Tramites

Look up the word tramite in the english/spanish dictionary and it says "procedure or transaction". But somehow it just doesn't capture the essence of it here in Argentina. The word is used to describe anything that must be done (pay bills, fill out forms, stand in line blah blah), is a pain in the ass and takes eons. We've been in tramite hell the past few weeks getting Valentina's American and Argentine passports. The tramite for the US passport was so efficient and easy. Of course it already arrived only a week after we applied for it. The form asked for a headshot which I thought was absurd and would no way apply to an infant. Well, I was wrong. They did expect a photo of our little darling. So, here' one of me trying to get her to look straight ahead while Hugh played cameraman.

The Argentine tramite was as they say here "un kilumbo" (shitstorm). Hundreds of people waiting in a myriad of lines in a run down building with no a/c (it's summer remember), forms, more lines etc. We got to the end of it all and they say it will take 30-40 days. Not so bad if we didn't already have tix booked to visit the Alexanders in Dallas in two weeks. Until she is 18, she has dual citizenship. She'll enter and exit Argentina with her Argentine passport - same on the US side when we make trips back to visit family and friends. So, we wait and hope they send it early.

Tomorrow we start the next tramite - applying for permanent residency. We've been here on one year renewable visas but since Valentina is Argentine, as her parents we can apply for permanent residency. This time, head shots for us, more lines, more offices and at the end of it all....a legal pass to stay here for good.