This Weekend

Why oh why does the weekend go by so fast? I really shouldn't complain, because I just had three weeks off from my "job" and I leave again for Spain this Saturday. So I wont complain, I'll just point out the Saturday and Sunday go by much more quickly than all the others.

I have been working on lots of little piddly projects around the house. I have an ungodly amount of art and craft supplies that I most likely wont get to take with me when I move, so I'm trying to use up as much as I can. Just started to think that I might organize an auction in my sitting room and try and get rid of some of my stuff--clothes, shoes, furniture, paint brushes etc. Not sure if I'm ready to part with it all yet, but I'll keep you posted. Anyway, I made some new items that I listed in my Etsy shop if you're interested.

Among the projects I have worked on this weekend was this:

The big-bad-visa-application. That's a two inch binder there. I am so ready to get this thing out of my life! And I'm in luck, because I will be applying and sending it off the day after I get back from Spain, so if you would please pray, cross your fingers and knock on wood for me it would be much appreciated. I'm still yo-yoing between optimism and despair about the whole thing. And then I think to myself, I am busting my a$$ to live in a country where I have to learn to drive a stick shift on the other side of the road. A country where you have to apply for a license to have a tv in your house. A country where there is no Mexican food. A country that has rules against having electrical outlets in your bathroom. Ah, but they speak English, and the have fish n chips, and PUBS, and charming elderly people who drink milky tea, and quaint villages and cities to explore, and Easy Jet!!!!!, and most importantly Sam. I'm so excited, but it still doesn't seem real at all.

Now, onto a completely different topic, I have in my possession the first book of the Twilight series. If reading these is anything like reading Harry Potter was for me, then I probably will not be doing much posting in the near future--or really anything else. I adamantly refused to read Harry Potter, they seemed so dumb, but oh my goodness, I loved them. Perhaps partly because I read them when I was living in Taiwan and needed a nice fairy-tale land to escape to in order to maintain my sanity, but also because they are so enchanting. They are so easy and sweet--I bet that they haven't been described as sweet before, but they were to me. So I have been hearing about these Twilight books for a while now, and instead of saying I would never read them, I said I would read them when the fickle finger of fate deemed it appropriate. The time has come.

The entire time I have been writing this post there has been an ice cream truck sitting out in the street in the same spot with it's annoying little jingly tunes going on and on. It just struck me that I would prefer politicians to stop making laws prohibiting people from doing things such as wearing baseball caps into banks, and smoking in cars, but make some laws that would really benefit me like banning ice cream truck music. I endure it every day, and there's no escaping it--it's so irritating!

Something really weird happened here, the entire thing just turned into a link to the picture I posted. I can't figure out how to make it go away so I'll just leave it. Good grief.

The British are Coming...

One if by land... Two if by sea... Three if they're joining your family tree???

It's true, my British finance and his parents are coming to visit dear old Tomball, Texas. Which totally defeats the purpose of having my wedding in Playa del Carmen but what the hell. We are going to have a great time. When rumor began that they may be coming for a pre-wedding-meet-the-parents trip things got a little weird around here. It's weird enough that I still live with my parents, but now things have really heated up. My roommates started caring about what the "garden" looks like, and about the state of the garage. It's kind of funny. I am really excited for the big meeting, and am confident that everyone will love everyone and there will be much consumption of wine--which I totally approve of. I can't wait. I have planned a really good week of travel and meeting friends and family, and I really don't think it could be improved on at all. I will most definitely post an update to this story and let you know how it all goes down.

In the meantime, I just returned from my beloved Vail, and would like to write a bit about how wonderful it all was, but I'm still suffering from post-trip depression so that's going to have to wait. I also haven't uploaded all the pics yet, and can't possibly tell the story without them, so you'll have to wait (all three of you). Just know that it was as great as you can imagine and I wish I could still be there. **Sigh**

Adventures in Visa-Land Part II

The quest for entry to the UK to live with my husband-to-be continues! It has been great fun (not so much) calling an assortment of different agencies and requesting certified copies of documents--I just received my birth certificate in the mail two days ago, and am greatly anticipating the arrival of my college transcripts. Sam has been busy gathering papers and just notified me last night that he has almost collected all of the documents I need him to bring when he comes in April. He has been so helpful and organized, and as always a major encouragement to me.

So basically what I have to do is this: gather and organize all of my stuff, then I can apply online and pay the extortionate fee. Then I can make an appointment to get my biometrics taken, then I must send in the enitre stack of papers and my biometrics within two weeks of having them taken to the office in LA. Then I must wait up to 12 weeks to have it approved (because having it denied is not an option here obviously). Seems easy enough. EXCEPT: I booked a 10 day trip to Spain to visit my sister in May before I knew of these details, which means I have to have my biometrics taken the day before I leave, and overnight it all the day I return to make sure I get it in within the two weeks. I have to wait until after this trip because I have to send in my passport of course. But wait, there's more: our wedding is 11 weeks from that time, a wedding which will require me to have my passport because it's in Mexico. So I am really just hoping that 1.) I can make my biometrics appointment for the day I need to have it done, 2.) that it doesn't take 12 weeks to process because then I'm really screwed, and 3.) that it gets approved and we live happily ever after.

