Correcting an error

 Nederlands

Given the warnings that reached us about the possible problems to drive a car to Europe on an export license plate, it seemed worth to undo our error. It would be my job to return to the Ministry of Traffic to produce new paperwork. I left our house optimistic at 10:30 taking Onno with me to Isa Town.
It's actually quite simple: I have an export number plate but changed my mind and I would like a normal license plate, please. A little bit of lying will be involved:  "contract renewed, we’re not moving ...."
"Damned! It seems as if I’m steeling my own damn car!" Thijs said as he heard my story (as punishment) later that night.
Unfortunately, it was not that simply as I hoped it would be: It took me more than 7 hours of bureaucratic torture to complete the required amount of paper and stamps. As I would like to spare my readers similar hardship, here’s an abstract:  

•  It is busier on Sunday than Thursday.
•  Take tools with you so you can unscrew the  number plate from your car.
• You don’t need to screw and unscrew the plates on the car every time they send you somewhere. Just drive without them, who cares?
• This is a good moment to illegally park, they can't fine you without a ticket, right?
• Do not feel guilty if you occupy a parking spot before someone else does.  Hesitators lose.
• It's very inconvenient if you lose your insurance card and proof of ownership in the parking lot (it slows  down the process  because you have to re-produce necessary documents. )
• If they send you to counter 24 and you find out that this counter does not exist, after 5 hours, you are entitled to get very upset.   
• Stay friendly,  keep smiling even when you're back at the first person who has been sending you away five times and all of a sudden he is willing to fill in the form that he could have helped you with 3 hours ago. 
• Make friends and allies, play two departments against each other (Inspection vs. the bureaucrats in their air offices cooled) to get what you want.
  
• Breaking down in tears is pointless. 
• Getting angry too.  
• Do not get discouraged if you are given ticket number 688 and 321 is flashing on the display.
• Look around how many counters are open and how high work rate is: take a test: see how many customers are helped in 15 minutes time. If this is less than two per quarter, then you are allowed to get desperate.  
• Be cautious when you arrive at a desk where someone obese is busy pushing his supplies (stamps, stacks, stapler, paper clips and pens) away from him as far as possible. 
• Staff that is constantly on the phone texting while you and hundreds others are waiting for their turn, is completely normal.
• The more impatient you are, the slower it goes. (not culturally determined).
• Make sure you have enough change in your pockets so Onno can rob the vending machine in the hallway when you start to feel a bit weak and hungry after 5 hours.
• It's really not a problem if you eat three Bounties and empty a bag of chips in 10 minutes time.
• Pay close attention to what they throw in the trash. It may be important documents that only you care about.
• Always be optimistic, even though luck is not on your side and there seems to be no end to the endless paperwork, requirements and obstacles.  
• Think:  It could always be worse, it could, for example, also last eight hours , instead of just 7.