On Friday, November 29, 2013 I was officially accepted to the CARM DTS in Bangkok, Thailand!
I saw the email and said, "Huh." A little underwhelming of a response, I know. But I had just been so stressed out for so long, being unable to make plans for my trip and frustration had been building. So seeing my acceptance was more of an exasperated "Finally!", than a "Yay, I get to go!". Of course, the news started to sink in throughout the day and I began to get excited about going to Thailand for five months. At least I was excited when I wasn't looking at the overload of information and extensive lists of things to do, sending me into full on panic attacks.
Then I had to figure out how and where and when to apply for my visa. We conveniently have a Thai Consulate right in Edmonton, so the how and where was very simple. The when on the other hand - not so much. My work schedule, which includes three respite families and Famoso, is difficult to work around. And then I had to wait for a letter from YWAM confirming that I was going with them and all that. That took a little while... And all the time I was just getting more and more stressed, because everyone is saying how visas can take a long time to come through and I'm sitting here like "I leave in less than a month, don't tell me these things" and freaking out freaking out!!!
But I finally got the letter from YWAM and miraculously didn't work Monday morning, so I drove in to the Thai Consulate in downtown Edmonton. Walked into the office. And walked out WITH MY VISA in twenty minutes. And the lady at the office was so nice and helpful, and made sure I understood everything about my visa.
So now I know I am going and I can get into the country! I am finally starting to get excited, because all the hard paperwork is done! Still lots to do, but it's gonna get done!
I saw the email and said, "Huh." A little underwhelming of a response, I know. But I had just been so stressed out for so long, being unable to make plans for my trip and frustration had been building. So seeing my acceptance was more of an exasperated "Finally!", than a "Yay, I get to go!". Of course, the news started to sink in throughout the day and I began to get excited about going to Thailand for five months. At least I was excited when I wasn't looking at the overload of information and extensive lists of things to do, sending me into full on panic attacks.
Then I had to figure out how and where and when to apply for my visa. We conveniently have a Thai Consulate right in Edmonton, so the how and where was very simple. The when on the other hand - not so much. My work schedule, which includes three respite families and Famoso, is difficult to work around. And then I had to wait for a letter from YWAM confirming that I was going with them and all that. That took a little while... And all the time I was just getting more and more stressed, because everyone is saying how visas can take a long time to come through and I'm sitting here like "I leave in less than a month, don't tell me these things" and freaking out freaking out!!!
But I finally got the letter from YWAM and miraculously didn't work Monday morning, so I drove in to the Thai Consulate in downtown Edmonton. Walked into the office. And walked out WITH MY VISA in twenty minutes. And the lady at the office was so nice and helpful, and made sure I understood everything about my visa.
So now I know I am going and I can get into the country! I am finally starting to get excited, because all the hard paperwork is done! Still lots to do, but it's gonna get done!
Shaneen ! Thailand rocks congratulations
ReplyDeleteThanks Ben!
DeleteCongratulations! That's really exciting news!
ReplyDeleteI'm going tooo! see you in about 13 days.. eeks!
ReplyDeleteOh wow really?! See you soon! :D
DeleteCount your blessings Shaneen. If you were doing this in Asia (like you probably are doing similar things now) you might take 2 or 3 days!
ReplyDelete