Getting a Student Visa

So today I went to finally get my student visa. I left really early because I usually always get lost so I need time to figure out where the heck I am and how to get where I need to go. This is what I love about studying abroad. I talk to random people and make awesome connections. Period. I was walking towards this yellow high-rise building because my friend said I couldn't miss it once I was at Retiro. Well it ends up that is not the Migrations building lol. This is where my story comes in. This one woman stopped me and asked me where migrations is and I was like "ni idea porque necesito encontrarlo también" (I have no idea because I need to find it too) and then I said "si querés podemos caminar juntos para encontrarlo" (if you want we can walk together to try to find it). So we ended up walking together and I found out that she's Uruguyan w/ 4 kids, two of which were with her (twin boys!) and that she's been living in Argentina for 5 years.

So we get there and it's just like this big warehouse looking thing with numbers/chairs/computers all scattered with little direction as to where I should have started. So I just asked around and found the registration table. I was kinda surprised because there were supposed to be 10-15 CEA kids there and I didn't recognize anyone. Well, I asked the registration table what I needed to do since I had an appointment (fyi this means something different than what I imagined). She said just sit and wait until 2:00. So all of the sudden, I saw a mad rush of people flock towards the registration table without hearing what they announced since I had my Ipod on. Well I, the sheep I am, flock after I see everyone else flock to sit in a line to get a number. I guess an appointment here means first come first serve stand in line to get the final order, not so much a one-on-one appt that I was anticipating.

After getting a number, you go to another area and wait for it to be called. I realized that if you don't react instantly to the number that flashes, they skip your number and you are screwed, so I'm like sitting on the edge of my chair, ready to pounce.

So as I'm talking to the guy when my turn finally comes around, I'm surprised to see him like all over his must-be girlfriend, like grabbing her hips and kissing her on the job in front of me. At one point he started eating a granola bar in front of my face and I was like what the heck! Well it turned out that at that point I had to go to a caja (a box) to pay. He looked at me and was like "what are you still doing here? you gotta go to the box to pay." I prolly looked so confused. Well anyway, I loved my little student visa adventure even though it's not over yet. I was told to come back in 20 days to "confirmar" everything, whatever that means.

Well, this is my anecdote for the day, but I really am going to write more often because I do enjoy it.

Besitos,

Julieta