I will admit that this causes me daily anxiety. The chances of it all being okay are looking pretty good, but since I have a pessimistic streak, or rather, since I am realistic, those few little ifs and maybes are worrisome to me. It will be so nice when this whole process is over and out of my mind, but until then, I am accepting that it will continue to be the first thing I think of every morning. Fingers crossed everyone...

The Great Visa Adventure Part I

ad·ven·ture [ əd vénchər ]

noun (plural ad·ven·tures)

Definition:

1. exciting experience: an exciting or extraordinary event or series of events

2. bold undertaking: an unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, experience or undertaking

3. involvement in bold undertakings: the participation or willingness to participate in things that involve uncertainty and risk Adventures. I have been on many. I have lived in other countries, taken perilous taxi rides in foreign cities, sailed an ocean in a small canoe with no flotation devices, run cross-country my freshman year of high school and eaten pork bowel soup. The adventure I am embarked on now, however, is an adventure of my mind--and my will-power. I must say, getting married can be stressful at times, and there is a lot to do. There are constantly lengthening to-do lists and little dilemmas that arise (should we go with teflon or calphalon and what's the freaking difference?). It's fun though, and you know the end result will be pleasant and memorable. Heck, a wedding is probably the biggest party you'll ever throw (or your parents will ever throw). But add to the mix a foreign fiance and things start getting weird. Like I did not know when I agreed to marry Sam the hours of work that would be required to even get to live with him. What I am talking about is of course the visa process. Ask anyone who has ever gotten a visa for any reason, and they will probably tell you it's a pain in the back side. And even if its just for traveling you will always wonder, "What if I don't get approved and I've already spent $1200 to fly to Taipei?" So it's basically no fun at all. When I was finally able to get through to a human at Worldbridge, which is the company contracted by the UK Border Agency, I had the pleasure of having a very serious conversation with a person I could not understand. Eventually I was able determine the correct visa application for my situation after spelling out every single word I was saying; "H as in helicopter, E as in Emergency, L as in lunatic, P as in Paul." The Settlement Visa. This is a visa for spouses, civil partners, unmarried partners, etc. Basically this is a visa for those who wish to join someone in the UK with whom they are in a relationship and want to permanently be in a relationship. OR, for people who want to make it appear that they want to permanently be in a relationship. As an application it's pretty straightforward. It's 17 pages of questions that must be answered such as "Have you ever, by any means or mediums, expressed views that justify or glorify terrorist violence or that may encourage others to terrorist acts or other serious criminal acts?" Well that's easy enough to answer. It's understandable this day and age that countries should take very seriously who they let in. Among other documents that I must submit are copy of a mortgage, proof of employment, letters from employers in the UK stating that I'm hirable (an interesting requirement seeing as how you cannot apply for jobs unless you have a visa. Hmmm.), copies of all of Sams financial documents, proof of his job, proof that he has not taken any government funding, proof that we have known each other for at least 2 years, proof that we have met, proof that we can support ourselves on our savings for at least 3 months, and proof that if we are not able we have someone with whom we can stay. I have also been advised to include personal documentation of our relationship such as copies of letter, emails, photos, and anything else I can possibly conceive that might help make my case. So far I have a 2 1/2 inch stack of papers ready to go, and I have not ticked off half the things I need to send in (this is going to be one pricey little priority mailer). I am lucky to have a fiance who really wants me to be able to live with him once we're married so he has been so helpful and encouraging. So I will apply in May and cross my fingers because its a one shot deal--at a rate of $750 pounds per application, and at a max processing time of 12 weeks I have just this one chance. I could very easily be living with my parents again after I become a Mrs. and waiting for a visa to be approved. Even though I have a good feeling that wont happen, I still have this little uncomfortable feeling in my stomach and in my mind almost constantly because WHAT IF??? So back to the definition of adventure at the top. I really do feel like this is an adventure--another notch in my risk-taking belt (but then when you think about what a risk getting married is anyway the whole visa thing really does pale in comparison). It is extraordinary that I am even moving to England, and am so happy to be doing so because it will be with Sam. I am uncertain about it because the last time I became a resident of another country a nice little Asian girl did all the paperwork for me and now I don't know what I'm doing at all. It is hazardous because people get denied for this visa every day that ends in "y". It is exciting because, hey, it just might work out! I'll keep you posted.