The process to attain the Italian permit to stay is a very interesting and drawn out process that requires several visits to the immigration office and post office. It is designed to make students pay an extra fee for a card that shows they are a temporary resident in Italy. My experience with the permesso was a seven month affair that resulted in a card in which my photo is reminiscent of a vintage black and white photo with eerie undertones. I have given a lot of thought as to why this process took so long, and I have come to five main conclusions below.

1. The officials needed another caffé and smoke break

Everytime I went to the immigration office it required another visit that day or week and then another visit in the near future. I probably had six appointments altogether. I never understood why if I arrived at 9am for my appointment that I would have to return later that day to finish my morning appointment. The only logical conclusion is that there were a few espresso and cigarette breaks that slowed the processing down.

2. The officials are on lunch break. Permanently.

My previous guess was proved wrong when I learned that a "lunch hour" in Italy is actually a three hour event that includes lunch and relaxation. It is a mandatory break that obviously needs to take place during your only free time.

3. No one likes their job here.

Let's be real, even if you are an extremely social person, there comes a point when you do not want to talk to anyone else for the rest of the day. After dealing with a steady stream of needy people waving passports and official documents in your face, it is understandable that the officials may not thoroughly enjoy stamping your papers and passing out tickets all day long , especially when they receive (and also dole out) some pretty rude remarks.

4. The weather is a little rainy, so moving at an even more excruciatingly slow pace is expected.

I have noticed that the weather in Italy seems to affect the citizens and the city moves into a slower (than normal) pace of life. Cars and scooters are even more out of control and pedestrians stumble pass along the slipper cobblestones to seek shelter while a gloomy sky coats the city. It could be possible that this gloom and doom infiltrates the immigration office and a lunch hour becomes the rest of the day and that's too bad because you'll have to come back tomorrow and repeat the process all over again.

5. The most obvious answer, bureaucracy does not function properly here (which may or may not be related to organized crime).

Along with an understanding of Italian bureaucracy comes an understanding of the Mafia and organized crime in Italy. Both are tricky subjects, but one cannot exist without the other. After waiting through this excruciating long process to obtain a flimsy card, one cannot help but question why this process must be so drawn out. With one person connected to another, it is only natural that people look out for one another between the two powerful groups. To maintain jobs, some people are paid off by others and one thing turns into another and suddenly there is a public office with workers who say they will begin processing documents "whenever they feel like it." A scuffle with this kind of person will quickly lead you in the wrong direction and suddenly you will be making ten extra copies of your documents because your actual passport is not actual proof.

All in all, I have learned many things about Italian society and bureaucracy through this permesso process, and although it may have been a long and expensive struggle, I am now aware of many more aspects of Italian life than before. I have learned to have more patience and observe the people and actions around me to formulate answers of a process that seemingly has no structure or answers to give. One cannot expect to pick up and move away for nine months without some barriers, and this happened to be one of mine, but luckily I have the permesso now tucked snuggly into my wallet. I promise you it will be hanging on my wall when I return home, and I hope the rest of you may receive yours before you return from your stay in Italy. Buona fortuna or in bocca al lupo as the Italians say!