I heard from my friends about the government work in the Cyprus. I used to say then it’s absurd, at last this is European country. I used to argue with Cypriots about it as well say that you must be lying, as I don’t believe Cypriot government is that much slow. One experience of mine changed me totally for what I believe and had to adopt the most common behavior that is going on. I am not going to tell you the story that is made up but about the experience that I had gone through. Then you might decide whether I was right about Cyprus government or not, or you might say it is just consequences that had happened.
It’s not a long time before event, 24th of June 08, I went to Lakchha, transportation office for the license of motor bicycle. I woke up early in the morning and reached to the office by the 8’o clock by taking one hour of bus ride. I waited 10 minutes to fill in the form. I paid 2 euros just to fill in some forms in Greek language as we foreigner can’t fill in the form. Then I was sent inside in the office to submit the form. I went inside, it’s 8: 15 am. I got informed that the officer will reach at only 9. I got shocked that I had to wait in queue for quarter of hour. I took a permit from hospital till 10’ o clock so I thought it might be bit late. Still it’s a rule that I had to wait. So I stayed in the line for a queqe and made myself ready for wait for ¾ quarter of hour. While waiting, one of the person in the queue told me that officer might turn up at 10 if you are lucky, I started to get angry with the system. The office was meant to be there at 8 and she will reach there at 10 I were lucky enough. I was wishing if she showed up at 9, but she did not. At 9: 30 I asked other staffs down there when she will reach there, she responded me that she has to come from far and she has lots of work to do. I got shocked at started to think, is this her personal office or the governmental office? Anyway I had to get license that day, so I waited. At around 11:00 only she showed up. Everybody started to clapped her in satire matter but she said what? In loud voice and everybody calmed. I had to wait till 11:30 to get my turn to register my name and pay money to her for my license process. After that process, she said me to wait outside to be called for license interview. I had to wait for half an hour to get my name called. I did the interview and had to go to same lady for issuing the license. Again same line, had to wait for one hour to get my turn. I thought on the process that I will never come back to this place once I finish these stuffs. I waited 1 hour to get my turn and had my license issued. Not only this much was the over of my pain and suffer from the governmental process. I got my license and rushed outside to catch my bus to Lefkosia. I reached to bus station, I had to wait for bus, so I examined my license. I got some error on the license, my date of birth had been printed wrong. I got really angry, and then rushed back to the officer. The office was about to close, anyway I managed to get inside the office. I requested her to fix the error, but I got surprised when she said, it’s over for today, come back tomorrow. My anger rushed to the limit, but still I calmed down and requested her again stating that, I need to come from far and had to leave the job, but she does not want to understand my problem. It won’t take a long time for her to fix the stuffs, but she refused and replied me angrily that come back tomorrow. I can’t fight with the government people as it will crate a problem for me, just being the foreigner. So I came back with, great anger in myself. I lost the promise I made to the hospital, I did not had time to show up to hospital, and I got the license that is useless, spending my whole precious day. Still today, I am having the useless license carrying with me, as I don’t have time to go and fix those error made by officer.
Now, dear reader, it’s your time to decide, what is the governmental work in Cyprus. What is the value of time, in this newly renowned Europe country, what is the value of foreigner in this Europe, where European law states that all the people should be respected? What is the governmental work in Cyprus? Hope to hear your comments back about my experience.