--
Timothy Heald
Web Portfolio Manager
Overseas Security Advisory Council
U.S. Department of State
571.345.2319
The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S.
Department of State or any affiliated organization(s). Nor have these
opinions been approved or sanctioned by these organizations. This e-mail is
unclassified based on the definitions in E.O. 12958.
-----Original Message-----
From: Lyons, Larry [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2004 11:53 AM
To: CF-Community
Subject: RE: bringing a note
Y'know Dana, I was born in Thunderbay and grew up in Winnipeg.
As for that crack about "big town", 600,000 + people is a lot more than what
is in most places. Its also far more laid back and easy going than most US
cities.
So no more jabs at my home town eh.
larry
-----Original Message-----
From: dana tierney [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2004 10:35 AM
To: CF-Community
Subject: Re:bringing a note
Hehehe. I was telling my mother about this and she goes, well it's for
security, you know. The Americans. 9/11. I'm like security what? You need a
birth certificate to get in the States now? Well no, she says. (Dana is
speechless.) It's complicated, she said.
As best I understand it, there is some sort of increased demand for birth
certificates. And you have to get them from Thunder Bay. For those not
familiar, Thunder Bay is a podunk town in northern Ontario on the north
shore of Lake Superior. It's about 800 miles by road from the nearest big
town, and that "big town" would be Winnipeg.... nuff said. Anyway despite
the no doubt raging unemployment there they haven't hired enough to keep up
with the demand. People have been bringing news stories to my attention.
None of them explain why this is happening but they are estimating the wait
at four to six months. There *is* a mechanism for expedited service, but
apparently just wanting to go to Mexico is not enough -- you have to prove
that you have to be there by a certain date. Sigh.
Since I don't want to leave my car in El Paso I called the bus line in town
that is used by a lot of Mexicans and asked them if I could make a
reservation to go to Zacateca. The guy who answered the phone thought I was
out of my mind. You just go to El Paso, honey, then you walk across the
bridge or take a taxi.... and take a bus in Juarez, he explained. I know I
know, I told him, and told him the tale of the people in Thunder Bay. You
know how people act when they aren't quite sure if you are kidding? The
upshot of it is that his bus line doesn't actually go into Mexico, nor does
it make reservations. I wasn't planning on staying in the kind of hotel that
has a web page... when I drive cross-country I usually look for decent local
independents when I start to get tired.
Works well, except I need a piece of paper from someone not me for these
people in Thunder Bay. Really, I am just seething about this. It's so
unnecessary, so... Canadian. Reminds me of getting a health card in
Montreal. Pat forgot bureaucracy, which Canada got from the French....
My mother suggested that I register for one of the art classes in San Miguel
de Allende. Like I really need another class this semester...I'm already
registered for twenty four credit hours for crying out loud...
::mumble::: I guess I better go do something.
Dana
>What kind of weird ass government regulation is that?
>
>Maybe I don't understand 'cause I'm not Canadian (but are/were and it
>doesn't seem to be making sense to you either ;-), seems a rather poor
>excuse for not wanting to do one's job.
>
>Are they afraid you'll love Mexico so much you're going to renounce
>your
>former-Canadian *and* US citizenships (IIRC)?
>
>What about elevation of the call, can you "take it to the manager"? Of
>course I guess that sort of feeds into the Customer Service rant...
>
>Dana: Excuse me, I'd like a copy of my birth certificate, please.
>Ontario Government Employee: No, you don't.
>Dana: I most certainly do, I've even filled out this lovely paperwork,
>in triplicate.
>Ontario Government Employee: (takes paperwork and put it under desk) No
>you haven't.
>Dana: Oh, I just did.
>Ontario Government Employee: No you didn't
>Dana: I did.
>Ontario Government Employee: It's lost. You'll have to fill it out again.
>Dana: You just put it under your desk.
>Ontario Government Employee: Well, what did you want it for anyway?
>Dana: What?
>Ontario Government Employee: Your birth certificate.
>Dana: I'm going on vacation, I must have it to secure my passport.
>Ontario Government Employee: Prove it.
>Dana: Prove what?
>Ontario Government Employee: That you're going on vacation.
>Dana: What? I haven't got my passport yet.I'm not buying tickets until
>I've obtained my passport.
>Ontario Government Employee: There, you see?
>Dana: No.
>Ontario Government Employee: No tickets, no vacation. No vacation, no
>passport required. Good day (closes window)
>
>wow...that sucks...
>
>--
>will
>
>----
>
>William H Bowen
>Marketing Communications Manager
>AREVA T&D Corporation
>
>
_____
[Todays Threads] [This Message] [Subscription] [Fast Unsubscribe] [User Settings]
