apparently. They request so many papers, most of which are irrelevant, hard to find and keep changing from one minute to the next. I had to go back 5 times because they kept changing their list of documents. They wanted 2 utility bills “as a precaution against terrorism”. Yeah because every one knows that the difference between a normal person and a terrorist is that a terrorist doesn’t receive gas bills. Banks are the only reason EU citizens need a passport in the UK. Good thing I knew that before I moved because getting a French passport from inside the UK can take several months. Ugh. I hate bureaucracy.

It’s incredibly difficult to sort out banking here. I’ve been here for 4 years but cannot get even a tiny overdraft (I’m talking 200 pounds here) because I don’t have a job, a loan, or a parental unit in the UK. However I have three credit cards and two store cards, amounting to a total of over 2000 pounds credit: the loan sharks here are desperate to get all students within their clutches. It annoys the hell out of me.

We are dreadfully inefficient at bureaucracy, and I believe that the Little Britain character who works in a bank sums it up best: “Compu’er says naaow…” The people behind the desks are all mentally deficient. Seriously. I defy anyone to contradict me.

I’m sorry you’re having a hard time. Maybe you need to go back to your archives and read the first few weeks/months in other countries, too? It’s always a difficult time.
British banks are a nightmare. Mine *keep* wanting me to change my name (to match my husband, not completely at random) and we continute to have rows about it. That said (and yes, I know here I don’t have the foreigner disadvantage so things do come easier), no bank here has ever actually made me cry or made me SO ANGRY as citibank in Tokyo did on several occasions!
I was absolutely astounded to read that you find the streets clean. Until I remembered you haven’t come direct from Japan, but via Vietnam. I find it filthy here.

eeks. well, singapore will be better. they’re efficient.

It’s interesting to hear that you’re experiencing what my Danish husband complains about when talking about his home country - he is constantly amazed at how much easier things seem to be in the States, and I am constantly amazed to hear how inefficient even the most basic things can be in Denmark, where I had always assumed advanced and easy-to-use systems would be in place to make life easier. Apparently it’s not the case, and when we discuss the possibility of moving back to Copenhagen for a few years, he shudders at the prospect - simply because of the multitude of daily headaches from the most basic things you have to deal with while living there. (Well, that plus the 25% sales tax and the 50+% income tax….)

Sorry you’re stuck having to deal with all the bureaucratic nonsense. Good luck as you continue getting yourself set up!

just think of how soon summer and pleasant weather will be!

I imagine if I had the opportunity to live in varied places, that I would find myself enjoying the vibrancy of countries situated closer to the equator. I am comfortable in my own nation/culture, but if I look at it, the things I’m drawn to are not so chilly/bland. I think a vivid purple or pink house reasonable, and most people I know think painting a house white with color trim is adventurous. le sigh.

molehills and mountains everywhere it seems.

keeping my fingers crossed that your internet struggles end speedily

wow. sorry to hear that. i’m surprised. hope things get better!

hsien sorry to hear about this! in time things will settle down and you’ll finally get connected and situated within the “system”. crossing my fingers for ya.

I usually have an attack of total irritation with the British after I’ve been there a few days…I think it has to do with the language. That is, the common language between the UK and the US tricks me into thinking things should run the same. They don’t. The American mania for efficiency (well, perhaps the former mania…) because a background presupposition, and I get frustrated when reality does not match my presupposition.

Years ago my father was doing business with two British firms and I recall him coming home so irritated–in his mind, British executives were completely lacking a work ethic. No instinct for getting things done.

It’s like everyone in the UK is wearing mittens all the time–no fingers to grasp and manipulate.

But there are compensations, once the money thing is sorted out.

And I just found this:

http://www.everydayhogwash.com/

Hidden fees. Really tiny fine print. Overbooked airplanes. Hypnotic hold music. Ah, what companies force us to put up with everyday! If we didn’t laugh at these itchy little grains of sand in the bathing suit of life, we’d have to cry, or perhaps even scream in the grocery line. But we all know screaming doesn’t get you invited to many parties. So let’s kick back and have some therapeutic yuks at the millions of little ways companies stick it to us.

Check out these recent rants from everyday people about the Everyday Hogwash they’ve endured, and then why not contribute your own posting on your blog or website to our Hogpile? Your family, friends and co-workers will appreciate the calmer, saner you… and you might even win some cash if you catch the judges’ eyes. Our group laugh therapy continues through March.