I'm officially a Dutch Tekan!

So after much anticipation, I finally have my Dutch ID card!  I really needed it...I was worried about getting back into the country after London this weekend.  Here's the story from today:

1.  I was told originally that my card would be mailed to me in 4-6 weeks.  At week 8 I became concerned it wasn't coming, so I spoke with some people at work who called immigration to find out where my card was out.  Turns out I was supposed to go to a different immigration office and pick it up.  The company confirmed I didn't need an appointment and could just show up to pick up my card.

2.  So I got on a new tram at lunch to pick up my card.  The building was close to the beach, so it was a good 20 minute ride out there.  By the time I got there, I realized I forgot a book or anything to occupy my time as I assumed it would be like the DMV.  Bad move.

3.  The first question they asked was if I had my paper saying that I could pick up my ID.  I pulled out every piece of Dutch paperwork I had and none of them were right.  I explained to the nice Dutch man that my company called and said I could pick it up.  The guy shrugged and gave me a number for the next station.

4.  I thought I would wait forever for the next station but it ended up being about 2 minutes.  At the next station, they again asked me for that piece of paper and I again showed them everything I had.  He informed me I didn't have the right paper.  I explained again about my company situation.  He nodded and said that because I didn't have my paper, it would take him 5 minutes to find my card rather than 1 minute.  He said it with a serious face, as if this was the end of his world.  I had a really hard time not laughing.  I mean seriously, I'm so glad that the US is not the only one with bureaucratic crazies.  He made a big show of going through 2 stacks of about 30 cards and found mine in less than 5 minutes.  Phew!  That was a close one.  I almost caused a major issue in the immigration office....work!

5.  My ID photo was taken on the day I flew in.  I look like I've been in an Amsterdam coffeeshop, just after going on a serial killing spree.  I don't think a worse photo has ever been taken.  I'm a little concerned about showing it to customs agents at Schiphol.  Additionally, they spelled Texas as "Tekan".  I asked a girl at work if that was the Dutch spelling of Texas...its not.  That's just unfortunate.

I thought I'd include a picture of my tram stop, just to further confirm I'm living in a movie.

That's a swan, ducks of all kinds and seagulls.  Sometimes there's a really big crane.  I will add that the ducks cross the street in the cross walk and the cars/bikes always stop.  It's so cute.  That's what I see every morning.  Makes it hard to go to work!