You walk into a DMV to file for an initial vehicle registration in California…
Clerk: "Yes? Car registration? Ugh, I really don't want to be here, how dare you waste my valuable time with such menial tasks. Uh, you haven't made an appointment eight weeks in advance? I hope you don't mind waiting in a line out in the sun for the next four hours. That'll be $600, now and then again every year that follows. Now get out of my face already."
You walk into a county tax assessor's office for an initial vehicle registration in Texas. You're barely through the door yet…
Clerk, smiling and waving at you from across the room: "May I assist you over here, sir? I hope you're having a pleasant morning! Car registration? My pleasure! Do I detect a slight German accent, sir? You were born and raised in Germany? That's so exciting! Oh, don't worry about the form, we can do that later. Let me tell you about my German heritage and entire family history going back to the late 17-hundreds for the next 35 minutes. *turns around and shouts into the direction of a back office* Beth? Isn't your oma German? Oh, the registration? That can wait. *turns around again* Edith, get your butt over here, you have to meet this gentleman! He's from Germany, come here and say hello to him in German! I also have this friend, she's in this polka band you
have to check out. They play every year at this festival that you should really go see. So, you've just moved to Ken-Doll County*? That's so exciting! Welcome to Texas! How do you like your new home town? Isn't it so very beautiful here? You
have to visit Barktoberfest in October, promise me? There's a doggy dash run and a costume contest and a petting zoo, too! Last year one of the pigs got out and got chased all across the town plaza by a dog. You knew exactly where the pig was at any moment just by following people's screams. That was such a hoot! Hm? The registration? Oh, right… I'm afraid that I will have to ask you for $190, but the good news is that this is only for the initial registration, renewals will be considerably less. Oh, and in December you have to go to the Christmas Lights Fest, it's the most beautiful thing you'll ever see."
* Some say that it's actually "Kendall County" but that's obviously a typo.
Yes, I live in
Stars Hollow now.