See, the Dutch think their government is slow and inefficient ...

But man, it's all relative.

The Dutch government has some very nice office space for immigrant relations, at a big complex called the World Trade Center (let's not even go there) where there is a train stop and a Metro stop ...

I probably would have gotten there on time for my 11 am appointment if I hadn't been helpfully given the wrong directions to the World FASHION Center, which had some mighty attractive scenery while I wandered around lost, but was miles away from my true destination.

Didn't know a phone number to call but called our Dutch attorneys who had set up the appointment and they called the office and called me back with a new appointment at 1:30.

What, the flexibility to change your appointment and get a new appointment on the same day? You COMMIES! I see what Palin is afraid of. Bureaucratic efficiency is a poisonous idea that must not be allowed to destroy America.

But of course, it is still a bureacracy, and because my meeting with Immigration was rescheduled to the 31st, I did not have a piece of paper that the Amsterdam people need for my City registration number .... but once I have that appointment, they will process all my other paperwork and issue the number if I just email them a scanned version of that paperwork .... commies. Not even making me come back for another visit? Inconceiveable!