New York City DMV, here I come… For my international friends, the DMV is the Department of Motor Vehicles. But it also functions as some sort of ‘Bürgerbüro’ as the driver’s license is one of the main forms of identification.

NY requires its residents to change an out of state drivers licence to a local one. After submitting all the necessary documents (printed out of course- some things just need to be a bit old school), taking a new picture (not my best shot), completing the obligatory eye exam (red the bottom line of the poster on the back wall), I can say the process has been fairly smooth and quick (especially compared to California).

But the most fascinating about the DMV (both here and in California) is that you can study a wonderful representative sample of society which meets my cultural and social curiosity…