the last couple days have really been dedicated to finding a home, getting registered with immigration, and... well, that's it.

yesterday i had to stay home in the morning to wait for the cable guys (remember the ones we waited for all day last week and they never showed up?) who didn't show up AGAIN! i guess i'm not too far from home, now am i. things seem to work the same around here. anyway, once i realized they weren't coming, i headed downtown to go to the immigration office.

speaking of things being like home, the immigration office here reminded me so much of any government office at home... well, the 3 hour wait did, anyway.

so i got my ticket at the front desk, then he told me to go wait with everyone else around the corner. let me remind you, i was expecting this to be a walk-in, stamp, walk-out type deal. i walked around the corner and there were SO many people in there. i looked up at the counter, which said 217... i looked down at my number, 329.

this should take a while.

i sat there for about 10 minutes and only saw the counter go up one number. that's when i decided to go for lunch.

i came back to number 290... ugh... there are only so many things to amuse yourself with in that situation.

so finally they called my number, i walked up to a very angry looking irish man and gave him all my documents. about 10 minutes later he said "look at the camera", i looked around a bit and before i could say "where is the camera?" i heard "click".

that's going to be a good one.

so then after paying my 100 euro and getting what could only possibly be a picture of my feet (i'm actually not looking at the camera in the picture), he told me to go back and wait for my card to be printed. i asked how long it might take, and he said "probably about 10 minutes"... sure...

half an hour later, they called my name, and i have a brand new stamp in my passport and irish registration card! yay! i'm here for the long haul.

i left the office feeling a bit tired and sore, but also very excited for what's to come this year. can i call myself an alien yet? legal alien?

so i walked down grafton street, heading back to the tram as i was already late for dinner, and came across this amazing busking group that morten had already told me about.

after standing there watching in amazement for a few minutes, i got home just as they were putting dinner on the table. good timing. after dinner, morten's masseuse came over to give us both massages. i've never gotten a massage before, let alone a "deep tissue" massage. i got off the table afterwards and kinda felt like i had no bones... she said that was normal.

today i feel like i was hit by a bus. apparently that's normal too.

so, i spent this morning cleaning up the house and preparing for preben's sister's arrival this evening. after dinner tonight i have a flat to go look at, so hopefully i'll have a place to live by tomorrow!

cross your fingers!

written by  girlbits on September 20, 2006 from Dublin, Ireland
from the travel blog: a britt in ireland.
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hey now it's sounding more like my life...lineups and aching body! terrific! you never know, the busking thing could be the best paying job you find! remember to find a flat with a comfortable couch. i see visitors in your future.

written by  dad on September 20, 2006

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flat.

written by  pnix on September 21, 2006

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gasp* You were number 329?! I was 322, I thought I saw you! You probably couldn't see me as I was dressed as an elderly black man.

Och, being famous is such a chore sometimes.

written by  angie splangie puddin' pie. on September 21, 2006

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love all the pics Britt, if we could all just pack a bag and jump on board with you.
myrn

written by  myrn on September 22, 2006

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