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September 16, 2004

Slagroom and Red Tape...

From Michelle, in deepest, darkest Rotterdam...

Actually, the sun just came out so is not at all dark. In fact, it's very nice outside, today).

A little while ago I promised to reveal the secrets of slagroom and, sigh, the joys of red tape during an international move. Let's clear up slagroom, first.

In the UK, a slag=a ho. In the Netherlands, slagroom has absolutely nothing to do with a lot of British ho's all getting together in one room for a bit of a party...slagroom is...whipped cream! Okay, so mebbe it's not that funny, but it just tickled my silly sense of humor!

Read on for the trials and tribs of the red tape...

Before I begin, let me just explain to you the basis for becoming a "real" person in the Netherlands.

You have to register at the Town Hall and get an ID card.

No, the Dutch are not discriminating against foreigners. The Dutch are amongst the nicest, most egalitarian people in the world. Even Dutch people have to register and get an ID card. So, shortly after we arrived, we...

1. Went to Town Hall to become "real" persons. Very nice lady told us that we could only become "real" persons if we could show her either (a) lease agreement for apartment, if we were renting, or (b) mortgage agreement, if we were buying.

2. Unfortunately, we are temporarily in a company apartment. We cannot get (a) rental agreement, or (b) mortgage agreement until we have...ID cards!

3. Undaunted by position of not yet being real, went to bank to open bank account so could transfer money from my American account. Very nice lady at bank told me I couldn't have one unless I got a Sophie number. A Sophie number is kind of like a Social Security number, and you get one from the tax office. No problem! I'm a British citizen, therefore am a European Union citizen, therefore I have the right to live and work in any other EU country! Yay for me!

4. Unfortunately, cannot get a Sophie number until I have visited the "Foreigner Police." No problem! Will go and see them immediately!

5. Unfortunately, the "Foreigner Police" have a backlog and there is no appointment available for another few weeks. Plus, when I visit the "Foreigner Police" I have to take my...ID card with me!

6. My container, um, containing all my worldy goods arrived in Rotterdam port yesterday. I know this because Oh Patient One, my husband, checked...unfortunately, we cannot unpack container until we have a permanent address!

7. I am now in week 3 without home Internet access. Am extremely happy that have found lovely Internet cafe, but it opens and closes at odd hours, and when it is cold and wet I really have to force myself out of the warm apartment to walk to the lovely Internet cafe, so I really, really need home connection. Also, need a telephone so that people can, um, telephone me... Cannot get either, yup, you got it, until I become a "real" person.

8. Solution to phone problem--I know, I'll get an international cell phone thereby removing the problem of (a) not having a permanent address, and (b) being totally out of contact. Cannot get a cell phone until I become a "real" person, unless I am willing to spend an obscene amount of money on deposits, and such.

9. New Plan: I cannot live another week without a telephone. Am going to spend obscene amount of money (at least, credit card is going to cough up an obscene amount of money) and get cell phone...

10. Cell phone store, like an awful lot of places in the Netherlands, does not accept credit cards.

And so it goes...

Michelle, still smiling!

Posted by Michelle at 11:39 AM | Comments (5)

Comments

Posted by: Lani at September 16, 2004 6:39 PM

Posted by: Barb at September 16, 2004 11:19 PM

Posted by: Michelle at September 17, 2004 9:53 AM

Posted by: Dani at August 23, 2006 7:06 AM

Posted by: Dani at August 23, 2006 7:07 AM