Declan Murphy <declan_murphy@hotmail.com> writes:

> Went in and got my visa stamp. I'm pleased to report that the normal
> "service with a snarl" is back, 1 hour 50 minutes duration, with not a
> hint of a smile anywhere. Somehow I'm finding the normalcy comforting.

But something is in the air in officialdom. I got my UK driving licence
converted to a Japanese one a few months back and was expecting a rough
ride. Especially as my UK licence is currently in two pieces. After the
policeman behind the counter had patiently explained that they did not
accept ripped or torn licences he then spent five minutes minutely
examing it - eventually telling us they would accept it this time. Maybe
it was my six month old son grinning at him the whole time which won him
over. I also got my UK licence back at the end of the process, which I
was not expecting.

Back to the point, I have to say that I find the immigration officials
in Japan 100 times friendlier than the ones in the UK my wife and I had
to deal with when we got married.
-- 
Ian J Cottee
Nagoya, Japan