Sometimes, we lack focus

We knew we were going a trip towards the end of this summer for a long time, like years. Don't ask me why we only started looking into Visas for a country of extended stay a month and a half before we leave Canada.

The great thing about being so open and flexible about a trip, like Lindy and I have been, is that the world is our oyster and we'd be happy to stay anywhere foreign. The downside of that is that you don't actually reach any conclusions about where you're staying, and thus, remain "open".

My advice to you is this: don't be so open.

"This country's Visa application takes three months."

"Well, let's not go to that country."

After some back and forth dialog like that, mixed with a dash of intrigue and a healthy dose of positive review, we settled on applying for some Slovenian Visas/work permits.

It's now July 31st, and we've sent our passports to Ottawa. On a point of interest, we rushed to mail our passports the same wonderfully busy day of my cousin Jennifer and Peter's wedding!

Packing up our Bishop street apartment of two years

ETA for processing: 3-4 weeks. That leaves plenty of time for our September 1 departure!

The first three weeks of processing went by quick, people got married, birthdays were had, but no passports in the mailbox. It's now around August 20, and we get an email from the Slovenian embassy looking for payment to verify police record check. We comply, and are told about another week to go.

So instead of wrapping up our Halifax affairs, we go camping August 22nd. No passports in the mailbox prior to departure.

Keji was fantastic. Despite terrible weather forecasts, we had beautiful sunny skies at my new favourite campsite, #20

When we get back to Halifax, no passports in the mailbox. It's now August 25th.

A slightly anxious phone conversation the embassy informs us that it will be arriving to us no later than September 1st, the day we kind of need them.

---

Lindy enjoying the poor weather forecast at Keji

An action packed weekend of August 28 blows by, infused with homemade beer, filled with stress of selling, trashing, storing, and donating all of our possessions. All the while we're shadowed with the anxiety of leaving the country in a few days, but without having passports.

Lo and behold! It's Monday, August 31st, the day we leave our apartment and the last package we receive at the address is our freshly Visa'd passports. Now we just have to finish all the other stuff.

So to those wondering, I would recommend to be a little more focused if considering a similar endeavour. At least aim to have your passports and Visas more than one day in advance of necessity.

Stay tuned until the next post, where we will be drinking Gull and chasing waterfalls in indescribable Iceland!