Bureaucratic errands

Today was kicked off at 9:30am by a quick (1-stop) ride on the u-bahn to a lovely Platz and a short walk to a state doctor's office. There the kids got medical check-ups so they can start "kita" or preschool. The check-up was exceptionally brief, mostly paperwork including transferring their immunization records from their Seattle doc onto their paper form (which is handwritten) and telling me that Cody needs some vaccines. (I'll put that on my "non-urgent" to do list.) She listened to their heartbeat (didn't take a pulse though), lungs and checked to make sure they didn't have a major rash on their trunk, arms or legs. Before they had cleaned up all the toys they got out, we got the signed paperwork stating that both kids are healthy and could leave.

During the brief wait, I got a mail from Jay saying he'd forgotten the very important registration paper that the bank needs (we had engaged our relo agent to obtain this form and received it in hand yesterday at 6pm). This registration paper is very basic. It states our address, all four of our names and features a very official looking seal and the date. SIMPLE but so very important, for without this paper you cannot open a bank account or even get a visa. I think you might even need it to get a cell phone (though we haven't started that process yet). 

So, the kids and I took the u-bahn 1 stop back to our place, picked up the registration paper, then turned right around again and took the u-bahn one more stop. There we made a copy of the kids health record (just in case) and then walked to the kita to drop it off. Whew! They're all set to start on Monday! Yay! (if you're keeping track, that's taken us about 2 hours so far)

Then, we walk back to the u-bahn (3 blocks from the kita) and take the train 3 stops, switch to take another u-bahn train 2 stops then walk 1 block to meet Jay at the Bank. He's not there. We go use the restroom (cuz a bank must have clean bathrooms, right?), wash hands, dole out a snack of carrot sticks and kohlrabi slices. Jay's there now so we join him, hand over the registration paper for the banker, Dirk, at the int'l counter to read - literally, he reads it and hands it back to me and says, "Ok, your account is now open." REALLY?? That's it? We couldn't have scanned/emailed that to you?! 

Now it's 1pm. We walk to the end of the block, grab three sandwiches at a cafe and a couple of drinks (9 euros) and eat to celebrate completing the two biggest run-arounds of the past 10 days: the kids are set for preschool and we have a bank account. Thank goodness. 

Jay heads back to work and the kids and I run into Woolworths (yes!) to browse and ultimately buy a couple sand toys, a mini pinball machine for Jasper and a "magic" wand for Cody. We take the two u-bahns back, and crash for naptime.