In lieu of a rant about my five minutes at the Department of Motor Vehicles this morning, I'll just post a few words and a photo. Take from them what you will:
"We need this information by law. I can only assume that 'prenom'* means 'name'."
"What if I told you my name was Alison. It says 'Alison' next to 'prénom'. Can you understand it then?"
"Again, I can only assume that's what it means."
So I have to have my French driver's license translated, even though on the front of it, underneath the words "Permis de Conduire," it says "Driving Licence" in English (and all the other official languages of the EU).
*She pronounced it "pree-nahm," of course.
Omigod. There was a story some years ago about the expense and run-around a US citizen (who was born in France) had to go through to get a NJ driver license. He was sent to an "approved" translator in some ghetto in Paterson, but then the DMV wouldn't accept the translation. It took an act of the state legislature. I swear.
Posted by: bhd | March 28, 2006 at 13:14
that is ridiculous. this is what happens when a society begins to think of itself as better than others and sees no importance in recognizing or learning about others. if you were in europe, you wouldnt need your american lisence translated...the person behind the counter would probably even know english.
Posted by: steph | March 28, 2006 at 13:28
Why not retake the test? You skeered? *lol*
Posted by: Jay | March 28, 2006 at 13:52
It's them Frenchy-French words that gots them all corn-fused. If'n them Frogs jeest went n' learnt Aynglish lahke the rest of us, then thard be none o'them problems, I reckon.
Bless their hearts...
Posted by: Thomas | March 28, 2006 at 14:02
Are you really suggesting that someone at the Kentucky DMV can't read or pronounce French...the same state that has murdered English?
Posted by: Karan | March 28, 2006 at 14:39
Actually, Steph it's the same run-around in France...everything needs to be translated into French by a translator, and not just by any old translator, but one that the gov body you're dealing with recognizes (which usually means they can charge an arm and a leg because you have no choice but to use them).
The worst part is when they ask for a birth certificate that less than three months old - as if the information on it changes from year to year. I've had to order new ones twice now, and pay to get them translated each time! I feel your pain, Ali!
Posted by: samantha | March 28, 2006 at 14:40
Okay... so this means they did NOT issue you a U.S. driver's license yet? Do you not have your U.S. Passport so that they can make the "connection" as to the information on your French license?
Oy vey.
Posted by: newwavegurly | March 28, 2006 at 17:48
Isn't it amazing how many roadblocks you can encounter on some paths.
Hang in there.
Cas
Posted by: cassie-b | March 28, 2006 at 18:03
Oh Ali, did we forget to say...Welcome home!?!?!
I'm sure this won't be the last time the welcome mat will seem to be missing.
Sorry sweetie, some things never change the DMV is one of them. (((Huggs)))
Posted by: patty | March 28, 2006 at 19:20
Ah, the BMV. I finally got a new license last month... First the website map was wrong for the location of the BMV. They billed the place as "one stop shopping" - as in get new title, plates, stickers, license and register to vote. Of course, then I had to go to county clerk (not the BMV) and back, then to a different BMV to take the written test to get a license. (Because the driving laws are so much different in neighboring states, as the woman told me.) I tried to register to vote, but we'd already missed the point in the computer process (and couldn't go back) so I had to go buy stamps to mail the thing in.
And other assorted adventures. Thus leading to my unshakeable belief that the BMV is one of the circles of hell, and that all employees (and their families) should rot there for eternity.
Posted by: Heather | March 28, 2006 at 21:57
Don't get me started on the DMV. I will need to be there next week for my Alison's driver's test. I am as nervous as a cat. She is as calm as a cucumber.
Posted by: Margaret | March 28, 2006 at 23:45
Sorry to hear about your inconvienience at the DMV, but thanks for sharing. At least you gave some people like me a nice little heads up!
Posted by: D | March 29, 2006 at 01:15
It's just that governments have to justify their existence. And idenitifcation is an area of responsibility that a government has. That driver's license is a primary document for you to identify yourself to people who have a critical need to know who you are. People who sell you alcohol, guns ammunition, explosives, cash checks, and let you take those exclusive examinations such as realtors exams.
My favorite is showing my license at exclusive restaurants for hard to get reservations to prove I am really deserving to be there. No more nick names there. I wonder how they will handle yhose reservations when we go to retinal scans?
Posted by: Monty | March 29, 2006 at 01:19
ALISON ALISON..WHEN I CAME TO FRANCE AT AGE 50 AFTER 25 YRS OF DRIVING IN US WITH NO TICKETS. I NEEDED TO PASS THE FRENCH TEST BECAUSE THEY DID NOT ACCEPT A TRANSFER.
IT COST OVER 800 US $ BECAUSE I NEEDED TO GO TO AUTO SCHOOL TOO.
EVERY OTHER DOCUMENT I HAD ,NEEDED TO BE TRANSLATED INTO FRENCH FOR OTHER THINGS.
SO YOUR DMV EXPERIENCE IS ONLY A MINOR INCONVENIENCE. MY FRENCH WIFE TOOK THE NYS TEST AND PASSED DURING A 2 WK VACATION IN NY.
TAKE THE TEST! CHEAPER AND EASIER.
REMEMBER! A FUNCTIONAIRE IS A FUNCTIONAIRE NO MATTER WHAT COUNTRY YOU LIVE IN.
Posted by: fatguyinfrance | March 29, 2006 at 01:52
Ali, I'm sorry - I've never previously had reason to doubt your credibility, but this latest tale of yours is MUCH too far fetched to be even vaguely believable. I'm disappointed in you.
"Five minutes" for a visit to the DMV indeed... Pah!
Posted by: Dave in England | March 29, 2006 at 08:05
Holy crap. You'd think they'd be able to recognize "prénom." Hmm..."pre" signifies before (ah! perhaps it means "first!") and "nom" seems to have something to do with name, but it could be other things. prénom=first address? No. First date of birth? No. Ohhhh! First name! Hey! Look! I can translate French!
Just think of this DMV woman you dealt with as blog fodder. :-)
Posted by: Catheroo | March 29, 2006 at 11:16
I am sorry Allison that is terrible. It amazes me each day how dumb some people are.
Posted by: cj | March 29, 2006 at 13:01
Here is an unfortunate example of how bureaucracy sucks in the usa just like it does in france.
Posted by: meredith | March 29, 2006 at 14:48
Just changed the email address. sorry about that. This should work better
Posted by: cassie-b | March 29, 2006 at 17:29
DOHS froze my husband's account when he tried to withdraw money from it so we could put a downpayment on a house, because somehow in that small act we managed to violate the Patriot Act?? Still not sure how we did that, but it took us a month to clear it up. So much for the house, I thought. But we were able to come through with a plan B despite DOHStupidity.
Welcome back to the US...lol. Nothing is as easy as it used to be!
Posted by: kingalz | March 29, 2006 at 18:58
That stupid, little, pink licence just doesn't seem official: no digital pictures, wimpy lamination and hey it's pink so it's probably homosexual. Oh and my, my, my let's not forget that it's FRENCH. All those things soooo anti-American. What were you thinking?
Take the test and burn that sucker. Fly with the eagles, c'mon!
Posted by: misschrisc | March 31, 2006 at 02:43