Getting as much "friend" time as possible!!

Today, I head to Wichita to visit an old college friend that I haven't seen in at least five years.  Leaving the country sure makes people wanna see you more!!  HaHa!  Get as much of me as they can!  (Bcuz I am THAT cool!)  HaHa, JK!  I love it.  I love that I have so many close friends and people in my life that they want to spend time with me.  It's way better than being lonely, right?!

I wish that I could make it to see a few other people that I will dearly miss that live outside of Kansas.  It's just not realistic for me to fly to them or vice versa... too expensive.  I know I can't afford something like that when I'm paying for a move overseas.  Oh, if only I were loaded with money!!

Hays treats me well everytime I get to visit there.  I have one more trip planned, my very last weekend in the states, and I will take full advantage of it!  I am excited to see all the people there that have really influenced my life and who are very special to me.  You know who you are!  And if you're one of those people who are just reading my blog to "stalk" me and then talk shit... Feel free to step away right now.  Or keep reading and know that I am doing well.  I'm not a fan of the shady!  HaHa!  (Unless it is a bit of the SLIM Shady) ;)

I am excited for tonight's overnight.  Haven't seen this little CT in too damn long.  Should not be short of entertainment for the evening!  HaHa! 

That said, I need to get dressed & on the road!!!  Dueces!  I'll catch ya in the next few days!!

A light at the end of the tunnel??

I feel like I am peeking around the corner and see a faint hint of a light...  I have been working so hard on this new phase of my life.  I guess they say that, "Nothing worthwhile is ever easy."  I'm clinging to that saying.  And my friend, Clint Massey, also said that, "If it were easy, everyone would be doing it."  So true, sir.  So true. 

So, I said I had some big news... I know you have been on the edge of your seats!  Well, settle down... it's here!

I have found a place to live in Spain!!!  How big of a weight is that off my shoulder?!  GINORMOUS!  I can breathe a little bit.  At the beginning of September, I started getting some e-mails from the people I will be working with in Spain.  They connected me with a Ms. Joanne Reilly who will be working in the same school with me!  I thought I'd be solo!  And I'm super glad that I am not.  She actually made a holiday trip to Spain last week to see the school and see about some living arrangments.  She found us a fully furnished townhouse for 200E a month (roughly $288) all bills included.  It is a 3 story townhouse and we will have the 3rd floor to ourselves.  We will be living with a family who stays on the 1st floor, but overall, I think it is probably best for the situation alltogether.  My dad will feel a little more secure about me living with someone and not alone.  It makes me feel better, too.  With such a huge leap and change, it would probably be better for me to have someone there just in case.  And should I choose to do this another year, then I will re-evaluate where I am and how I feel.  Maybe I'll get my own flat.  Flat.  Did you hear that?  I'm talking European already!  HaHa! 

Our place is only a 4 minute walk to work every day.  Unfortunately, I won't have internet access at the house.  To my understanding, there is no connection.  I will, however, have access at my school and at local cafes/bars, etc.  I will keep this updated, I promise.  :)

So, there it is... the big news I have been waiting for.  :)  I was so nervous about that, but things seem to finally be going in my favor a bit.  (I'm knocking on wood right now, harder than you could ever believe!) 

Well, there's that entry.  Might be back for more a bit later.  :)  Maybe not.  But, I will be back soooooon!!

Chicago... A day trip

Oh, man!

I know I have neglected my blogging responsibilities lately and my apologies to my avid reader.  (Singular, on purpose...haha!) 

Since we last spoke, I have been to Chicago to begin the Visa process... Let me tell you about that experience... OH, MAN!  As you've read, this process has just been one headache after another.  Of course my first trip to Chicago could be no different...

