Getting Money

It has almost been a week and there is still no word on the purse. I am going to miss that camera and bible…oh and the cash and credit cards. I was finally successful at getting the western union money. This country is so funny...and maybe it's just because I am used to the way things are done in the states, but first of all, everything takes forever. I got to the bank (that is associated with western union) and it took me quite a while to find it. It is not the one who’s address is found online. I went to that one and they told me to go somewhere else, so I kept following these directions around in circles. Anyway, today I found it, and it's this huge bank, and I was able to find the one guy who handles the western union stuff, but his computer wasn't working. So I was told to have a seat and wait until it was fixed...which was only strange because every other computer in the building seemed to be fine, and this guy kept taking people who were in line. Some one would walk up to him, explain what they wanted and he would say that the computer wasn't working and to have a seat, then the next person in line would do the same thing...instead of just having a sign and getting everyone to take a seat, he had to hear each story first and then tell them to sit. Anyway, eventually it was working and I gave him the form that I was given to fill out and my passport. And he started typing away on the computer. He was entering my name, my passport number...all the information that I had just given him...then it appeared as if he started to enter it in again. Literally, I stood there, in silence while he typed, for 30 minutes. I am not exaggerating. There wasn't that much information on the sheet. My address in Pittsburgh, my Dad’s address in Houston, that's it. I have no idea what he was doing that whole time, but he never looked worried or puzzled. He just kept typing and then looking at my form then typing...I don't know. Eventually he gave me a thumbs-up, printed something and he had me sign three copies of it. Then I had to take that and go over to another line and give that man the paper that I had just signed. He got up and went back to the first man to get the other copy of it, then he came back and gave me my money. The whole process took over an hour. No matter what you do in this country, you have to deal with at least 2 people to do it. When you go to McDonalds to get a shake. You wait in one line to place your order, they give you a receipt the shows your order, then you go to another line, give that person the sheet with your order, and you pay, then they give you a receipt for payment, then you take that and wait for them to call your number for the food. In some pastry shops it's pretty funny, because first you wait and your tell them what you want and you pay, they give you the little sheet, then you wait in another line, you give them your receipt and then they ask you again what you want and give it to you....well I still can't figure out why they ask, because clearly it is on the receipt, and if you paid for something then you get to the next person you can just point to the bigger croissant and she will give it to you. It doesn't make sense, but Todo, we are not in Kansas anymore. :)