I had an epiphany today about Russian bureaucracy...it's like having a cold! As the joke goes, if you treat a cold, it will only last about 7 days, but if you leave it alone, it will take a whole week!
The same goes with trying to get something done here. You could struggle through, taking a lot of wrong turns, using trial and error, and it will take you "x" amount of time. OR you could start way in advance, do your research, use what seems like the best method, and it will STILL take you "x" amount of time. And by "x" amount of time I mean you will finish it in the Eleventh Hour, just before the bank closes or your visa expires, or your plane takes off, or the office closes for the weekend, etc.....
And by "you," I'm talking about myself, of course.
Oh, and just like a shot of antibiotics sometimes gets the recovery moving faster, well, it helps to have some connections. There is always a back door or side door or trap door that will suddenly take you down the express route.
I KNOW that God operates outside of all these restrictions. But I also know that I'm not so bad at planning, and that these things really are all beyond my control. So I have to let go a little and not try to be in the driver's seat all the time.
The same goes with trying to get something done here. You could struggle through, taking a lot of wrong turns, using trial and error, and it will take you "x" amount of time. OR you could start way in advance, do your research, use what seems like the best method, and it will STILL take you "x" amount of time. And by "x" amount of time I mean you will finish it in the Eleventh Hour, just before the bank closes or your visa expires, or your plane takes off, or the office closes for the weekend, etc.....
And by "you," I'm talking about myself, of course.
Oh, and just like a shot of antibiotics sometimes gets the recovery moving faster, well, it helps to have some connections. There is always a back door or side door or trap door that will suddenly take you down the express route.
I KNOW that God operates outside of all these restrictions. But I also know that I'm not so bad at planning, and that these things really are all beyond my control. So I have to let go a little and not try to be in the driver's seat all the time.
I have never commented here before but have enjoyed reading. Your words made me laugh today because we are in the midst of an adoption and are experiencing these very things you are writing about. It is challenging me to just sit back in some ways(hard cause I'm a planner and organizer) and trust God as He let's this unfold in His perfect timing. I still wish for for the express route though. ;)
ReplyDeleteYeah, adoption is one of those times, too! Definitely an opportunity for trusting.
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ReplyDeleteJust came across your blog (I am hunting out each and every "expat in Russia" blog, ha) and am enjoying reading. I am moving to Moscow in Jan and so trying to read as much as I can before I go - it's so helpful to read blogs like this!
ReplyDeleteOh, thanks! Yes, expat blogs are very helpful! Let me know if I can help with anything, though I don't know Moscow very well.
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