Last week we were finally given the news that the first step (and apparently most important step) of the visa process was approved. Hurray! This important step means we will most likely be headed back to China this summer.
After waiting 2 1/2 weeks for this answer (not to mention the months leading up to even starting the process), this set us into a flurry of activity to get documents mailed to China and copies scanned and e-mailed to the appropriate parties. This all led up to...more waiting. The past few days have been quiet as we wait for the next step of paperwork to be processed on the other side of the world.
Once the next two steps are completed in China (in the next week or so) we will once again rush around to plan a trip to San Francisco to complete our visas at the consulate, then off to China we go. Latest word is we might even be back in time for graduation, which is in three weeks from tomorrow! Yikes! Talk about moving fast.
As we muddle our way through the process I am a mess of emotions. It has been a good year. It has been so wonderful to be near family again and build/renew relationships in the community. We have been so blessed by everyone here. It has been exciting to share our vision with others and meet so many people interested in what we do.
On the other hand, I am ready to move forward. I am ready to rejoin our community in China. I miss my friends. I miss our activities. I miss Lizbeth's preschool and being involved there. I miss our restaurants, setting up my own home, living near the ocean.
But in many ways, I still feel so many loose ends. I have not completed my DONA certification yet. My parents are in the middle of moving. My brother is recovering from an accident. We haven't been to the zoo recently, or camping with the kids, or up to see my grandmother's grave. We will miss a huge Greene family reunion, a cousin's wedding, a friend's reception. I will miss the clean air and quiet countryside and the freedom of driving my own car.
So, yeah, a mess. You can Think of us during the next couple weeks as we are saying good-bye to so many people, places, and things. And if you live in the area, you can even stop by to have a cuppa, cheer me up, or even help me pack :-)
After waiting 2 1/2 weeks for this answer (not to mention the months leading up to even starting the process), this set us into a flurry of activity to get documents mailed to China and copies scanned and e-mailed to the appropriate parties. This all led up to...more waiting. The past few days have been quiet as we wait for the next step of paperwork to be processed on the other side of the world.
Once the next two steps are completed in China (in the next week or so) we will once again rush around to plan a trip to San Francisco to complete our visas at the consulate, then off to China we go. Latest word is we might even be back in time for graduation, which is in three weeks from tomorrow! Yikes! Talk about moving fast.
As we muddle our way through the process I am a mess of emotions. It has been a good year. It has been so wonderful to be near family again and build/renew relationships in the community. We have been so blessed by everyone here. It has been exciting to share our vision with others and meet so many people interested in what we do.
On the other hand, I am ready to move forward. I am ready to rejoin our community in China. I miss my friends. I miss our activities. I miss Lizbeth's preschool and being involved there. I miss our restaurants, setting up my own home, living near the ocean.
But in many ways, I still feel so many loose ends. I have not completed my DONA certification yet. My parents are in the middle of moving. My brother is recovering from an accident. We haven't been to the zoo recently, or camping with the kids, or up to see my grandmother's grave. We will miss a huge Greene family reunion, a cousin's wedding, a friend's reception. I will miss the clean air and quiet countryside and the freedom of driving my own car.
So, yeah, a mess. You can Think of us during the next couple weeks as we are saying good-bye to so many people, places, and things. And if you live in the area, you can even stop by to have a cuppa, cheer me up, or even help me pack :-)
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