The Wonders of Mexican Bureaucracy

As we were heading out of town for our first road trip since arriving, Iti wanted to stop by the institute she works at, to get her ID photo taken; they had called her earlier in the week to say she needed to go to their office for her ID. Seems reasonable: it's September 19, she started work on Sept. 1, she got her acceptance letter like in June sometime. WELL, we stop off there for a "quick" photo, and things go to hell.

Fast.

She goes to the place (the place that called her, mind you) asking to get her ID picture taken. They were like "We never called you, we have no idea who you are, you can't get an ID photo because you don't work here". We spent about three hours at the Institute, most of them talking to the head of the math department, to figure out that:

1. Things are screwed up because she got offered first a lower-tiered job, then a higher position.
2. She accepted the higher position, but started out in their "system" (if you can credit anything this disorganized with that term) with the first, lower-paying job.
3. They called her to get an ID for the lower-paying job.
4. The math department head has counseled her to not officially turn down the first job until the second job is totally secured; i.e. she's signed a contract, has her ID, etc.
5. Until she turns down the first job (or at this point probably even if she does) it screws up getting the better job because she already has a job.

Grrr.

At least they let us into the parking lot without a hassle. Apparently, this is a rare occurrence; there is a gate with a guard that you have to get through to park, and since she doesn't have an ID or card access she has to show them her permission slip (an official looking piece of paper saying she does in fact work here, so let her in stupid). Sometimes they see the paper and let her in, sometimes they hassle her like it's a fake. Keep in mind it's usually one of TWO FREAKING GUYS who have seen her every morning for like three weeks at this point.

How hard is it to remember the one woman in all of Mexico City with bright red, curly hair???