Suggestion #1: When waiting on a visa....attend a wedding

I am not good at waiting. Be it in line at Target, at a Doctors's office or a buss stop I can't handle it. I get bored. I become frustrated. I get anxious. Since last Thursday I have been waiting to hear on my visa application.

I found a good cure for this waiting game....attend a wedding.

This weekend Rick and I traveled to Cleveland OH to see one of my best friends (Katie) get married in a back yard ceremony.

Our weekend started off with a trip to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum. I loved looking around the museum's exhibits especially at samples of hand written lyrics and clothing the artists wore on various occasions.

Although the wedding was rain delayed it turned out to be a wonderful day. The bride was beautiful, the groom looked dashing and the guests were fun -- partly because many other friends were in attendance.

Second Submission

On Thursday morning (6/26) I was able to submit my visa application for the second time. This time it included an updated cover letter that matched the Chinese visa notification from China.

Now its a waiting game. I'll find out on July 2 if I am approved or not. I'm keeping my fingers crossed as my flight is scheduled for the next day (July 3).

Ethnic Food and More Red Tape

My day ended on a perfect note. I headed out for Mexican food with my friend Nancy. Its amazing how a pitcher of sangria and fresh guacamole can change your perspective on the day. Our dinner brought a ray of sunshine to a work day that was filled with red tape.

The following is a summary of the red tape I am talking about...

At 10:30 this morning I headed to a dentist appointment. I must admit that I have a lot of anxiety about the dentist. To the extent that prior to any appointment that involves work (i.e. fill a cavity) I take a Valium. Obviously after taking these one isn't suppose to drive. To get around this I usually head to my appointment 30 minutes early, pop the pill and just relax in my car while it takes affect.

That's exactly what I was doing when I got a call at 10:45am from CIBT the company processing my visa application. They called to tell me know my application was denied and that I'd have to resubmit. Further CIBT expressed that they were not sure if I would not be able to make my departure date. Immediately my blood pressure sky rocketed - quickly circumventing the effect of the drugs.

I walked into the dentist office furiously making calls from my cell to the Bobcat office in Fargo to figure a way to handle the situation. My dentist overheard parts of the discussion.

Thankfully, my dentist agreed to reschedule my appointment in light of the visa situation (plus I am having issues with the last tooth he fixed).

I quickly headed home and began to read through all the paperwork I had either received, been copied on, submitted, etc... Thankfully I think I have found the issue.

There are multiple types of visas available for China Evidently the pre-authorization form I received (direct from China) and the cover letter from my company did not match up as they referenced different type of visas. At least that is what I hope is the issue.

After putting this together I got back in touch with the Fargo office. Deb Hanson came to the rescue again and quickly over-nighted a revised letter to me. I'll receive it tomorrow morning and as soon as I have it hand I will head to the CIBT office to resubmit my paperwork.

CIBT believes that if I get this to them by 1:00pm tomorrow that I should be able to have my visa back by July 2 -- the day before I am scheduled to depart.

If you believe in prayer I wouldn't mind if you'd send up a few thoughts asking that my second submission get approved. I've already sent a few up of my own. If not, I ask that you simply keep your fingers crossed for me.

Last Doctors Appointment (a.k.a. 3 More Needles)

Today I had my last doctors appointment. I went in to see Dr Christoff with three goals:

1. Get a letter from him explaining that I take prescription medicine and need to be allowed to carry these in to China
2. Get a prescription for Diamox (? spelling) a pill used to help with high altitude sickness
3. Have two vaccines administered - Typhoid and an adult polio booster

I accomplished one and two with out issue. Item three also was pretty simple except my Doc decided to add in one more vaccine or in other words one more needle!

When it was all said and done I shook hands with my physician thanked him for all his help and told him I'd see him in 2009.

It was a great feeling walking out of his office as it means I am one step closer to addressing all of the final items on my pre-departure checklist.

Packing Lists and Errands

This past weekend was spent in a flurry of activity. It all surrounded creating a packing list and identifying what I had to purchase prior to my departure.

I dropped an obscene amount of money at Target. As my sister works at their HQ I view it simply as supporting her work. My cart was close to over flowing with all of the health and beauty supplies I purchased. After that I headed out to get a few pieces of clothing and shoes.

In the cultural training I had early this week I had been politely told that there was no chance I'd find anything in my size in China. I almost had to laugh over how my instructor struggled to find a way to express this in a PC manner. I told her I wasn't expecting to find many local women over 5'9 that wear a size 14/16 in clothes and a size nine shoe. Perhaps I'll stumble on a few expats that meet this description.

For most of the weekend it felt like my living room was littered with shopping bags. I spent some time last night trying to control the chaos. I unearthed the suitcases I haven't used since college and my 6 months in Russia. After dusting them off I started to load them up with items I will not need over the next week and a half.

As I look at the piles today I'd say I have it down to a dull roar in my condo.

Redtape

I feel like my world is surrounded in red tape. Over the last two weeks I have been diligently working to gather all of the required materials to submit with my visa application. There is a whole laundry list of what I had to get including: medical releases, letter from Chinese government, cover letter from my company, proof of travel arrangements, etc...

Today I went to CIBT to drop my application packet off. CIBT is a company that helps to expedite visa processing. I was SO excited to be done with it and hand the application over to someone else to handle. Unfortunately, when reviewing all of the material CIBT told me that my cover letter was not acceptable as the signature was a scan and not an original.

I called frantically to Deb Hanson - the greatest executive assistant EVER. She technically supports folks a lot higher up in Bobcat than me. However, earlier in the month at the request of one of these individuals she reached out to offer help with the visa application process.

So at 4:00 in the afternoon she quickly calmed my nerves, re-worked the letter and had a different Vice President sign it so that she could overnight an original to me in Chicago.

I swear it is now 4:40 and my heart is still racing with nervous energy. I just want this process to be done! I don't think the reality of this change will truly sink in until I have a visa in hand and am driving to the airport.

One Last Vacation in USA

This past week Rick and I traveled to Galena, IL. We stayed at a great B&B (Farmers Guesthouse). It was all about relaxing and enjoying time with one another. The last few weeks have been stressful with Rick moving in and me working to pull together the lose ends before departing for China.

In Galena we spent time trekking through the local stops, taking a trolley tour, and visiting the local winery. We came home with some great memories....and 8 bottles of wine.

From Galena we headed north to Minnesota so I could see some of my family before departing to China. As always my sister and brother-in-law were great hosts. I enjoyed time lounging in the recently redone backyard. I also got a few laughs playing catch with my nephew. He like to change the rules on you mid-way through the game. For example: "No, Erika we aren't counting strikes this time."

Today the real world came back at me full force. I have a long list of items to be done prior to my July 3 departure. Wish me luck!

The Light (a.k.a the waiting game)

Okay - so the light at the end of the tunnel was easily found. Two things helped me out

1. I made a to do list
2. I received my medical clearance to go to China.

So now that I can see the light all I have to do is wait. I have to wait for my visa packet/application to be finalized so that it can be submitted for review. After that I have to wait to get my visa. After that I have to wait for my departure date......yep lots of waiting going on.

While I'm waiting, I'm making progress on my to do list. Handling items like wraping up my current position at Bobcat, granting power of attorney to my sister, letting my bank know I'm going to China, etc...

I should also mention another highlight. My boyfriend Rick is in the process of moving in to my Condo. We will hopefully be able to spend a few weeks living together before I depart to China. Once I depart he will be in charge of the place.