I've known for a few months now that I would be moving to Spain come September and spending the next school year teaching and traveling. I've spent hours researching different travel options, ran all over town and the state getting paperwork filled out, and traveled to Chicago to apply for my student visa in person. And now, it's all actually happening!
I arrived home from a weekend trip to visit some college friends to find that my passport had been returned with my visa! This was such a relief. After jumping through all the hoops to get this thing and having not one, but TWO dreams where I somehow messed up the process (one where I went to the consulate without several necessary items and another where my friend's visa arrived without incident but mine inexplicably did not) it was such a weight off my shoulders to be able to hold my passport in my hand and see the visa with my name and picture with my own eyes. I thought better of posting a picture of it here on the interwebs for all to see, so you'll just have to take my word for it. It's here, finally!
Just a few hours ago, I pulled the trigger on buying my flights to Spain! After much deliberation, I decided to fly all the way to Sevilla instead of taking a train from Madrid. With all the stuff I'll be schlepping, it will be a million times easier to just check the bags and pick them up at baggage claim. Once I arrive in Sevilla, I will take a bus to Barbate and should arrive in my home for the next year late afternoon on September 25th (coincidentally, this is my college roommate's birthday -- you can read all about her adventures in applying for med school and working in DC here)! I even figured out how to get a nifty countdown to show up on the right side of this window. I'm all about countdowns, especially when they mark something I'm really excited for!
I'm so excited to start this journey and adventure! I guess I have the next 53 days to think about...packing, one of my least favorite activities. At least I'll be packing for something AMAZING!
