From Nation's Capital to Nation's Capital: The Azza Street Spy

Final Chapter: Psychology prevails over Quackery!
For all of those who have been waiting tensely for the final outcome, I am happy to report that I am no longer a quack nor a squatter. Instead, I am a citizen psychologist! Whoo-hoo!

After a month of playing uni-directional phone tag (i.e., I would call the Killer of Zionist Dreams to be told that she could not take the call nor could anyone take a message), I finally reached her. At least, I was never under the illusion that this efficient worker was receiving my messages, which made the phone tag mildly less annoying. I inquired regarding the status of my file, and she replied that after she approved me she passed it onto another office. She has had no contact with my file since we spoke over a month before.

After another few annoying phone calls, I reached the director of the Ministry of Health's Medical Profession's local branch for residents of Greater J-m to be told that my license has been sitting in her office collecting dust and waiting for pickup for over a month. Whew! A bit annoying that no one could call me or send a letter, but ultimately a favorable answer. The director claimed that they sent me a letter that got returned, she supposes b.c the illegible building number prevented the letter from being delivered. Of course, if the letter was returned, it should have occurred to them that they would need to contact me somehow in order for me to learn about the readiness of my license.

A great outcome, but a few glitches before the license would be mine. First obstacle: their limited receiving hours for the public, three four-hour shifts a week. Second obstacle: I have to pay heftily for the privelege of joining this exclusive club via money order at the post office.

I reached this director at 3:30 pm on a day that they were open until 5:00, so I zipped out of work and got there at 4:00 to pick up the voucher. I needed to find a post office where I could pay a 400 NIS (~$91.73) money order. Unfortunately, most postal branches are not open in the afternoon. I hiked to a nearby one that should have been open, except they apparently work mornings only during August. I continued toward town to another post office that I knew had afternoon hours during July. Apparently not in August. Onward, to the main postal branch of the city. I suppose they were the only ones open, b.c I stood in line from 4:20 until 5:05. No chance of going back to the office the same day to give the money order in to get my license. But, the first major hurdle was cleared.

Two days later, they had morning hours. I brought the receipt in and she gave me my license! It was signed 17 July 2006 (remember that I was picking it up on 31 August) and on the back it was listed as having an initial validation date of 17 September 2005. I'm not sure what the validation date means; the director said it gives me seniority at my job, but my HR woman said that my seniority is based on when I started working, not this certificate. I think after I achieve specialty or supervisory status, the date is used to calculate salary differentials. As a lowly beginner, it has no real meaning.

But, who cares? I'm a psychologist now! I broke into this exclusive club, paid their high entry dues, and have a license number. What a great treat for my one-year aliyah anniversary, even though it should have been a gift on my two-month anniversary...

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