visas

How can a visa take 2 months? I'll tell you how. When the military guy you have helping you with all the paperwork fills out the incorrect paperwork, sending your daughter's info to Dubai's Italian  Consulate instead of the Philadelphia one, that's how the process takes so long. After a long wait and much frustration, and really not understanding why our military guy couldn't get things rolling, we decided to drive to Philly ourselves.

So first we called the consulate. After going around in circles on their phone message, I ended up calling a 1-800 number to speak to someone since the other phone line didn't give me an option to speak to someone. To do so though, I had to either PAY $2.45 a minute or a flat $15 fee. And guess what? The guy couldn't help and had no answers for me on the status of the Visas. In addition, when he took my number to call me back, I asked if it would be the 36 hours stated on the phone message or within a few minutes. He said it wouldn't be until the afternoon since the Italian consulate had open office hours at the moment. I explained I was on my way and didn't want to make an unnecessary trip unless my paperwork was complete. he said i would know before he would.

frustrated at that point and slowly beginning to understand why the military official couldn't get answers, we drove to Philly. When we got there, there was no order or any indication as to what needed to be done. The office is open 3 days a week, for 3 hours only! we walked in and the sign hanging up on the visa desk said CLOSED and no one was behind any other counter. We waited at a counter until acknowledged. The lady said she did have our packet and that it was supposed to be in the mail that day. She told us, eventually after standing there, to sit and wait while she got the stuff together. That didn't happen. After an hour of waiting, we went back to the window. The same lady spoke to us and said it would take time to get the paperwork together, to put it in the correct order (it was in order) and get the file complete. She asked us to come back that afternoon, we hesitated and then agreed. Then she said she might not be able to do it that day either. we agreed to come back the next week.

I may not have the patience for the Italian culture so i better find some good wine to indulge in!

Driver's license

Words I never thought I would say, but "Today I got my International Driver's License". it only took a few minutes through AAA.  It should hold me over until I get the SOFA one in Italy. So super excited!!

Now on to sorting the unaccompanied baggage. They will be here in 4 days!!  Wow, this is really happening!!