Not a bit.

Day 5

Dear diary,

So the consulate was unhelpful. They took my information and said they had to verify my identity. Took my picture and fingerprints and said they had to send them in and call my office. I tried to explain that I had just been promoted and moved to a new office, so I wasn't sure if they could find anyone at the office who knew me, but I got the feeling like they weren't very competent. Jean was more helpful, and was very forceful with them when I felt just about to cry. They knew her, apparently, and were much more attentive to her demands than mine. I really appreciated that. Sometimes when you're in a foreign country, what you really need is a local.

Day 8

Dear diary,

Well four days later, still no cards have arrived. At this point my bill is getting a bit uncomfortable. I mean, I know I'm going to be able to pay her back, but I've noticed that so far I'm the only guest (it's the off season) and some comments Jean has been making (She's still super nice!) have made me feel a bit guilty. She's got a business to run, and I'm taking up the nicest room in the whole place, eating specialties off the menu (that she cooks) and she's used up her gas with my several trips back to the consulate to check on my passport.

Oh yeah, the passport. So they said they can't find anyone in my office who knows who I am to verify I am an American. The only person I brought with me from the old office is Kira, and she's on vacation until, well, I don't exactly know. So they left messages for her and promised they'd call the hotel as soon as they received word back on my fingerprints or from Kira. God only knows when that will be. In the meantime, I've tried to spend as little as possible now, which sucks some of the fun from vacationing, but at least I know I'm not imposing as much as I was.