UNIFORMS!!!!!!

Guess what. On Monday I let the Uniform thing go. I didn't ask the administrator anything. On Tuesday, I approached the desk to ask, and he immediately replied, "The uniforms have come. I have put 2 size fours in my office for you." Knowing full well if I asked to get them right away, I would be told to wait and pick them up Saturday. We come to Wednesday, "Madam Thompson - please come, we have your uniforms." I thanked the administrator, gladly paid my Rs.500 for the two uniforms and was on my way. Thursday - Sophia was in a nice clean uniform - HURRAH!

What's been so upsetting about the whole ordeal is you shouldn't have to berate people in order to get anything accomplished. I actually had an Indian mother tell me that this is the only way you can get any action. Unfortunate, but true. It frustrates me that if you are nice to someone, staff, school administration, they take advantage of you. If you act like a raving lunatic, they do what they should. (By the way - this is an Indian run school and claims to be International only because they teach in English).

Today after my OWC executive meeting, I had to go to Immigration. If you recall, they had somehow mysteriously lost my letter, but had Rich's. Strange, but true. (After reading about my other trials, this should come as no shock to you!). I had a visa that expired on Sept. 8. If it didn't get renewed, I wouldn't be able to get back into the country if I left. Since we have booked our next trip to the Maldives (oh yeah!) at the end of Sept. this could cause troubles. Luckily - today was my day to go. The office where they actually process/stamp/sign your documents is very small and not well ventilated. When filled with people, it just gets worse. About 1 hour after waiting, I had my Visa extension in hand. I'm now good to go until June 8, 2008. Then we get to do this ALL OVER AGAIN. Part of the joys of expat life.

I've started back to my Tae Kwan Do classes yesterday and Rich would tell you it's none too soon! Apparently - it's obvious it's my stress relief. I got to start In Wah 1 - purple belt. No more Songahms. I only have a few more belts before I get to red when things start to slow down and take longer. From here I go to blue, then Brown then Red. After a year or so at Red, it's on to Red/Black and then Black recommended and so forth. Long process but one I'm willing to follow. Finding an ATA class here has been great!

Other than that, it's business as usual here. I hope everything is well with you too.