Well, kind of. I had to trek all the way across the city today to visit the US Embassy. Due to a massive delay with the mail, I could not get my fingerprints made for my security clearance application while still at home. So after about three phone calls, I finally get a hold of person in the Regional Security Office at the embassy. God bless the RSO. They kindly squeezed me in this morning at 11. It took me an hour to get there (and I only got lost once – turning the wrong way when coming out the Tube stations is becoming a problem I need to correct). I met with the Assistant RSO, a very nice, chatty guy named Jerry.
Getting fingerprinted is an awkward situation. For one thing, you kind of feel like you’re at Central Booking. It’s a “Now I know how people who get arrested feel” kind of moment. Awkwardness ensues because you only just met the person who now has to man-handle your fingers to get them to bend certain ways so you get a good print. All the while, you either proceed to not look at said person or attempt to make idle chit-chat. Jerry, however, managed to make me laugh and explain some things about the building. Apparently it’s undergoing a lot of renovations ahead of the 2012 Olympics here in London. All I can say is that I’m glad I’ll be gone by then (Maybe. We’ll see. Who knows.) The building is also overcrowded. Not minimal overcrowding. The embassy has a staff of near 1000. The building was meant for 500. I know we have a “special relationship” with Britain but 1000 people in a single embassy? That seems excessive, or maybe we’re having to work at little harder at this relationship than we used to.
The appointment took about fifteen minutes then I was all done and sent on my way with black ink on my fingers that didn’t completely wash off until tonight.
I hope this security clearance comes through and I can manage to work things out with my Visa because after having been in the building, I really want to work there.
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