101 in Italian bureaucracy.  Anything that should be simply can and will be made complicated.  Example number one:
I have somehow or another been made the go-between for a couple of colleagues, who don't speak much Italian, and their utilities companies, who speak no English.  I have been given the assignment of setting up satellite TV for one and questioning the bills from the electric/gas company for another.  Today at school I called ENEL, the energy providers.  I was typically, (just as in the States), put on hold, sent from one representative to another and told to press lots of buttons before finally reaching a live person.  The live person asked for my name, ID number, (SS#), client number etc and I explained that I was calling for a customer who spoke little Italian and only needed to ask a few questions.  The rep told me that she needed my info because one never knows what I could do with friend B's electricity account.  I was already in a bad mood, (more on that later), and didn't feel like giving her my info so I tried to argue that my data wouldn't do her any good as she would be looking at B's account.  That didn't work.  So I tried something else which was to say, "Fine", but to give her B's info.  (I thought I was being very clever.)  However, when she pulled up the account my ruse was discovered and she became most huffy.  She said that B had to speak to her and I again explained that she couldn't because she doesn't speak Italian.  This was getting us nowhere, so finally I gave her my name, which for all she knows was false, and told her I didn't have an ID number as was just visiting from the US because to be perfectly honest, it wasn't a matter of principle as I don't really have many, it's just that I haven't memorized the damned number because it 20 characters long and I didn't feel like getting up and digging through my purse to find my card.  Bingo.  I got the very top secret information regarding B's electric and gas bills.  Now I am trying, unsuccessfully, to set up a time for another friend to have SKY TV antenna installed.  He set up an account online but needs to speak to them on the phone to make an appointment.  Unfortunately anytime he calls and tries to communicate in his very broken Italian, they hang up on him.  First I called SKY and was told that I have to speak to the technicians who are actually subcontracted, and therefore at a different number.  I called the technicians who said, no, I have to speak to the installer, whose name in Stefano, who is subcontracted through yet a different company and so at another number yet again.  I called Stefano who obviously is in the antenna installers union because he told me he only works from 9 to 5 with an hour lunch break so essentially only does 4 installations a day at 9:30, 11, 2 and 3:30.  I asked for 4 but couldn't get it.  He has to clock-out by 5.  "Ahhh, of course.", I said.  (He didn't seem to catch the sarcasm in my voice.)  "So how does a working person get an antenna installed?"  Silly me.  As though he gives a flying ****.  And they wonder why the Italian economy stinks.  I don't know how this one will be resolved.

Example number two, (and reason for my bad mood this afternoon):
Back in October, my library colleague and I put in the first of our supply and book orders at the school.  Subsequently we have placed two other orders, all of very essential materials.  We have received 2 rolls of tape.  That's it.  Any inquiries just pass the buck until they reach the desk of a man whose actually position is very murky.  He's there because he used to work with the Head of the school's Board of Directors in FIAT.  I don't know what he did there either.  The Head brought him in to the school some years ago where he marches smartly along the halls, dressed to the nines in expensive suits, and doesn't make eye contact with lowly workers like myself.  This is very common in Italy and another huge problem with the work force.  Too many people are given positions because of who they are related to or friends with.  They are paid a bundle of money to do absolutely nothing except hold a job title.  Our orders are held up because somehow this guy controls the purse strings.

I am now going to go get a glass of wine, or two.    xxoo me