In Pursuit of Iraqi Residency

I spent the greater part of my morning yesterday running around Basrah taking care of things to facilitate my application for residency in Iraq. Expats living and working in country are required to submit a resident application within ten days of arrival. If granted, it's valid for one year and allows entry and exit to the country without need of visas.

First step was having passport photos taken ... wearing hijab. I'm not posting. White people don't look good in hijab, is my conclusion.

Next stop was the Department of Public Health in Basrah town. But first, we had to drive to a clinic to meet a doctor who is a friend of one of our national staff. The doctor sent a staff member in the clinic to accompany us to the Department of Public Health. We arrived, wound through the bowels of the old, dark building, and swiftly bypassed a crowd of people. Our liaison took my passport and had my health application stamped and signed within minutes. Next step was a blood sample (for what purpose, I'm not entirely sure). Yes, motherly types and worrywarts, I had my MPH hat on and watched them remove the syringe from its wrapper. Off I went, with a fun stamp in my passport that indicates my acquiescence to the bloodletting and eligibility for residency. From there, our security chief will take my documents to the Ministry of Immigration and do the rest.