asking permission

next hurdle: CLEARED!

On Tuesday I journeyed my way to the German Consulate in Melbourne (South Yarra).
9:15am meeting meant a 7:30 get up and 7:45 departure. It was brutal. This was compounded by: a) peak hour traffic and b) trying to park somewhere. Three security gates, one frisking and a mistranslation later I arrived inside the consulate with not a moment to spare.

Or so I thought.

I am silently ushered to a small room off to one side and it is indicated that I should wait my turn here. I figure there are only 2 other guys in the room, how long could it take? What I didn't anticipate was the Russian lecturer in Bio-Chemistry, living in Australia on some obscure visa and trying to secure himself a visa to Germany for a conference of some description. That, coupled with his tenuous grasp of English resulted in a 25 min paper-work translation fest ultimatly resulting in the Consulate representative (Corine) agreeing to let his secretary fax everything else that was needed.

I am up to the plate and it is a breeze, 5 min and I'm out, I come back with cash 15 min later then out the door again. 1 passport and $120 lighter.

Another hurdle indeed cleared!