May 20, 2008

Nothing is simple.

The last time I had to go to the bank here was about three weeks ago. I went to take out a couple hundred dollars. What should have been a five minute transaction turned into half an hour of pleading and begging to get them to give me my money despite my not having my passport. A few weeks earlier I'd finally gotten a debit card, but only after I signed ten different documents and had my husband sign one or two that, I think, confirmed that it was okay with him if the 'little woman' got a card on 'his' account. I try not to let this stuff frustrate me. I just let every Time-Suck I have to endure prepare me in some way for the next time I run into the same situation. That's what any reasonable person does, right? So, today, when I had to go to the bank again, I was prepared. Or, so I thought. I brought my debit card, my account number and my passport. Plus, two checks I had to deposit. I also had to withdraw some money. I figured my trouble, if I had any, would come when I tried to withdraw the cash...silly me. I handed over all of the pertinent documents and the two checks. This would only take a few minutes, I'd be out before the rain started. The teller looked at both checks, sighed and shook her head and over the next 45 minutes, would go in and out of her cubicle at least six times and bring in two other people. At one point, I was told that I'd need my husband's cedula or passport number to make the deposits. I asked why - she told me she wasn't sure, but that's what they wanted. It seems I never have every piece of documentation I need to access my own money. I don't understand what happened with one of the checks, but I was told the same thing I'm always told here, "We can't do this. Ever. But today, we're going to make an exception just for you." When I first got here and this happened, I was flattered that they'd be so nice, now I realize that telling you "no" and then "yes" is just the way things work here. At this point, I'm so used to hearing that, I have to remind myself to feign gratitude instead of roll my eyes and mumble, "yeah, yeah, whatever, just snap it up." Anyway, I was finally able to make the deposits. Of course, making the withdrawal involved a whole new song and dance - passport, account number, signature...next time I'll make sure to bring my husband's info as well. But, next time, I'm sure they'll have some new request, some new shred of paper or photo I.D. that I didn't bring, that is now absolutely vital to the transaction and I'll be stuck waiting for my "one time only" exception, as usual.