Break down

I'm an emotional person. I always have been... overly emotional really and because of my fair skin after about 2 tear drops my entire face turns red and my eyes swell for about 2 days. I can cry due to pretty much any emotion a person can have. It confuses other people. I've gotten used to it and just apologize for it because those tears always come at the most inconvenient time and once it starts it's like trying to cram a tent back into the bag once you've taken it out... a struggle to say the least.

The Peace Corps application is like a good movie, you have to see it over and over and every time you do you see something you missed the first time. Last night I spent the evening reading and filling out paperwork until my eyes were ready to bleed and decided my top priority was getting my passport and visa taken care of. The process is weird so I'll try to keep it short and to the point. Basically I need to bring this passport application, my current passport (expired or not), and another paper specifically for the PC. The instructions I was given say to bring these items to a Passport Agent and get them to sign off on it, throw it in an envelope and hand it over. Easy!

This morning I got up abnormally early so I could get my passport/visa photos taken and tie up a few loose ends before losing my vision and sanity at the eye doctor's office. My productivity hit a brick wall at that point so I napped, but set an alarm to get up and get to the Passport Agent before they close at 3.

I arrive at the post office and wait for about 45 minutes before I can be seen because a family of four needs passports and who knows what else. Finally it's my turn. I get in the office and the Agent tells me she can't help me. I tell her all I need is for her to stamp the application with her signature put it in an envelope and give it back. She calls someone, the someone tells her she can't do it, she doesn't have the authority suggests maybe I go to Washington or Philadelphia to have it done. I know better. I pull out my detailed instructions and show her again what I need. She calls one more someone. Now she is willing to help but needs my birth certificate which I do not have and live too far away to go back and get and be back on time. She's telling me to come back tomorrow and she'll mail it and I explain to her that I'm supposed to mail it (they even gave me the ups envelope to mail it back in). She says to me "do you know how hard it is for me to let go of something with my signature on it?" I am frustrated.. and along with any emotion, like i said... tears. I'm apologizing like a maniac and she says "The woman I talked to told me not to give the application with my signature on it back to you" "...and to make you be authentic, I think you absolutely have been."

Finally! My tears worked to my advantage. To sum it up I'm going back tomorrow with birth certificate and optimism.

On the brighter side I've set a date to go up and see my college girlfriends which turned my frown upside down!