La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
SO, HERE’S THE PROGRESS REPORT: I cancelled the Toyota appointment this morning and phoned the insurance office. It took three transfers (everyone pleasant) until I got to someone who could help me. I’m on our car insurance!
I went online to make our residency card renewal appointment, per the instructions received at the National Police station. The online process worked easily — that is until I reached the end and received a message that said no appointments are available. ‘Ever?!?’ I wondered. I think, now that they have my request, they’ll contact me when things open up.
So, auto tax is paid, we have complete insurance, and at the moment there’s nothing more I can do about the residency cards. I never told you about the “L” card that needs to be displayed for a year in the left rear window of the car of a new driver. They say the “L” stands for the English word Learner. But I figure it stands for Loser (because I’m a child). Anyway, because I had an American license (since the invention of the automobile), I don’t have to have one of those signs. Our friend Alexander, soon to turn 21, has to use it for a year and doesn’t care at all. When I grow up, I hope to be as mature as Alexander.
.
ASÍ QUE, AQUÍ ESTÁ EL informe de progreso: Cancelé la cita con Toyota esta mañana y llamé a la oficina de seguros. Fueron necesarias tres transferencias (todas agradables) hasta que llegué a alguien que pudiera ayudarme. ¡Estoy en nuestro seguro de auto!
Me conecté a Internet para hacer nuestra cita de renovación de la tarjeta de residencia, según las instrucciones recibidas en la estación de la Policía Nacional. El proceso en línea funcionó fácilmente, es decir — hasta que llegué al final y recibí un mensaje que decía que no había citas disponibles. “¿¡¿Alguna vez?!?” me preguntaba. Creo que ahora que tienen mi solicitud, se pondrán en contacto conmigo cuando las cosas se abran.
Entonces, el impuesto sobre el automóvil está pagado, tenemos un seguro completo y, por el momento, no hay nada más que pueda hacer con respecto a las tarjetas de residencia. Nunca les hablé de la tarjeta “L” que debe mostrarse durante un año en la ventana trasera izquierda del coche de un nuevo conductor. Dicen que la “L” significa la palabra en inglés Learner [Aprendiz]. Pero me imagino que significa Loser [Perdedor] (porque soy un niño). De todos modos, debido a que tenía un carnet estadounidense (desde la invención del automóbile), no necesito tener una “L”. Nuestro amigo Alexander, que pronto cumplirá 21 años, tiene que usarlo durante un año y no le importa en absoluto. Cuando sea mayor, espero ser tan maduro como Alexander.
• •Este era un bloque de casitas de pescadores, como el único que queda.
• Más casitas de pescadores.
• Antes de que terminara la siesta.
• El enfoque sutil de los aperetivos de esta mañana. (No duró).
• Dudo se apartó de la cámara y fingió que solo estaba pasando el rato.
• Otro perro de aspecto realista (haz click aquí).
• ¿No se requiere carnet? ¿Por qué nadie me lo dijo?
Ohhhh, Lisa there at the end… I wish you could watch all of us as we chuckle through your always-clever, always-entertaining blog posts. I’m still smiling that, “He cracks me up.” smile, as I type.
Judy C:
You always make me feel so good! I DO love cracking people up.
Keep up the good spirits, Scoot! I love your mischievous (oh my lord, I speld that write) child side.
Deedles:
You’re always a good speler! Thanks for loving my mishchievous child side.
Love the siesta photos. Lisa at the end was too perfect! Glad you avoided the modern-day scarlet letter.
wickedhamster:
Did you see WCS’s comment? In France, new drivers actually do have to display the scarlet letter. Now THAT I might not mind.
I like the warning signs for new drivers, we saw those in Ireland, of course Ireland should have a giant sign for Foreign drivers.
David:
Visiting British drivers in Spain can be deadly. One-way street? Look BOTH ways before crossing (which really isn’t a bad idea no matter what).
I’m not sure if we have that “new driver” sign law here. I don’t think so, since I haven’t seen such things, unless it’s some hand-printed sign usually taped to a driver’s rear window right where they will need to shoulder check. That always gets me.
Debra:
Never had to display a sign in the States as far as I know. I had asked Spanish friends what the L stood for. No one knew other than a new driver. I had to look it up to learn it was for the English word.
Way to go, Mitchell! At some point, we will have to go to the main Immigration Office in the capitol to get our permanent residency visa stamps transferred into our new US passports. Until then, we need to travel with both documents. I am dreading having to leap over whatever hurdles they capriciously toss into our path without warning. It’s like competing in American Ninja Warrior.
Wilma:
We have National Identity cards and on the flip side it says Long Term Resident. There’s a spot-on video of a woman applying for some sort of business license. I’ll have to find it.
We also have Belize Social Security cards as official photo ID (which you can only get if you are a citizen or permanent resident), but they are not a substitute at border crossings for the visa stamp in the passport.
Wilma:
Interesting. Here we need our passports AND our National Identity cards (which prove we can be in out of here whenever we want… no 3-month max in-country).
Check …. Check!
I too love those siesta photos…….
Jim:
The city clearly sleeps during siesta.
Uh oh, Moose is onto you! And in your case, please consider reframing the L sign’s meaning to “Learned” in your mind!
Tundra Bunny:
Thankfully, I don’t have to use that sign, but if I did I would keep LEARNED in mind. Is that pronounced Learnd or LearnED?
I’ve always pronounced it as “Learn-ED”, but I can honestly say it doesn’t come up much in Canadian conversations, LOL!
Tundra Bunny:
So you never learnd anything in Canada. Or maybe you learnt it!
Two and a half out of three isn’t bad. Of course, if for some reason they screw around with your residency due to their incompetence and nastiness, things could get ugly. Probably won’t take your Spanish driver’s license as proof of residency, either. 🙂
Imagining that Dudo and Moose using their swishy tails as gentle door openers. Just open enough for Moose to glimpse into the goings on in the kitchen and assure Dudo that treats/meals are being prepared. With those two, anything is possible.
Mary:
Oddly not worried about the residency renewal. It will happen. I was sitting in my office at my desk when I spotted the cats (and Moose’s eye) through the partially open door.
I’m glad you got to avoid the “Scarlet L,” Hester!
I love those views of your town. The fishermen’s cottages look pretty comfy. I’m not sure I’d like living in a place with a siesta, though — I would get frustrated if I wanted to get out and do things and everything was closed. (Plus eating dinner at 10 p.m. — not for me.)
I much prefer the realistic dogs!
Steve:
According to WCS, a scarlet A is actually used in France. If I lived in France, I might not mind having that in the back of my car.
Funny that anyone can pilot a boat–I suppose even a 10 year old. At this point in my life, I’m certain I’ll never be as mature as Alexander.
Love,
Janie
Janie:
When I was young, I had friends whose family’s had boats. We teens and 20-somethings would go out on the water and given my friends’ skills, I was convinced I was about to breathe my last breath. And, obviously, I too will never be as mature as Alexander.
In France, a new driver has to put a big red “A” in the back window. It stands for “Apprenti,” learner or apprentice. But you can have fun imagining what else it might stand for, being a scarlet letter and all…
Walt the Fourth:
Did you live with a scarlet A for a year or were you exempt? I would take that back to the States with me and maybe even slap it on the back of whatever I was wearing.
I was exempt. At least I assumed I was exempt.
I am glad you were finally able to get your auto insurance. One bureaucratic nightmare checked off of the list!
mcpersonalspace54:
Some good progress was made this week.