Today I am at the Agenzia Delle Entrate (Agency of the State). I’ve come here to get my Codice Fiscale - which seems to be a person number, almost like an SSN but not quite.  

It could be a government office in any state, or probably any country. 

I came early to get a jump on the crowd. There are lots of lines with signage. You get your forms from the counter, and fill them out. You make copies with a coin op copier. Then you show your completed forms at the counter and they will give you an official number. 

Then you sit in the waiting room on hard chairs, staring at the screen, waiting for your number. 

We had our change to Standard Time this weekend, and the large clock is not only 1 hour off, but also 5 extra minutes wrong for good measure. 

I can wait here until 9:50... then I must rush off to work... if I haven’t been called by then I’ll be back enjoying the government hospitality again tomorrow.