Often, we say that “no news is good news.” But the fact that you haven’t heard anything certainly isn’t always a good thing. Especially not here. Here in Spain, it seems you really have to stay proactive; if you actually want action, you should be the one doing it. Frustrating, perhaps, to not be able to rely on others, but certainly a good life lesson. No one else (with possible exception of some family and friends?) has my best interests at heart.

I was waiting for my driver’s licence for over five weeks, after being told that it should come in about three. But the DGT (motor vehicles department) were waiting for a letter of my previous experience in Canada. I delivered this to my driving school the day after passing my practical exam, and was told all would be well, they would pass it on with the rest of my documentation. Of course, the school was closed for August (as many shops are here), but even before they left, they must have known that my letter (from Quebec’s SAAQ) was not accepted… I’d asked specifically if there needed to be an official translation or something… “No, this should be fine.” Sigh.

I finally phoned Monday (first day everyone’s back at work) and was told: “Oh yeah, you need to go to the Canadian consulate and get a letter in Spanish that states your previous driving experience.” Oh yeah? And said as if this were obvious. So, you were going to tell me this…when? Then what, I bring the letter back to you? “No, you’re better off if you go to the ministry and drop it off yourself.” (Ahem, *I’m* better off?)

Anyhow, after discovering this fantastic piece of news, I immediately rushed out to get said letter from the Canadian consulate (not an easy place to get to from where I live). Then grabbed the train/metro/train down to the DGT (not an easy place to get to, from the Canadian consulate). I made it just before they closed on Monday…phew, well done! But was told: “The letter needs to show the date your original licence was issued.” Okay, I say…here it shows that as of [date] I had N months and M days of experience. It’s the same thing. We can easily calculate the date of the original licence…I’ll do it right here and now for you, if you like. “Nope, we need the date to be written in the letter.” The man in the DGT, in an effort to console me, pulls out his own driver’s licence to show me where they will eventually need to put my date.

So, next day, I make the same (very out-of-the-way) trips…to the Canadian consulate and then to Tráfico. Tuesday’s consulate letter is identical, except it now reads September 2 (not 1) and now has a sentence that states the date I first received a driver’s licence (a date I calculated myself and gave to the woman at the consulate, who simply trusted me).

Finally, all is well. Apparently I will receive my licence in about three weeks…ha ha…now I get the joke!