Waiting...

So things seem to be taking longer to get done than we had originally hoped. We did turn in our application for the student ID card and our university library card, so that's out of the way. However, we have had much to do with the residence card. Here's what we had to do.

1. Fill out an application for a temporary document with our new residence number on it.
*With this, you need 3 passport photos and a copy of almost every important document you have such as your passport, visa, medical insurance card, proof of being a student or something like that, proof of having a place to stay in Spain, and more.

2. Then, once we copied everything, we returned to the police station. They took some documents, but then told us to get something stamped by the bank where we pay 9,80 euros.

3. When we went back to the station, they took that document, but then said that we had to come back later to give them the second application, which is for the actual card, and the rest of the documents.

4. Today, we went to the station again and gave them our application with our other documents. (By the way, make sure you have at least two copies of your originals for stuff like this. Keep other copies for emergencies and other work somewhere else.) Then, they said that we had to go back to the bank to get the second application stamped (it wasn't the actual application but something else that they gave us).

5. After the bank again where we paid 10,20 euros this time, we went back to the station where they took that paper, 3 passport size photos (although in the U.S. they make them almost too big for Spanish documents, so be careful with that), and our fingerprints. Then, we were FINISHED!

So, all in all, we went to the police station about 5 times and the bank twice. Almost no other foreign exchange student or study abroad student would have to do this (with maybe exceptions coming into the U.S.). Kerry and I are doing it simply because we're going to be working at the university. Now, we just have to wait for our temporary N.I.E., which are our ID numbers, and then we can open up a bank account. We've had a lot to go through, but we're glad that it's getting done now at the beginning. We're also guinea pigs for UNCG, so at least it will be easier for future students who want to teach here, too. It gets a little crazy sometimes, too, but then I have to remind myself that I'm studying in one of the most beautiful and interesting countries in the world, so I should shut up, deal with it, and try to find a solution. If you don't do that, you will go nuts.