Check-In

Yesterday we had to go by the local police station to 'check-in'.  Before the end of our first 30 days in the country, we must go to the police to get our tourist visas stamped which will allow us to stay in country for another 2 months.  At that point, we go back to the police station for one more stamp which will allow us to stay in country for another 3 months and at the end of that 3 months we have to leave the country and come back with a new visa and the whole process starts all over again.  Confusing?  Not really, unless you end up going to the wrong police station for the first check-in or the wrong one for the second check-in (yes you will be assigned to a different station for the second check-in), or if the police require you to produce more documents than you were told to bring, or if you're too early or too late, etc., etc.  

Thankfully, our first check-in went smooth.  The police officer didn't speak enough english to ask for different documents, plus, we distracted him by telling him we were from Arkansas - home of Bill Clinton.  They love that guy around here.   One check-in down, and so many more to go.....