Visas Were Created by the Devil

So I just got back from a two day trip in Michigan, and it honestly feels as though I spent more time in the car driving to/from there than I actually spent with my relatives. Ah, well. I guess that's just the way things have to work out sometimes.

I was happy that I got the chance to see them before I leave, and it was a shame I couldn't see more of the family. The whole goodbye thing was weird, although I suppose this is to be expected. It just feels different when you know you're saying goodbye to someone for such a long time. I don't know -- this sounds lame right now -- but I can't seem to find the proper words to explain it.

Aside from that, my main focus is my mission to burn my visa application papers. Seriously, I think the consulates must use medieval methods to process these visas. How can something that has been done so many times be so complicated? The earliest appointment we could get when we called was the 21st of August -- which is cutting it too close -- but I won't even be in town that day. This means I cannot get an appointment in Chicago until the 29th of August. Somehow, I don't think three days is going to cut it. Yeah...

This basically means I would not be able to attend the orientations in either Rome or New York, which also means that all of my flights would have to be rearranged. On the flip side, I might not even get a visa. Depending on what happens on the home front, I might just go over on my passport.

Normally, I'm sure AFS wouldn't allow this, but things have gotten pretty surreal lately. It turns out I may be spending more than just 10 months in Italy. More on that later.

Until then,

Αντίο αγάπη και πάντα

P.S. Oh. My. God. I only have one month left in the US...and I have absolutely nothing done.