Back in India. again

So there was a serious campaign to understand my visa status involving a very kind official in the department of foreign affairs (a family friend), the US legal department of my company, Indian HR and the office of Michael Martin – my local TD. Various calls were made but on Thursday there was still no news. Even though my very indulgent parents installed broadband at home just so I could work from Cork, I struggled to be effective while working from Cork. So I decided to move forward my trip to Munich (originally scheduled for mid-July). Strangely enough the Indians would probably say prepone in this context but as far as I know prepone is not a word even though postpone certainly is (they do speak a strange form of English here – when was the last time you heard the word thrice?!!!). So I had my ticket to Munich booked and on Friday morning a very helpful girl from Micahel martin’s office called me and asked me to call somebody in the Indian embassy. I did so, to be told they were “having difficulty laying their hands on my application” and requested I resubmit. I couldn’t believe it – they were so rude and nasty and then they had managed to loose my application – at least I hadn’t left my passport with them. Outraged I called my sister

Me: can you believe it
Her: it happens
Me: I can’t believe you are so calm
Her: well you know the prosecutor lost the Brendan Smith file (High profile case of pedophile priest). Your application is less important. Stop complaining and resubmit
Me: Is there a special test so government officials can think like this
Her: I like to think it’s an acquired skill!!!
Me: I can’t believe we‘re related!!

This prompted a conversation comparing government agencies in different countries.

Most efficient
Illinois secretary of State – got state ID card in less than 10 minutes, driver license (including road and written test) in less than 3 hours.

Most quirky
British social welfare interviewed me before giving me a PRSI card. Strange thing was I first had to go in and make the interview in person and then a week alter the interview took place. They really had nothing to ask me but offered me tea. I reckon it could be there don’t get many outsiders in Plymouth!

Runner-up most efficient
You can get an Australian visa online – very cool

Most “this is my job”
In Munich, work permits are given out only in the mornings between 10 and 12 (God knows what the office does in the afternoon). Each office handles a different section of the alphabet. I went to O which was easily as about half of the applicants they get are from Ireland and they are familiar with the paper work. I was in and out in 30 minutes. However my colleague was in the P queue (logically right beside the O queue). However despite the fact the O queue was non-existent and the government official had no other work; nobody could leave the P queue to go to the O lady. It wasn’t just the O lady; I noticed the same thing with F.

China was remarkably unbureaucratic. I suppose it has to do with expectations but after having to get an official invitation letter for my 3 month multiple entry visa and filling up a special form (each visa has a different form – all very similar); I did not expect the visa processing lady to say – “you’re traveling to China a lot – do you want a 6-month multiple entry visa?” “Of course I do, thanks!”. A Chinese government official bending the rules in Germany – no bribes either – very unexpected

Going back to India, after all this blog is called a “year in India” and I don’t want to be in court fighting the trade descriptions act. The legal department in the US requested that I do not re-apply for the visa but to apply for a change of status in India. So I traveled back on the same visa I left with – now I will have to deal with Indian bureaucracy in India! Cn it be worse than in Ireland, I doubt it but as they ads say it is incredible India!!

Munich was very nice. Speaking with some colleagues that had also visited India, we came to the conclusion that the main problems for Helen are:
Helen is in Delhi
Helen is a woman on her own
I do think that if I were somewhere else other than Delhi, it would be better and if I didn’t have to work among a sea of Indian men, that I may be more positive about it. However I doubt anywhere in India will make me believe the hype that India is the “country of the future”. It reminds me of what my Brazilian friend says about Brazil – “brazil is and always will be the country of the future!”

Anyhow I’m only back for 2 weeks, and then I’m off to England for the weekend for a wedding. I know it seems like I’m never in India but I had already committed to the wedding, I want to go, the flight is reasonably cheap and I refuse to bend to Indian inefficiency!!

Before I sign off, I just to want to say that despite being a member of Fianna Fail, Michael Martin has my vote the next time I vote in Ireland (which may be a while away). Also the foreign affairs family friend was fab – it’s nice to have friends in high places