Goodbye and Hola

I have been dreading and putting off writing this blog post.  My girl is in Spain!  Very exciting for her and for us, as we read her blogs and look at her Facebook posts and pictures.  But let me back up a little to the days before her departure.  On Sunday, Oct  2, Josie and I drove to Chicago and on Monday we went to the Spanish consulate and picked up her visa.  We had a GREAT time in Chicago.  On Sunday we had deep dish pepperoni pizza at Giordano's.  Looks good doesn't it? 



Giordano's Pizza

We then walked around and stopped at Garrett's popcorn, yum!  Our next stop was the John Hancock observatory.  Josie took some great pics and I hope to post a couple here for you.  Here is a pic of Josie with a great Chicago skyline view behind her.  We went right before sunset and got pics in daylight, with the sunset and in the dark.  If you want to see a great view of Chicago, then this is the place!  The observatory is on the 94th floor.  I believe this is the second tallest building in Chicago.  On the observatory deck there's a gift shop and cafe.  We didn't eat there but the food looked good.  Josie took a lot of great pictures.  As soon as I get them I'll post a couple.  Until then, here is one I took of Jo.

Josie on the 94th floor of the John Hancock Observatory, Chicago



Later that evening we walked to the Navy pier and rode the ferris wheel and walked the pier.  It was wonderful having the time alone with Josie.  The next morning we went to the Art Institute of Chicago, looked around Michigan Ave, picked up her visa and then checked out of our hotel and were on our way out of Chicago by 3:30 pm.  Don't even get me started on the traffic!

Josie flew out of Des Moines on Wed, Oct 5 and arrived in Spain on Thurs, Oct 6 and was greeted by her host mom at the Malaga airpot.  The goodbyes were tough!  It physically hurt.  I was an emotional mess!  I took Josie through security (since the airline would only give me a gate pass and not both Marvin and I) and when she had to board the airline attendants were nice enough to give her some kleenex and talk to her to get her mind distracted. I think all in all, it went well land she was happy to finally be on her way!

 If you would like more details check out Josie's blog: http://josiethurmond.blogspot.com/.

Josie called when she arrived in Malaga, Spain and I've never been happier to receive a phone call a 3:30 am!  Her host mom picked her up and they were on their way.  I've e-mailed Jo a couple of times and we've posted back and forth a couple times on Facebook, so that has made it a little easier just knowing she is doing okay.

We all miss Josie.  I think even the cats miss her.  Lily, our cat, now lets me play fetch with her whereas before it was something she only did with Josie.  I think Carolyn and Reece are adapting to Josie being gone as best they can.  When Jo was preparing to leave there was a lot of discussion of what we would do with her room.  You should understand that we converted the family room to be her bedroom and I've always mourned the loss of the family room.  So we had discussed using her bedroom as a family room in her absence, but honestly I can't go into her room without crying and feeling total loss.  I feel like I've been going through a sort of grieving process with Jo gone.  I know she'll be back, but having forfeited a year with her, not being able to be there for her and missing the opportunities to watch her grow has given me a sense of great loss.  But seeing her smile and knowing she is okay is comforting.  And I know that God is keeping her safe and guiding her steps.

Sunday is my daughter Carolyns 14th birthday, and I know this is tough for her with Josie not here, so I want to make it special for her, but Carolyn is so unselfish and just says that she has everything she needs and doesn't need anything for her birthday.  But I'm going to try a make it a special one to remember.

Reece, Josie, and Carolyn at Dsm airport before Josie left for Spain.

One thing that I have to stay aware of is that this isn't only Josie's exchange.  As her family we are greatly impacted by not only her being gone but of a different family dynamic and a change in the households flow.  Josie isn't here to help take her brother and sister to practices or to help with homework that mom doesn't get (really missing your help Josie, Reece is dividing decimals - help!).  But we are adapting.  :)

Josie has been having a great time in Spain and I'll post some of the pics she has posted on her facebook.  She started school on Monday and she said that she had a headache all day from trying to understand what everyone was saying.  She told me that in French class the teacher kept speaking to her in French and then when it was evident that Jo had no clue what she was saying the teacher explained in Spanish.  Yep, you got it, it was clear as mud!  lol

Until next time.

Enjoy the pics!

Josie and her host mom shopping



Josie has been trying a lot of new foods.
This is baby squid, salad with tuna and tomatoes and peppers.



(Clockwise) "Duck sandwich", noodles and vegetables, and shrimp.
Josie said it all was, "VERY GOOD!"

  



Josie had talked in her blog about all the white building and how pretty they are.
I'm thinking these are them.  :)

  



Josie eating with her "aunt".
I think this was her first meal in Spain, "Chinese".

  

Josie or should I say Pepa?
Her family has given her the name Pepa.  Cute!

 




Josie in the mountains with Reina, the family dog.

 


Josie said that these mountains are just a 15 minute walk from her house.

 



Josie said she's been walking on the beach daily.




Josie didn't know what this building was, but the building has character, and a cannon!

Jo eating on beach.



Meal on the beach with her host mom and her host moms friends from England.



