there should be a new tourist attraction in Milano..called the Questura. it's mad! it's the immigration department tt looks like a typical chinese run-down building with horrid toilets filled with a stench n illegal immigrants n policemen checking on them.

i woke at 3.30am. yes. to go queue (for 3 hrs in the blistering cold) yes just to get my permit to stay. it's so dumb..coz we all alr had our visas which kinda are useless in a way. so when we reached there at 4 plus in a cab there were alr 10 pple in line. n the dept opens at 7.30am. It's certainly a sight to see, people standing there freezing in the cold wanting to get permits.i had my hot pack..thanks del..n bought a latte froma cafe which is a Godsent... the bureaucracy here is...atrocious...
and just as the gates opened, everyone just rushed it n i was squished n there was some kinda fight in front coz this guy wanted to get in without q-ing n in the end he got dragged into the police dept next door. scary.

after queuing n queuing (i spend half my time q-ing) i had to wait for 3 consecutive times to get my documents. while waiting, it was pretty daunting seeing illegal immigrants being dragged upstairs by the Italian policemen....(wearing black, looking 10 times scarier than on tv, with masks) n they were all black people...and also dragged to the toilets to get checked. (drugs maybe) N the policemen were wearing surgical masks n gloves like they were doubling up as toilet cleaners and forbidding anyone else to go in. it's really scary seeing tt in real life....
there were plenty of pple getting permits n it's saddening to see how everyone wants to get a job here with the good pay. its depressing how money drives people, n in this county esp...it's depressing. I'll never want to live here!

next i walked to a nearby building to get my fiscal code so as to open a bank account. n guess what..they were on strike!!!! for an hour. it's ridiculous..so we went to get the forms and it's loads of q-ing n q-ing again. oh when i say q..it's not orderly like anywhere else..people cut ur q whenever they like it. don't ask me why.
i seriously miss Singapore's efficiency n all of us have been taking it for granted....
perhaps tt's why pple vent their frustration by vandalising n throwing loads of cigarette butts on the floor n going on strikes.
*arrrgh*

anyhow....getting the permit to stay here..is like American idol, whereby u qualify for the semis or something.I was suggesting tt the questura be a pitstop for Amazing Race..it's the MOST daunting task ever...ha.
thank God i survived n tt i went thru tt successfully...i spent a total of 6 hrs getting that precious piece of paper which i'm gonna tear up in front of the brainless officials at the end of my stay here. ha!