meltdowns

Gokhan took Teoman down the street to get a passport photo for Teoman’s school registration.  This is how many mistakes me made:

1. He got four instead of six
2. He paid 40 tl
3. He got a CD
4. The picture turned out like this:

no smiling in Turkish legal photos

I got home, loaded the kids up in the double stroller and went again.  The photo shop I found wasn’t just a corner shop - it was a wedding photo studio - quite professional - quite above passport photo shooting.  

They were kind until they realized I was complaining about their services.  Forty lire!  Forty lire?!  For four tiny passport photos.  This is why the embassy doesn’t recommend your shop - that is ridiculous! 

- But we gave him a CD

What am I going to do with a CD of passport photos?  Thieves!  

- We only gave what the sir wanted.

So you’d make a home video of passport photos if he wanted to?

- We are at your service.

(sigh) Next problem - look at this picture, look at my son (Teoman is currently pushing the stroller in circles) These are not the same.

- We were only following the rules for a passport photo.

What rules?  

- From the American embassy.

These are not the rules from the embassy - I have four passports at home that prove the opposite.  I was just there two months ago - you can at the very least smile in the photo.  And what did you do to his hair?  

- These are the rules.  It’s not our fault. 

And that was the problem, Gokhan didn’t know what he wanted so just bought everything.  I’m surprised he didn’t have them make a home video of passport photos.  

- If you’d like we’ll do it again.  

Yes, please do it again.

So I got this:

not a legal photo

And they charged 20 more lire.

Sixty lire for 8 passport photos and a CD.  I gave the CD back.  

- But it’s yours.

Thank you, I don’t need it or want it.

- What you do with it is up to you.

Okay, I’m giving it back to you.  You need the money I think.

- You are not normal.

I know.

It wasn’t a very good day.