I promised you that in a few days I would most likely come across some good news, and here it is. Almost 2 months into the invasion and life as a refugee still feels very uneasy. Nevertheless, making some headway now. I had the chance to meet my appointment at the city municipality and make some progress with "paperwork". I was most concerned with this since I escaped the war zone. Here, in the Netherlands, the number of innocent victims escaping the war is also increasing. This means long queues and longer waiting times. Thankfully my appointment did not get postponed.
A lot of smiling faces and many helpful people here. They guided me through all the things I had to do, as little as it was, and I waited till my token number blipped on the screen. There are people in this city who have escaped war from other countries, too. Naturally, they understand and fully empathize with Ukrainian refugees. Experienced or not, all the people here take their time to talk to us and share nice words with us. Most of them don't have to, but they still do. And it really makes a difference.
The person handling my paperwork was nothing short of very kind. He took his time to answer all the questions I had been piling up since entering the Netherlands. Pri was with me and she also got the chance to ask about different things while we were there. Most of the papers I signed had some English translation so it was easy to understand what I was doing. He translated the rest.
I couldn't help but strike a conversation about his watch. Pri and I were having a little chat about the piece among ourselves too. It is the Invicta pro diver automatic "Pepsi". I told Pri at the beginning of the winter that I would be buying that watch for myself on Eid. Highly undermined watch and very looked down upon, but a total bang for your buck. Anyways, we didn't spend too much time in there. We discussed my options after I get registered.
In general, I was already given the benefits to medical aid and whatnot. I am being kept in a safe place with access to help and volunteers, as well as food and water. Refugees are given 50 euros a month for which I need to open a local bank account. I tried making one today. The first bank I approached denied me because of a confusion with the passport and Ukrainian Permanent Residence Permit. I did not understand what was so confusing but I do not have the energy to explore the confusion either.
The second bank I approached was much smoother. I have a BSN now so I can open an account BUT they need me to have a local mobile number. Which I don't. So no bank account yet. Once I have a bank account, I can book an appointment with the municipality, and then they can send me the allowance if they like. I still get very tired very easily. I thought I'd be fully recovered by now but does not look like it. I get a fever as soon as I go outside. But now since I'm registered (which was my main concern), I can finally go ahead and get a medical appointment to get myself checked.
Since the paperwork is getting sorted now, I can begin to focus on the future. I am planning on spending the next few days browsing the web and sifting through job opportunities that are aligned with my interests. Once I have shortlisted the opportunities that excite me I can spend a few days refining and perfecting my CV. The municipality officer did recommend calling BIG and approaching hospitals in-person since my situation is not exactly normal. Looking forward to productive days!
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