Notes on preparing...

So it's been a few weeks since I've decided to leave in March instead of waiting until August. There's a lot of preparation that goes into a decision like this in order to actually be able to follow through.

First, I found out that as of Jan 1, 2011, all people leaving the US to enter and work in another country need to have an FBI background check. Which can take up to 12 weeks. Here's to hoping it won't take the entire 12 weeks, because that puts the latest receive date at March 2, which means it'll be a few weeks after that until I leave. Which puts me leaving around late March, very early April.

Aside from that, I've already applied for and received my passport. It only took... get ready... a week and a half. Seriously. I went to the courthouse on Dec 8 and it came in the mail Dec 17. Hopefully the FBI will be as quick!!! (Fingers definitely crossed.)

I've also requested another original diploma. Unfortunately, it takes about 16 weeks to receive from the printer, and even though it's free, that puts me way past my departure date. So I've decided to un-frame the true original I have in my $200 frame, and when the other comes in, I'll probably be gone by then, my parents can just keep it for me and I can re-frame it myself whenever I get back.

Other than that, my 4 copies of transcripts (at $12 each, I might add - as if the University of Florida didn't get enough of my money) are on their way, and the only thing I have left to do is get my 5 passport pictures. I've got 2 of the 5 already, but I'm cheap, and AAA only gives you 2 free ones at a time. So here's to going back two more times.

I've finished and submitted my application video, which took way longer than expected, and required me to use my editing abilities. Yay team! I added graphics for extra flair, too: An intro screen and my name. Way cool.

I even received my first possible job from my recruiter! It started too early (mid-Feb), but at least now we both have a time frame in mind and she's looking for more jobs for me that start around the right time.

So yay! I really can't wait. I told my recruiter that I'd leave tomorrow if all my paperwork was ready. I'm not sure if she believed me, but every ounce of that was the truth.

On a different note, I wish people would be more supportive. When I first told my mom I was thinking about it, she was supportive. And she still is. But I know she told my dad before I did, and he's just played it off. When I told them I finally decided to go, he sounded less supportive and said things like, "You mean 'if' you get to go, not 'when.'" And when I told them I'd decided to step it up and leave in March instead of August, it's been nothing but distance (more than usual) and bull. My dad actually told my mom that if she wants to go visit me in SoKo, she'll be going by herself (he hates to fly) and she'll be returning to an empty house. WTF you know? I told her she should just go to see what happens. Who threatens their wife with crap like that? I couldn't believe it. I'm all about being an independent woman. If I'm going to be with a guy, I'm not changing any part of myself and I'm not conforming to what people thing I should be and say and do. I want to be happy. I'm going to be happy. And I'm not wasting any more of my life.

I'm going to SoKo, I'm experiencing something different, I'm meeting new people, I'm making new friends, I'm trying new things, and nothing is going to hold me back.