Ok, let's start with the fact that I couldn't sleep at all due to the unbelievable nerves I was dealing with.  I had no idea what to expect.  I was incredibly nervous.  My flight was supposed to leave at 6:10 a.m.  My Visa interview was set for 10:20 in downtown Chicago, about a 30 minute taxi ride from O'Hare.  Our little desk clerk man at the airport popped on the PA system and said (at 6:10, mind you... and we hadn't even boarded yet), "Due to some mechanical issues, the flight to Chicago will be delayed.  We'll keep you posted."  Breathe, Ashley.  Just breathe.  I patiently waited until 6:40 when we hadn't heard anything yet about these mechanical issues or if our flight would ever take off.  So, I joined about 50 others in a line to talk to the desk clerk man.  I was very kind and politely asked about other options and tried to explain my interview importance (the fact that the my future was resting on it, etc).  The desk clerk man kindly informed me he could transfer me to a United flight to Chicago that was leaving in 10 minutes.  I, literally, had to run from one point of the airport to the complete opposite side.  GOOD THING IT WAS JUST WICHITA!  I made it.  And just in time for a Chicago arrival during morning rush hour...awesome.  As I sat in the taxi on my way through the city of Chicago, I kept thinking, "Man, my dad would be PISSED right now!"  HaHa... the traffic was at a standstill on more than 10 occasions, haha!

So now we are in Chicago... I was 30 minutes early for my interview.  They, however, were an hour and 10 minutes late for my interview.  It was just fantastic.  Now, I was picturing this whole experience as an "interview" scenario.  I expected to be called into an office or board room setting and interviewed, right?  Nope.  That is not how it works at all.  You walk into this room that reminds you a lot of the waiting room in a doctor's office.  There was two rows of chairs for people to sit in and 3 glass windows in front of you.  THAT is where you get interviewed.  You walk up and talk to a person through the glass with everyone else chilling in the waiting room.  They didn't listen to you, but they sure could have if they wanted to.  So, finally, at 11:30, my name gets called... At this point, I am kinda just annoyed and really tired of dealing with all of this stuff, so I'm not really nervous.  I'm prepared.  I have everything I need.  Or so I thought.  I hand this man all of my stuff and he checks it all over and makes polite conversation (in English) with me.  Then... He asks me, "Where is your apostille?"  I point to what I thought (and was told) was the "apostille."  He quickly corrected me and said it was not the apostille and that I would have to get ahold of the Secrectary of State of KS in order to get this "apostille."  Are you FREAKIN' kidding me?!  He was a very nice guy... and said they'd process the visa application and to just bring the "apostille" when I pick up the Visa.  Yes, I have to go back to Chicago again & pick up the Visa in person.  Another exciting part of this whole adventure.  :)  My "interview" is now over & I am free to go.  I now must wait for their e-mail so I can go pick it up.

A fun part of this adventure... I hailed my first taxi!!  HaHa!  And I was successful on my first try!!  Headed back to the airport where I lunched & waiting for my departure at Gate G17.  I just happened to check on the departure/arrival screen to verify my flight.  This is where I found out I was not departing from G17... I was departing from a different terminal.  I then had to make my way to that new terminal where I found I was not the only one dealing with this excitement of a flight schedule.  Little bonus to the flight home... I got to sit by myself!!  No rude neighbor, no crying baby... just me.  I did my best to sleep, but not too successfully. 

THAT was my Chicago adventure... It was awful!  As soon as I got back, I contacted the Secretary of State's office.  I asked, rather annoyed, how long this apostille thing was going to take.  I was expecting a few weeks... She said, "if you walk in, it will only take a few moments!"  OMG!  I haven't heard something so positive in such a long time!!!  I actually had to go to Kansas City the following week, so I made a little detour and got everything taken care of!!  I now have ALL of my documentation and am not STRESSED anymore... Well, less stressed.  I doubt stress will ever fully vacate my life.  HaHa. 

Ok, so that's gonna be my entry for now.  I am a little more free with my time, so expect more soon!!  I have some big news coming soon!!  Stay tuned...

Back to my Roots...

So, I'm back at the ranch right now.  I just moved here.  This means that I am one step closer to getting to Spain.  I've moved out of my apartment, terminated my lease, and am now free-loading off of my little brother for the next month. 

