Tuesday, January 29, 2008

The National ID Number

JenniferThe National ID Number is very important. Do not believe anyone who tells you that you can do anything without The National ID Number. University administrators will tell you you can open a bank account without it-- you can't. University administrators will tell you that you can rent an apartment without it-- you can't, because you need insurance. Did I mention that the University administrators will tell you that you can get insurance without the National ID Number? Well you can't. Need a permanent phone number for your potential landlords to call? Too bad. You can't have a mobile phone without The National ID Number. New University email address? Nope, not without The National ID Number.


We don't have our National ID Numbers yet. We applied, of course, but they must be mailed. Snail mailed. And no, they cannot be mailed to one's work address. So how does one know where The National ID Number should be mailed... because remember, one doesn't have a permanent address yet or phone number, because... etc. I guess I should count myself lucky that they let me buy a bus pass without The National ID Number.

Certain Americans who think that the UN and social security numbers are a sign of the Apocalypse would not like this aspect of Swedish bureaucracy, I suspect.

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