Long trips and even longer hugs

If you follow Josie's blog then you know what I'm about to tell you.  Her visa is in!  YAY!!!  I was at work on Friday and at about 2pm my cell phone rings.  I pick it up and hear Josie attempting to speak between her laughs and high-pitched screams, "It's in, it's in!  Mele just called and my visa is in."  What we have been waiting on for two months!  Josie explained that Mele said she would send me an e-mail.  So after corresponding with Mele, Josie's travel agent, a few times, plans were set into motion.  Me and Josie would leave Sunday morning (in about seven hours) for Chicago to pick up her visa from the consulate (Josie has to pick it up in person) between 1-2pm on Monday.  I booked a hotel less than a half mile from the consulate where we will spend the night Sunday night and be able to walk to the consulate on Monday. 

Josie will fly out of Des Moines on Wednesday afternoon and fly to Chicago with a two hour layover before continuing from Chicago to Madrid and then another two hour layover before finally landing in Malaga, Spain.  Her host mom is going to pick Josie up when Josie's plane lands on Thursday morning. 

So it's finally all coming together.  This has been in the planning stages for a year, but I don't think anyone is ever "ready".  We've been very intentional in spending time together (last weekend we painted pottery and tonight we made caramel apples together (with chocolate, nuts, mini reece's pieces and mini gummy bears).  Jo has been giving me a lot more hugs and we both seem to hold on a little bit longer and I've been savoring each second!  :)

My heart sinks at the thought of the last goodbye before she boards her plane to leave for 9 months.  But the strange thing about letting Josie do this is that God has given us all a peace about it.  We prayed about this before she applied and God has led us through and given us peace about letting her go.

But, before I let go of my baby girl, we get to go to Chicago.  I'm looking forward to the time alone with Josie.  I was hoping that we'd be able to spend a couple of nights in Chicago but since since she is leaving so soon we need to hurry back.

Just a thought. If you are a parent, be intentional in spending time with your children and grab those long hugs as often as you can, like you aren't going to see them for almost a year.  I am.

E-vent

e-vent

Okay, I'll try to be informative and not vent too much. Josie is STILL here! It's not been too eventful around here, so since there's not much to report, this is going to be my e-vent.  Here's what has happened:

On Sept 7 we received an e-mail from It's Your World Travel to explain the delay with the issuing of the visa Here are portions of the e-mail:

Hello,

As you are well aware, there was a conflict of interpretation between the home government in Madrid and your consulate of jurisdiction’s interpretation of this new law—(requiring prior approval from Madrid).

I am happy to report, that through the very hard work of multi-District Chairman Eduardo San Martin, in Spain, the consulates are now clear on the interpretation and have begun to issue the visas. He has requested and received authority from both the Chicago and San Francisco consulates for Priority/Expedited service in issuing your visa. (The consulate still must process the paperwork in the normal manner).

Eduardo San Martin, has moved the Inbound orientation in Madrid, Spain to 22-24 September11. (He will also have a mini orientation in early October, just in case some of you have not received your visas in time for the main orientation.)

Now specifically to your individual application/status:
Your paperwork has been submitted to the Consulate and we are waiting word from them that everything is okay, your paperwork is 100% complete but they can request additional paperwork. If they request anything more, I will advise you of this. Once your visa has been approved, the Consul will contact me and I will advise you of details of this.

So, we have been waiting to hear something. And then this week we receive this letter. Take into consideration that Josie's school in Spain started on Sept 15 and the new date for orientation is in 2 days. Josie is 1 of 13 students waiting for a visa. Then on Sept 17 we receive following information in another e-mail:

As you are aware, due to the change in Spanish law, the visa process became bogged down due to different interpretations by the consulate and the actual law. As we informed you, the Consulate of Spain in Chicago will not accept documents by mail or FEDEX. Further, they will accept these documents from our representative only by appointment—to save you two trips to the consulate. The earliest appointment date the consulate would receive the documents was 15Sep11.

So, where are we?

Our conversations with the consulate reveal that they will still need to take the normal processing time.

After your visa has been issued, you will need to personally go to the consulate for the bio-metrics portion and receive your visaed passport back in your hands. Normally, the consulate normally contacts the student or parents to advise them of the date on which you can appear at the consulate. Please be available for their call—or have answering/message service available on your home/cell phones.

So that's where we are. Still waiting. At least we are not alone, there are 12 other students still waiting to be visaed for Spain. But Josie is not going to school here, since we thought she'd be leaving on Sept 2, we didn't enroll her in school here and she quit her job. My advice to future exchange students is to enroll in school even if you think you'll only be in school for a week or so just in case of delays and don't quit your job until you have your plane ticket.

We are hoping to hear from the consulate this week. :) We are certainly growing in the area of patience. I am looking forward to taking Josie to Chicago to pick up her visa and spending a night or two and spending some time together.

Josie is now packed and ready. And as much as I'll miss her, this waiting is torturous on all of us. But I am grateful to have this extra time with her. We try to keep things in perspective. Josie will be there for 10 months so while this seems like it is taking forever, in perspective of her whole trip it is not that long.

In the meantime Josie is taking some great photos. Here are a few: