A sigh of relief

Today officially started my end of taking care of my Kuwait visa papers.

Step 1:  Dr visit
I have been mentally preparing myself for this day for a while now.  Knowing how expensive things like this are here in the states, I was ready for the worst.  I lucked out to find out that people without insurance also get cut deals.  100 USD at the Dr office and 30% of the medical tests is all that I will have to pay.  Now to find out just how big that medical test bill will be.

Step 2:  Finger prints and background check
Main stress with this part is hoping that the paper work gets done fast enough for me to take care of everything.  Next week this will be done and I will have to try to use my good looks to persuade the wonderful people of FBI and Police department that I need to have it done ASAP. 

I have to hand in my US Passport to the Kuwait embassy for them to process my papers.  All of this needs to be done before I leave on July 24th.  That will be the last stress moment.  Jikes!!  Then back to Latvia I go to finish up things with the cat.

Back on the other side of the puddle

Being back in the states is always nice.  It had been a long time since I had flown with Uzbekistan Air but it all worked out nice.  I got bumped to business class and was actually able to catch a few zzzz's during the flight.  They didn't help much because I started to crash around 7:00 anyway.

My first two days here I have spent with my godson and cousin.  Two amazing kids.  My godson was practically my shadow for these two days by going everywhere and doing everything that I did.  Gosh I missing being around him.

To be in the states for 4 weeks seems like a lot.  I really so far only have one weekend planned out and a few days here and there too.  The only thing this vacation will really be is expensive and stressful.  Within these 4 weeks I need to take care of all of my Kuwait papers and I am getting super stressed about it and worried that things won't get done on time.  Tomorrow I am off to the doctors for the biggest expense this summer.  The amount of shots and tests that I need to have done is going to be a huge pain for my bank account.  Not having insurance here in the states is what makes it all the more painful.  I will need to beg my Dr. to try and get her to help me some how.  I am not a beggar so its going to be hard.

The part that I am most stressed about right now is the finger printing and making sure it all gets processed fast. I have read that for some people it is going to take 14 business days and I just don't have that kind of time.

I never thought that moving to Kuwait would be so stressful!  But lo and behold I am really really really excited about the move.

kids sure say the cutest things

Kids should always be video tapped.  I sure wish i had some of my moments from class on tape because they were just too funny.  But these kids are equally cute.

Traveling Cat

Over the weekend the cat and I visited the vet to get chipped and a few injections.  She is now one step closer to being ready to go.  It was funny because the vet was asking all kinds of questions and the question of my next destination came up.  All she could ask was "does the cat know this?  Has she agreed with this decision?  I laughed and said that we have had many conversations about it and that we are both slowly starting to realize what we have signed up for.

I am the first to travel from Latvia to Kuwait with a cat so I am trying to figure everything out.  I have been in contact with a vet down in Kuwait who has been very helpful.  She even wants to start up contacts with my vet here in Latvia.

The school year is winding down and I am trying to stay on top of everything.

To bring or not to bring . . . that is the question.

 

With my flight plan on my mind and the school year coming to an end, I am trying to figure out how I am going to move out of my house here in Latvia.  It seems like ages ago that I moved here with all my stuff.  I look around now and it doesn’t seem like a lot of stuff but to be honest I know that things are just going to keep piling up and all sorts of things will come out of this house. Not sure how I am doing to get it all somewhere.

My first big task is to figure out what will be going to the states.  On the 26th of June I am flying home for a few weeks.  Plans for those weeks:  bring things home and organize storing it all in my parent’s house, hang out with friends, catch up with family, but most importantly get my visa papers taken care of.  That is first before everything else.  I hope I won’t have to take 4 weeks doing just that.

I come back to Latvia on the 24th of July to pack up my things for Kuwait.  I hope to at that time have more of a sense of what is going.  My brother hopes to be here too to help and we want to do some traveling during the time before my flight to Kuwait.

Reality is starting to hit.  I am leaving my comfort country of Latvia to go out into the world to see what it has to offer.  Its exciting but scary at the same time.  I never thought of myself as a person to do something like this but gosh  am I ever going to just jump right in and see what its like.  I have never been one to slowly walk into the cold lake/pool, I need to jump in to get in.

I have worries but at the same time those worries are masked by my extreme excitement for this adventure.  I don’t know what to expect.  The idea that 20 degrees will be cold and 40 degrees is a normal day is mind boggling.  Especially since now here in Latvia its close to 20 degrees and that feels nice and warm.  But I suppose the change between 40 degrees dropping to 20 degrees is the same change as 20 degrees dropping to 0.  Something new to experience.

So lo and behold, I am trying to get rid of un-needed items so that I don’t need to bring as much.

Outside and Jason Mraz

How can one not like this video and song.  A reminder from childhood with a great singer.  Super cute.

All Booked!

Today I received my flight information.  August 24th!  Its pretty exciting but also kind of scary.  This is when things start to actually become real.  I am trying to stay on top of everything that I need to get done for Kuwait while also finishing off the school year here.

Things to do:
1:  Call embassy to find out my states requirements.  (I hope my parents can help with this part)
2:  background check (can't officially do this before i get my visa)
3:  medical check (also can't do this until i get my visa)
(both 2 and 3 of these need to be done in the states!!)
4:  Go to DC in June when i get home

Between all of this I need to make sure my cat gets all of her paper work done too!  (Better call the vet now).

ISR things to do:
1:  get the website to work
2:  get the yearbook done and printed
3:  update a crazy amount of work (kind of my fault procrastination got to me)
4:  get all of my personal things home from school

Everything is such a big job with so little time left to do it all in.  With hope and a little wine i will get through this.