Happy New Year!

At least, that is what it feels like to me.  The happy face means a visa has been renewed, an adventure lengthened. I went into the foreign office on Friday thinking I had everything I needed only to find out, after waiting around for two hours, that I needed income verification for the previous three months. I cried a little. That's right. For whatever reason the renewal process, though painless in reality, stressed me out.  I was very much looking forward to just being done with it already, so whenI found out I had to wait until Monday to continue I just sort of lost it. Well, I waited until I got home, then I lost it.  I then spent a good deal of the weekend filling my time with some sort of activity to take my mind off the nervousness I was feeling.  I couldn't sleep.  By the time Monday rolled around I was exhausted.

Waiting in the morning to talk with the officer my legs were visibly shaking.  Luckily, I had brought along some crochet to help distract me and ease my mind.  A few hours and just 30 Euro later I walked out with a new visa.  Phew!  They were super friendly and helpful, extending my time until September 2010.  I don't plan on being here until then, but I love that I have that option.


I feel very relieved to have it all done and over with. It acts as a marker, a very obvious marker of the time that has passed. It has been only in the last two months that I have really realized that, hello, I live in Europe. The last year has been fabulous, but I don't believe I have taken advantage of my position to the fullest. With a new visa I feel like I am being extended the opportunity to do this thing "right". Rather, the way I really want too (though the idea makes me terrified). So, why wait for January to roll around? Here are a few of resolutions:

• Putting myself out there and making an effort to make friends.
• DANCE.
  
• Learning some traditional German cooking and baking.
  
• Getting outdoors and exploring the area even more.
  
• Continue improving my language skills.

Those are some general goals. Some more specific goals:

• Go to a Bundesliga Football game
  
• Spend a weekend in Amsterdam
• Give "Radler" a chance someday (beer+Sprite)

And, I want to thank you all, dear family and friends, for supporting me on my journey.  This was a hard decision for me to make and even harder to execute.  Huge lessons are being learned. I wouldn't be here, though, without the HUGE LOVE from all of you. Thank you.