I am ready! Let's go!
With so much happening lately, I haven't been able to post!
In my last posts, I talked about the visa process and how it wasn't officially over for me. Well, now it is! I went to the city a few weeks ago with my mom for the day. We got to the consulate and separated for a bit. While my mother was busy sipping coffee in a cafe on Park Ave, I was sitting for about thirty minutes in the office at the consulate waiting to be called. When you go back for your second visit, all you need is your visa and the slip of paper that they give you during your first visit. (That is, to say, unless you forgot some forms before and were told to return with them)
The wait wasn't too bad! I think it was because of the man screaming back and forth with the worker about having the wrong passport! Listening in was pretty great and helped to pass the time. I thought she had called my name so as I was standing behind the man screaming, I was secretly dying and hoping that I was right and my name was called. I did NOT want to be on her bad side!
Man: NO! This is ridiculous! I am leaving! You owe me an apology!
Worker: I do not owe you anything sir! Wait here and I will get your things!
Man (upon leaving): VIVE LA FRANCE!
Worker (with a smile to me): Hello! How can I help you?
Me: I thought you had called my name?
Worker (giggling): No, but we will momentarily! Hopefully you will be in the next group!
After being screamed at by some random man for about ten minutes, she was chipper and delightful to me! If that isn't a broken stereotype, I am not sure what is!
Anyways, I was out after about 20 more minutes with my visa in my passport! This was the last big thing between me and France.
Today marks three days until I leave! I have been having late nights, not being able to sleep. I have a pile of all the paperwork that I am bringing and have started mentally noting what needs to be packed where. Yesterday, I went through my drawers and took out all of jeans, pants, shirts, and coats I will be taking. Surprisingly, they should all fit in one suitcase!
I've put most of them in the suitcase, already. I have about six or seven pairs of different colored pants, boxers, socks, twelve new shirts (mostly H&M), and a few pairs of shoes. I still have to put in a couple jackets and my two suit coats, but they should fit! If they don't, I have another smaller suitcase I can pack, too. I figure that paying the extra $40 dollars or whatever the fee is for checking a second back is not bad at all if you think about it. I'm going to be spending five whole months abroad and having those extra shirts/jackets will be really useful in the long run.
I am bringing my laptop, iPhone with two rented SIM cards from PicCell.com, my DSLR, a smaller digital camera, and maybe my iPad. From my visits before, I have two travel adapters to convert my plugs to the European plug, but bought another to be safe. I am also going to bring a planner, journal, USB drive, some folders, and other stationaries as I hear that folders are ridiculously expensive abroad and take up minimal suitcase space.
It may sound strange, but I am most nervous about finding my way from the terminal that I will land in at Paris to the group meeting spot at another terminal. Also, I am really hoping that they send us to the hotels in a few different groups. I get there at 7 AM but there will be people waiting until noon for other students to arrive. Not to sound like a DK (drama king) but if I have to wait five hours at the airport, I may just go crazy.
Anyways! I am going to try to sleep! As of right this minute, my "European Adventure" begins in:
2 days 17 hours and 36 minutes!
Woot!!! Woot!!!
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