One Step Forward

We have had quite the week! Munchkin One's Russian passport needed to be renewed. We had the option of paying a company in Chicago $500 to submit the application for us or doing the job ourselves for $10. We chose to do it ourselves, drive to DC and get a little vacation out of it. The DC consulate requires the application to be submitted in Russian. The Mr fumbled his way thru and did a great job! He then sent the forms to his Moscow colleague for review. The colleague said it was done incorrectly, re write the form and sent it back to the Mr. The colleague also suggested we take a blank form just to be safe. Upon arrival to the consulate office we stepped into a small foyer the size of a closet. A large Russian man with broad shoulders and a fit waist stood up behind his tiny, second hand wood desk. He spoke in Russian. If he spoke the words in English, this is the tone in which it sounded...

He did not ask to dance with us. He Wanted us to open our bag then walk thru a metal detector. We sat and waited for our appointment with Elena who spoke very little if any English. We were suppose to meet with Oksana, who spoke perfect English. Oksana called days prior to our departure informing us she was canceling because she was going on vacation for 2 weeks. The Mr said not an option. So we got Elena, her backup who was very nice and helpful...until she told us the form we brought...was wrong! The Moscow colleague filled it out incorrectly. She wanted it changed...to how the Mr had it the first time. So, he had to fill the whole thing out again, in Russian, himself. The funny part is Elena told him what to write by pointing to the other form. She could have just as easily filled the form out herself in a matter of minutes. An hour later the Mr was done. Elena took the papers and left us for 30 minutes. We watched everyone else. They were in and out in 15 minutes. She came back bringing fresh papers all filled out with the info typed onto it. She needed the Mr to sign and we were done! Elena told us 1 month for passport. The Mr said 2 weeks....

We received the passport today...1 business day. We just took one step forward, but don't get too excited. We now will have two steps back. Wait for it!