Passport Woes - Vancouver people, a little help here?

[dave_littler]

So, I'm beginning the process of getting myself a passport so that I might go down to the uninhabitable wasteland of Arizona in order to visit my brother (coincidentally also named David). He and I actually haven't seen one another in seven years now, since I took the unbearable and astonishingly eye-opening two day bus journey from my home here in

Comments

[adistantshadow]

Sounds like you had an interesting first trip down here. And, while I'm not the biggest fan of my own country, not everyone is like those people you encountered on that bus. Can I ask where most of that took place? Because, wow that was some ghetto shit there. I can not believe that person not knowing what the map was of and such. *shakes head* some people, makes you wonder.

That’s insane that you can’t just get a passport. I’m so glad that I didn’t need to do that last year when I got mine. If you could find someone that had a passport, couldn’t you lie and say you’ve known them for two years

[dave_littler]

It was all during the trip along the west coast. If memory serves, the worst of it - including that restaurant encounter - were in and around Sacramento. A city which I consider to be the ugliest town I've ever set foot in, by the way.

And yeah, I get that not all Americans are as bad as that, but they were ... distinctive to me, in that these just aren't encounters I ever would have expected to have in Canada. Often the way we judge a culture other than our own is in the way that it differs from the one we come from.

[archmagekyros]

Yeah we're not used to people properly using our language, it trips us out. I do suggest spending some time in Portland or Seattle, that should change your experience of the west coast for the positive. Arizona and California aren't the greatest examples of our country or people, especially Sacramento. I'd avoid any town smaller than Eugene though, Oregon and Washington have a lot of farmers and guns.

Unfortunately, even in an oasis of culture, there's still the random downtown punker kids. I've heard some pretty strange things from them, at least I think so from what I could decipher. How are the downtown kids in Vancouver?

[voodooskeleton]

Yeah I had difficulty with that too because I don't think it can be someone you're related to. Just get someone from work to do it and say you're bffs or something.

[dave_littler]

It looks like family members are okay:

http://www.ppt.gc.ca/cdn/section2.aspx

And indeed, I've realized that I have an uncle who's fairly local and who's a bit of a world traveler. We're not super-close, but perhaps if he's in town he can help me out.

[voodooskeleton]

I think there's a way around it if you can't get a guarantor either. Like they supply you with one or something. I don't even know.

[dave_littler]

Yes, because faceless bureaucratic edifices like this are always prone to making exceptions and being helpful to people who would like them to bend their rules, right?

:P

[hentaikid]

My Irish passport renewal involved a signature from an upstanding member of the community like a barrister, bank manager or priest.

Hilarious really.

[dave_littler]

What a peculiar grouping!

[chezmax]

Canada had similar rules until about 5 years ago: Dentist, Doctor, School Principal, Lawyer, etc.

My first passport was guarantored by my dentist :)

[zeddidragon]

That sounds like the beginning of a joke.

[fallenthropy]

Dave -
I can do it. I actually know you. Shoot me an email. I have a passport. All good.

[dave_littler]

Hey, that's wonderful! Thank you!

I'm not sure that I have your e-mail address handy. Drop me a line at god_king@telus.net, and we can arrange a time and place to meet this weekend, perhaps.

[morgian_le_faye]

Gosh... I'm sorry your previous trip to the US was so bad. I've encountered assholes, but never that many in that short of a time frame, and I live in the country. Granted, the longest vacation bus ride I've ever taken that wasn't for a band trip was to and from school... and people usually slept on those. If I lived in Vancouver, I'd help you out!

[dave_littler]

It's possible that the stress and confined circumstances of the bus trip experience did something to bring out the worst (and also stupidest) in people. Though a number of the other people I met were also peculiar, relative to my experiences, they were not unpleasant in such a concerted fashion.

At any event, it does look as though Fallenthropy - an acquaintance of some ten years or so - will be able to render me the assistance I need, so it all works out. I appreciate the thought nonetheless.

[chezmax]

Greyhound has an especially talented way of bringing together the ... dregs.. of humanity together. It's impressive, really.