I went to get my Visa in Chicago last week.  It was an interesting experience to say the very least.  I will explain that at a later date... 'Cuz it's a story in itself... HaHa

I just wanted to put up a post because 1) I hadn't done one in a long time and 2) I needed everyone to know that I am now back to my roots on the ranch.  Spending time with the fam before my adventure starts...  This, too, will give me a ton more freedom to update my blog & here soon... I'm gonna tell my friends!  I'm going public!!  WOO-HOO!  Anyway, I need to jet.  Apologies for a short entry, don't have a ton of time... When I get back here in a week, I will post away & annoy ALL of you!  HaHa!

Have a great week!

Going CRAZY!!

As you can probably guess, I'm still waiting... and I'm going absolutely insane! 

On the outside, I'm fairly calm, but inside & when I'm alone, I am freaking the hell out.  Here's my update:

So, I called the FBI on Tuesday.  I wanted to check the status of my background check since it has been 7 plus weeks since I sent it.  The website, at the time, said it would take 6 weeks.  Anyway... After a 15 minute hold time, the woman got on the line to say, "Your application is in progress."  Pause... I said, "Is that it?  Is that all you can tell me?"  To which she replied, "Yes, it could be up to 10 (TEN!) weeks from the time of receipt before it is completed."  Guess what that means?!  August 18th!!!!  Are you kidding me?! 

THEN, this morning, I called the State Department of Authentications to check on the status of their authenticating my health certificate.  I'm honestly not sure if I was talking to a human or a very intelligent machine.  The beginning of the "conversation" started with something to the effect of, "This is an automated answering service for the office of authentications...."  A machine, right?  This bitch of a machine could answer questions so quickly & had a reply ready so fast that I thought it was someone I was actually talking to.  Now, I've read a bunch of blogs about people in the same boat that I am right now... They all say to "mention that you are a part of the program" and that it might speed it up.  So, I asked the machine, "Will it help if I say that I a part of the languages assistants program in Spain?"  To which she quickly replied, "Will it help if I tell you that a man's house burned down & he's trying to figure out what he needs to do next in order to survive?"  My jaw dropped.  This machine... I wanted to kill it.  I simply fought the machine back with, "I don't need any attitude, I am simply very lost as this is my first time dealing with anything like this & I have no idea what to do."  "I thought I was helping you," is what the machine said.  I hung up.  Victorious against that damn machine.  Or not.  I think the machine kicked my ass. 

So... as of right now, I am sitting in a position where I am going to have to fly to DC in order to get my background check authenticated.  I simply do not have time to wait for the US postal service.  It sucks.  Awfully.  I am crossing my fingers & hoping like crazy that the health certificate & background check will be in my possesion by the beginning of August.  Then, I can fly to DC, get my background check authenticated, and then fly to Chicago for my first visa interview.  FIRST visa interview.  After that interview, I must wait another 4 or 5 weeks for them to process my Visa.  Keeping track?  That's mid-September.  I need to be in Spain by late September.  I guess, technically, I don't have to be there until October 3rd.  However, I still need to find a place to live, go to orientation, and get acquainted with the city & my obligations prior to all of this... This is going to be an adventure.  An adventure that I am going to loathe at the beginning.

Damn, I'm frustrated.  I'm trying hard to keep a calm head, but this is difficult.  On top of all this, I can't get any response from my school in Andalucia.  I want to talk to someone before I go over there & there is simply nothing... NO ONE is replying... NO ONE has any good news for me... Will I get to Spain?  Will this blog even be worth it?  I suppose we'll see...

Feels so repetitive, but...

I am STILL waiting!  HaHa!  I have not receieved my background check yet.  I am anxiously waiting for that.  HOWEVER, once I DO receive it, I have spoken with the Consulate & they said I could bring a copy of the authenticated FBI check (not yet authenticated by the Apostille) to the first Visa interview.  I would just have to bring the final apostillized (if that is a word) copy to my final interview.  A little break of good news.  Now, I just need my health certificate back in my hands and I'll feel a ton better.  Still not expecting that until late next week, though.  But this means I should be able to have my first trip to Chicago by the first week or two of August!  BoNuS!

