Category: 2015 // 2017

Today I had to go to Nav but before that I had to make some copies.. (Nav – a member of the government that helps most types of people who lost their jobs for various reasons or who have retired or who have been disabled.) to deliver some papers. When I finally got there, it was a queue as normal. It doesn’t really matter what time you have to be at Nav it’s always a queue, short or long.  I came to this location (not “my Nav” I usually go to)

When I entered the room, it was No. 057 desk 3. Ten minutes later it was still no. 057. So waiting without the queue getting smaller or visibly shorter is a little interesting. To sit there without hearing the “pledge” to just see more people coming was a bit odd.

“I have to say that there was relatively good music in the speakers.”

While I was sitting there, I thought they had quite good music in the speakers. Before the first thing my Nav office does not have music for the second, it was one of the few things I heard music inside a Nav office. I was the only one who did something. I wrote blog posts in my notes app. Everyone sits quiet waiting nicely for their turn in the queue system. Some go for a walk in the room, probably just to move about a bit. Someone goes through their papers. Some of those who actually work there come and go. The time now is so much that the people who work here come from the rooms, and speak out to everyone that “now we close about fifteen minutes.” As if we who were there had not realized it. The clock does not stand still!

The majority of all who expected you were from Africa, Asia or Eastern Europe plus me, which is originally Sweden. The women do not sit on the same side as the men. We sit on hard wooden benches modern with a little round table in light wood color. The room is bright and feels open at the same time as it feels empty. Meanwhile, I hear the person sitting on the desk working is being annoyed by the person who asks questions because he who works there does not get the answer he wants. Is it typical Nav? Maybe. Not my opinion but it happens for sure often.

“Now, queue numbers disappear from the queue-board. Is it because the time has been 14:39?“

The queue numbers disappear from the queue-board. Is it because the time has been 14:39? To have patience is the same thing as the letters NAV stands for. Not a problem for me though. At 14:46 does the queue number show up on the queue-board again and start to roll again, and fast. Suddenly it says 062 and then it stops, like it would not start again or ever. Someone push through to get ahead of the queue and ask for how long they should wait when “there are not so many left here and we have No. 072″. How did they think now, was I thinking. I have No. 067, shall I just sit here and wait until my number gets up on the board or should I to let them know “I’m still waiting?” In the meantime I just sat there kept waiting. I had lots of time.

While I’m sitting there, it turns out that there have become many more foreign “at my Nav office” too. Probably in all the offices of Nav in Oslo. And then I think, how many of them are actually receiving help when they get here? And how many of them comes here every day? Are they here all day, to try to get some help?

I have to say I am very pleased with Nav Ullern which is “my Nav office”. I have so far got all the kind of help I needed even if some things takes a bit longer time than it should. But help I get.

One hour at Nav…

/Mia-Simone.  September 2015 // November 2017.