What are you doing here?

Meg and I went to the Amsterdam Town Hall today because Lynne (our immigration consultant) told us "It was very important" that we register in Holland... which basically means they assign us some number and we can be taxed (I think that's the purpose of registering!) Anyway, the other two from Chicago went a few weeks ago in Rotterdam and were told that you don't need to register if you are here less than 4 months because you won't be required to pay taxes and won't need the ID number you get when you register. So, I told Lynne this and she emailed me (and called me on numerous numbers trying to get a hold of me at the office, on my cell, etc.) to tell me how very important it was that we register.

So, what did the people at the Town Hall say to Meg and I today when we showed up for our "very important" appointments... What are you doing here? You do not need to be here. Yep, that's what we thought! Big waste of time if you ask me. I emailed Lynne to tell her the news... haven't heard back from her yet. (Side note: the company we've outsourced the immigration stuff to that Lynne works for doesn't seem to have their stuff together and we've had problems with them all along!)

Here's where we had to go:



Meg waiting in the hall of doors (as I nicknamed it):



Back at the office, we had a little impromptu happy hour this afternoon in the office room that I work in... champagne for everyone! Andre got a bottle of champagne from a client as a happy new year gift, so he shared it with all of us. Nice!

Andre pouring a glass for Naima and Joost: