relying on the kindness of strangers
May. 17th, 2004 05:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
verbicideSet out to complete my errands. Must remember that parking often involves parking meters, which requires change that is not pennies, and must not continue to rely on benevolence of meters with time left on them. Fifteen minutes barely got me through my errands, lucky once again.
Kinkos was out of their photo-paper stuff, but kindly recommended Ballard Photo which was just down the block. It seems to be a family owned store, complete with squalling child and toys strewn about the place, but they were nice and the whole process took 5 minutes. So big yay to that. Of course I look like a weasel in my pictures, but that's part of the government standard requirement of starkly lit, horribly angled passport photos, so I don't particularly give a damn.
Next to Ballard Neighborhood Center for the application. People like the woman who helped me are what give customer service a good name. She was friendly, informative, and efficient. She gave me the form, went over it briefly with me to explain that I could in fact save the $30 City of Seattle fee if I met a short list of criteria (yay, I do) and just mailed in my passport. I'd been hoping to avoid mailing in my passport because my US Citizenship was largely acquired by coming to this country diaper-clad, and having my parents do the hard part as first generation immigrants. I have no other proof that I am a legal citizen beyond my passport, since I don't have naturalization papers. So I brought up my concerns about this with her, and she had all kinds of suggestions and solutions (including photocopying my passport and mailing it certified). Once this passport returns to me (stamped invalid), I'll have it as a backup, should my official, renewed passport ever be stolen or lost.
Still feeling very apprehensive about leaving the country. Even for a trip to someplace as innocuous as Canada. My passport still shares the information that I was born in Pakistan and being questioned by the FBI once, solely based on my last name, after 9/11 was more than enough. Perhaps my fears are irrational, but I imagine they're here to stay until I get back to the states.
Anyhow, thanks to the nice lady at the passport office, I now don't have to rush before work tomorrow (to accommodate their brief window of service from 9am-1230pm), but can simply go to the post office after work. If I actually manage to do this, nothing will be greater proof of my desire to travel, since I hate going to the post office with the heat of a nova (c.f. Amy getting her Christmas scarf in May and only because her parents visited me).
On the way home, driving down Market Street, noticed some bizarre sights. Lots of kids piling out of cars in band uniforms. People lining the street with folding chairs. Um. Enh? I was utterly confused. Turned up 24th to find more of the same. QFC was packed with an abnormal number of people for an early Monday evening. Curiously, I asked my checkout guy wtf was up. He explained to me that May 17th marks some Norwegian thingie and they have a parade every year. Huh. Hilarious. Drove carefully, avoiding squishing small children and made it home quite content.
Kinkos was out of their photo-paper stuff, but kindly recommended Ballard Photo which was just down the block. It seems to be a family owned store, complete with squalling child and toys strewn about the place, but they were nice and the whole process took 5 minutes. So big yay to that. Of course I look like a weasel in my pictures, but that's part of the government standard requirement of starkly lit, horribly angled passport photos, so I don't particularly give a damn.
Next to Ballard Neighborhood Center for the application. People like the woman who helped me are what give customer service a good name. She was friendly, informative, and efficient. She gave me the form, went over it briefly with me to explain that I could in fact save the $30 City of Seattle fee if I met a short list of criteria (yay, I do) and just mailed in my passport. I'd been hoping to avoid mailing in my passport because my US Citizenship was largely acquired by coming to this country diaper-clad, and having my parents do the hard part as first generation immigrants. I have no other proof that I am a legal citizen beyond my passport, since I don't have naturalization papers. So I brought up my concerns about this with her, and she had all kinds of suggestions and solutions (including photocopying my passport and mailing it certified). Once this passport returns to me (stamped invalid), I'll have it as a backup, should my official, renewed passport ever be stolen or lost.
Still feeling very apprehensive about leaving the country. Even for a trip to someplace as innocuous as Canada. My passport still shares the information that I was born in Pakistan and being questioned by the FBI once, solely based on my last name, after 9/11 was more than enough. Perhaps my fears are irrational, but I imagine they're here to stay until I get back to the states.
Anyhow, thanks to the nice lady at the passport office, I now don't have to rush before work tomorrow (to accommodate their brief window of service from 9am-1230pm), but can simply go to the post office after work. If I actually manage to do this, nothing will be greater proof of my desire to travel, since I hate going to the post office with the heat of a nova (c.f. Amy getting her Christmas scarf in May and only because her parents visited me).
On the way home, driving down Market Street, noticed some bizarre sights. Lots of kids piling out of cars in band uniforms. People lining the street with folding chairs. Um. Enh? I was utterly confused. Turned up 24th to find more of the same. QFC was packed with an abnormal number of people for an early Monday evening. Curiously, I asked my checkout guy wtf was up. He explained to me that May 17th marks some Norwegian thingie and they have a parade every year. Huh. Hilarious. Drove carefully, avoiding squishing small children and made it home quite content.
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no subject
Date: 2004-05-18 06:23 am (UTC)My pal Dino Dinicolo's parents own vacation property in Point Roberts. The first time he went down there after 9/11 the border guards strip searched him and gave him a 'body cavity search.'
Dino's Italian. But he LOOKS sort of Arabic.
*eeek*
Date: 2004-05-18 06:57 am (UTC)It'll be the first time I've left the country since 9/11 and hope that things have cooled down enough that they'll hear my Californian accent and leave me alone.
Also I wonder if guys just get a harder time, too.
But then I still can't believe I was lied to and detained at the airport and questioned by two federal agents awhile ago. I look about as threatening as a freaking Care Bear. It was absurd. But also very scary.
I'm apprehensive, but hopeful.
Re: *eeek*
Date: 2004-05-18 12:38 pm (UTC)Oh, come on now, Cat. We all know you constantly plot to hug people to death. You terrorist, you.
I imagine if you were put under that much scrutiny, Arabic men certainly are. Especially when quietly traveling alone. I'm almost surprised I wasn't questioned the last time I traveled (October 2001), what with all the terrorist stereotypes I fall into. ("OMFG! He looks vaguely militant! McVeigh! McVeigh!" or maybe "He looks Irish! IRA! IRA!")
Me? Cynical? Never.
Re: *eeek*
Date: 2004-05-18 05:02 pm (UTC)*shriek* I confess, I confess!
I imagine if you were put under that much scrutiny, Arabic men certainly are.
Absolutely. Although, my big brother and his wife often go back and forth to Vancouver for fun. I called and asked him if he has had any problems and he said he nope. Of course he was traveling with a wife (who is white).