I spent all day today getting some paperwork done. First I went in the morning to get my motorbike driving license. I passed the test like 2 weeks ago but I never got around to exchanging my learners permit for the actual license. When I got to the place in Jabriya it turned out I had a lot of papers missing, so I had to go back home, get the papers and drive back to Jabriya. The whole process took over 2 hours but I now have my motorbike license.
One thing I found strange is I now have to separate driving licenses, one for riding and one for driving. The new redesigned license has icons in the back for riding, truck driving, car driving etc.. and they mark under each what you are qualified to operate. I figured they would print me out a new card stating I can drive a car and ride a motorbike but instead they printed me a card that says that I can ride a motorbike. Now I have two licenses which are exactly the same except for the little marking in the back. It would have been more practical to just combine the two in one card.. weird why they don’t do that.
Later in the afternoon I had to go to this other place in Shuwaikh to transfer my car into my name. I just finished paying the installments for it and I had to meet a mandoob (the person who does the paperwork) there to transfer the car in my name. That operation also took 2 hours. It would have finished a lot sooner if the employees actually came to work on time. My mandoob had to wait 45 minutes in line waiting for the employee to come in. When the employee finally arrived the line was super long but he didn’t seem to care, he sat down, ordered his tea, spoke to his friend on the phone and THEN started signing the papers. Mandoobs have a lot of patience.
So now I am home, my flight to Lebanon leaves early tomorrow morning so I am packing my bag. We are going for 6 days but Nat is taking practically all her winter and summer clothes. Whenever I say anything about it she yells at me telling me girls are not like guys and she can’t just take just 2 t-shirts and a jeans. “She has to be prepared for any scenario”.
Anyway, I am checking the site statistics and I might hit 100,000 unique users for this month by tonight. Thats 5 days ahead of schedule, pretty cool.
note: thats not my real date of birth in the picture, its their own creation.
5 replies on “A day with the government and stuff”
Two issue to mention:
1. They need to know when the car/bike license issued. that’s why they separate them … you have a point and i agree with it but what can you say ….
2. Are you telling us that they didn’t put your actual BOD !! that is so damn stupid dude ..
Well, have a safe trip to Lebanon and wish you a Happy Holidays! 😉
How come they don’t put your own birthdate? Weird…
Enjoy your trip! I pack a light bag as well! hehehe! I would leave Nat alone or she will beat you up!
And yeah I have two licenses, but the motorbike one looks like a highschool kid made it, I couldn’t believe it when they gave it to me! I was like.. really this is it?!?!? it was just before they were changing it!
These guys should work more to get everything done! Its annoying when they take this long!
bring back some stolichnaya
All my Kuwait documents also have the wrong birthday – I don’t get it, but I don’t want to make waves. On the other hand, our own US social security also made a mistake, and show me starting to earn money 8 years before (their mistake) I was born! I keep trying to correct it, but bureaucracies! sigh. . .