Getting a passport has proved to be one of the most frustrating experiences of my lifetime. Never have I been so utterly disgusted by shortcomings of a bureaucracy. I applied for my passport like every other tax paying citizen does, well aware that it would take up to twelve weeks to process. Since my vacation was more than three months away I was not worried until last week, when my passport was supposed to arrive but had failed to do so. I have lost count of how many customer "service" representatives I've spoken to--most of them being uncaring, rude serpents who have done nothing but give me incorrect and inconsistent information regarding my passport. My mother called and had it expedited, only to find out later that this had been only a request and not a guarantee. I then learned that my passport was printed and was in Philadelphia and if need be I could drive down there to pick it up; however the next batch of customer service representatives informed me that my passport was in Arkansas, not Philadelphia, and that I couldn't pick it up in Philadelphia because the facility was not open to the public. Upon calling AGAIN I finally managed to get someone to give me an appointment in the Philadelphia office--I will have to drive there at 6 am tomorrow morning, bring every proof of identification I can muster, and wait around for hours until they print me a new passport. This is the only way I will be able to go on my vacation and the best part is, I'll probably have to pay an "emergency" fee even though if the people who work at these agencies had done their job correctly there would be no emergency.

I understand that these sorts of things don't always run like clockwork but you know what, I'm really tired of giving a damn. I followed all the rules regarding the entire application process and I still wind up getting screwed and no one cares at all. The people at the other end of the phone couldn't have cared less that my boyfriend would be out thousands of dollars due to their incompetency. Their excuse for not having the passport completed on time was because the offices were "inundated with applications." Then hire some new workers. Why should people's vacations into which they have put time, money and effort be delayed or ruined because some person at a desk can't do their job? I have absolutely no sympathy for situations such as this. Even though I was only a measly cashier I made sure people had answers to their questions and if I didn't know the answer I made it a point to find out. I expect only the same when I am inquiring about something, especially when it's something significant such as a passport. The customer service representatives told me that despite the ten to twelve week application process there was no guarantee that the passport would be done in time. Well gee, it would have been nice to know that BEFORE I applied so I at least could have paid the money in the beginning to get speedier processing. But no, I was ignorant and had faith in the faulty system that is our government and as a result I have been crapped on repeatedly, as I'm sure many, many other people have found themselves in my situation. Yes, I know there are far worse scenarios which could have found themselves in existence but I was looking forward to this vacation (I'm going to Amsterdam, for crying out loud) and because of this whole ordeal I will have to spend money on a hotel and the extra gas required to make this trip, not to mention wait on a miserable line for an indefinite amount of time while they manage to reprint the passport they should have mailed to me in the first place.

If all goes well and I pray hard enough (which I honestly have not been doing) I will be boarding a plane to Amsterdam this Thursday. This whole experience has taught me a very valuable lesson--never trust anyone.