Third Time's a Charm!

Well, I had to write another little post today to celebrate a major accomplishment. I have spoken before about the registration process which I have to go through following arrival into India with a new visa and how painful and frustrating it is. You have to brave the traffic to go to the Police Commissioner's Office, then brave the bureaucracy, then be sent away because you don't have some form that they never even told you that you need in the first place. I have never completed this process in fewer than four trips to the FRO (nor has any other foreigner that I have spoken to about this particular form of torture so it is not just some deficiency on my part, I promise), something is always wrong with my paperwork in some ridiculous way or another and I always leave angry and frustrated. Today was the third time that I have embarked on the registration process and I was hopeful, though not too hopeful lest my spirits be crushed, that I might get registered in the minimum two trips to the FRO after my significant amount of experience. I went armed with more paper than you'll find at a printer's shop and I emerged victorious! I had all of the paperwork that I needed, all of the passport photos that were required, the correct number of copies, and everything filled out correctly (to the disappointment and dismay of the smug government officials who relish turning away inexperienced foreigners). Tomorrow afternoon I can go and pick up my brand-new registration certificate and that will be the last time that I ever have to deal with that horrible, awful place. Hah! Suck it Bangalore Police Commissioner's Office, I WIN!