Buried Alive

Holy bureaucracy, Batman. This is insane. I thought the process to get here was hard... It's nothing to everything that happens now. They really do weed out the weak of will and heart!

My head is doing a near-Exorcism spin underneath there,
you just can't see it through the mound of paperwork.

(Let me preface this tirade by saying that I'm very happy to be offered this opportunity to live and work abroad. I'm thrilled with the country in which I've been placed. I'm happy that I have made what I'm told is a very exclusive cut of people who apply. I'm thrilled, really. This isn't complaining, it just sounds very similar.) 

Friday I went to the dentist. I went in again this morning to finish the paperwork. Tomorrow I go to the eye doctor for an exam, paperwork, and new glasses. Next Wednesday I go to the doctor for a physical, paperwork, blood work (about 7 or 8 tests), and 4 immunizations. I am currently staring at the computer screen willing a passport not to cost $110 and praying that my insurance covers the $410 it would take for all of those immunizations because I know it won't cover the $35 for filling out paperwork or the $65 for going for an abnormal visit. I have to get proof of Peace Corps service to defer my student loans, I need to submit my Visa paperwork, I have to finish writing my "Aspiration Statement" and revised resume to send to the Indonesia Peace Corps office as a means of introduction. 

I know I should minimize swearing on the blog,
it being public and all, but there's really no
better way to say it's time to kick some ass.

When I said in the last entry that it would be a lot of "hurry" from now on, I didn't realize how right I was. Luckily I'm spring loaded and want this so badly I can taste it. Luckily I have a history of pulling off miracles with less. Luckily there's no way I'm going to drop this ball. But jesus, I'm tired already. If this is an omen for what the rest of the trip will be like I've got my work cut out for me. It makes sense to get me ready for it now but does it have to put such a painful strain on my wallet in the process? 

Anyhow, no more complaints. As stressful as all of this is, I haven't wasted a moment. It's been a full plate of enjoying people's company and getting my things in order to get all of this done. My sister, of course, found a podcast for us to listen to (she's learning Bahasa Indonesia with me because she wants to...AH-dorable!) called Learning Indonesian. It's actually really quite helpful and easy to follow. I'm getting advice from people about how to adapt to the new climate. And every time I submit a new form, that little green check mark gives me a renewed surge of excitement that I'm one step closer to being there.

Selamat Tinggal! (That was in lesson two. It's saying goodbye to someone who's staying. I'm assuming that would make sense here...)