The US experience - Part 1: Oh no, now they've got my fingerprints!

Dear visitor of my blog,

I have yet another question for you:

Am I your friend on Facebook?

if the answer is yes, you might already have read what's coming. There's no use in reading on then, is there? Unless you like to be bored, of course. [Note: With this I am not claiming that not having read the story before will guarantee non-boredom.]

[Note to the note: Whoever got the meaning of the previous sentence without having to strike-through the multiple negation, you're my hero! Consider yourself kissed and hugged. By me.]


if the answer is no, sit back, relax and read:

November 8th. The glorious day on which I had the honour of experiencing American policy for the very first time: my visit to the US Embassy. Goal: get the craved-for visa! But first an intermediate landing site, the photographer's, to get some passport photos. The man behind the counter was a very friendly guy who now thinks I am in love with him (and actually asked whether I was), just because I forgot my newly-made pictures on the counter and only realized that ten minutes later when I had almost reached the embassy. Hey man, where's your mind at 7 am? :-)

I was a little - well, an hour - early, but one of the policemen told me that I couldn't wait in the area (25 meters) around the embassy building and that I'd better go grab a coffee somewhere in the neighbourhood. Now you must know that 'the neighbourhood', Regent street, is pretty impressive, but there are only huge embassy buildings there, and no coffee place at all! Oh well, to get into the States one must make some effort, including a morning walk through Brussels. :-)

When we were finally called 'to enter', I had to rub my hands with a piece of paper 'checking for explosives', or so they said. I dare you to try not to laugh (or even just smile) at their serious-looking faces! Ok, I know, security measures, right? But still...funny on a Thursday morning after a way too short night. So, to make sure I was really just an innocent little girl (with the intention of staying one, even in America), I got to give them my fingerprints, too. After the first ten fingers, they told me and the other people waiting - and in the meanwhile watching The Wizard of Oz; felt very grown-up - they would be taking an 11th fingerprint...Dirty minds, go wild!

So, going to America, very exciting business indeed! Can't wait to get to the airport now (will have to work on my 'suppress smile' skills in the next two months, though).

to be continued