In the meantime, I am working arduously to sell my car.  Have you ever had to do that?!  Ugh, it is NOT fun.  I'm sure I will end up selling it to a dealership for much less than its value, but whatever, at least it will help fund my expenses.  I'm going to try for a month or so on my own.  And then I'll resort to taking a loss.  There's a lot of paperwork involved!  HaHa! 

I found out my school.  Click here to check it out.  It's in Spanish, of course, so you'll have to translate it.  I googled the map of Spain & zoomed in on my city really close... It's a small, small city.  I'll be able to walk easily from place to place.  I'm excited about that.  No expenses for public transportation.  Except that I'll have to go to cities outside of my own to do a lot of the political work (Getting my residence card, etc).  From what it sounds like, that's going to be a pretty large adventure in itself.  Ugh, I hope my Spanish is good enough to help me survive.  I imagine the first couple months as being pretty stressful. 

I met with Sarah, a girl who has done the program that I am going into.  We talked a lot about her adventures.  It sounds amazing.  She had a lot of very helpful information for me.  I am really glad to have gotten in connection with her.  She gave me a hint of relief when she said I could go over as soon as all of my paperwork is done.  She said she knew a girl that didn't show up until November because of paperwork/Visa problems.  So, no matter what, I can go.  That's a relief.  I think.  HaHa!  It sounds like I am going to need to relax quite a bit in order to survive over there.  I like to know when, where, how long, and how much... But truth be told, I could really use an extended period of time to just relax and live life.  And get paid a little bit for it.  I think it'll be an amazing thing for me.

My kids are grade school level.  I'm super excited about that.  I was really hoping for youngsters seeing as they are so much more open to things.  They are excited to learn & have fresh, fun questions.  Sarah said she felt like a celebrity at the end of her experience.  They all wanted autographs and pictures.  HaHa... Kids... I love 'em!  I'm getting excited!!

People here keep asking me, "How many days do you have left?!"  I don't have an answer for them.  Primarily because I am still waiting on a lot of the paperwork to even get to me.  But also, I haven't even started counting down.  Is that bad?  I just know it's a couple months away, but I'm not putting numbers on anything yet.  I have too much stuff to worry about before then!!  HaHa!

Ok, I gotta jet... Meeting a pal for the movies... Hopefully, I'll be on here in a few days saying, "IT'S HERE!!"  But not gonna hold my breath...

Under 3 Months to go &...

I'm STILL WAITING!

I was hopeful that my background check would get here this past week.  No such luck.  It had better be here this coming week or this girl is going to FLIP out!  I sent my doctor's clearance to the State Department at the end of June.  I wanted to get an idea of how long it would take to get here.  After an interesting incident at the post office, I finally got it mailed off & paid for an overnight envelope back to me.  I am expecting it back by the end of this month... Oh my gawd, it better be here!!

Next weekend, I have an acquaintance coming through town that has been on this Spain adventure herself.  She just got back a few weeks ago or so.  I am looking forward to chatting her up.  This means I need to get my list of questions ready to go.  I have SO MANY!  I hope I remember them all! 

This week is going to be a very busy week for me.  I'm still moving ahead with things as if everything will work out for me.  So, this week, I am getting my shots in preparation for the move.  That's on Monday.  Tuesday morning, I am going to take my car to a mechanic to get is inspected.  I need this to sell my car, I suppose.  I've never sold a car before & I am NOT looking forward to this process.  Anyway, on Thursday, I take my car in to get a full on detail... waxed, vacuumed, etc... they said it would like as if it just came off the lot.  $200, but hopefully, well worth it.  I'm really nervous about this whole process...

Well, I am gonna close for now.  Gonna keep my fingers crossed that my background check shows up!!!