we're officially legal

not that we were illegal, that is since we paid the ginormous fine and fees for visa extension. today, we took all of our paperwork and passports over to immigration and got our residence visas! hooray. and it wouldn't have been as easy had we not had the boy with us.

the man behind the counter asked us if we wanted it done "urgently" or in a few days. either way, we had to go to the finance section and pay, either for the registered mail (the longer option) or to rush the visa. i think the thousands of dirhams we've already paid were enough and that we could wait 3 days for the visa, so we went to pay for the registered mail. he told us to get one. oh, and julian got a chocolate on a stick from the lady behind the counter, big surprise.

just as we got back to the office to the guy processing our paperwork, he says, "you were supposed to get two." of course, that's why you told me one. just as i'm getting ready to fill it out and send serge out to get another, the woman who initially checked our papers comes over and says, "no. take this slip back to the empost counter and get your money back. he will do them right now." score! so then the guy gives julian a date cookie (his fave) and gives us our visas in like 2 minutes. how awesome is that?

then we were able to make it to coffee morning at sara's, where i found out a lot of good info on a lot of things, like getting a housekeeper who actually does a good job and real estate agents who can perhaps get us a better apartment, etc. it's just a peachy day.