To cut a long story short, I'm on my way back to Montana. I woke up about 7 am Friday morning, and after an apparent infinity, the envelope arrived about 10:30 am. I caught a taxi to the consulate and waited for about 2 hours. They only asked me one or two questions at the “interview” and finally I was able to pick up my passport with the renewed visa in it. I left the building and went around the corner to pay for my airline ticket. Because it is a one-way flight to the US, you have to show your passport and visa. This was resolved and the ticket was paid for. I called Mum to tell her the good news as well as phoning a few other friends.
My stomach had seemingly shrunk to about the size of a walnut, and it didn't seem like it could get any smaller because all that was left was one big ulcer. But after a nice long shower and a lay down, I finally began to feel it relax. I had sent an email to Sarah letting her know that I was in town. We decided that I should catch the train out to Richmond to see her apartment. It was dark and about 9 pm when I finally got there and we met up.
She's still the same as always which is wonderful, and one of my few true friends. Like Red, we could finish a conversation and pick it up years later. I was fairly tired, but we stayed up till after midnight drinking and chilling out. I slept really well that night, and when I woke up about 7 am I went straight back to sleep until 10 am. Later I had a shower and we cooked sausage, eggs and coffee for breakfast. We finally got out of the house about 1 pm and walked around Richmond to the mall. We bought a whole bunch of groceries and carried them home. In the afternoon we were very lazy and didn't do anything at all. We watched a whole bunch of “Fawlty Towers” videos and just sat around which was fine. We both went to bed about 10 pm.
This morning I woke up at 7:30 am, showered and had breakfast. I'd bought an exotic Vietnamese fruit called a “Dragon Fruit” at the supermarket which tasted ok. Sarah walked with me to the station and I got back into the city a little after 10 am. I checked email and then started to pack, I was very happy to pay for the hotel but be able to stay at Sarah's as that meant I didn't have to lug my giant bag around the place.
About 11 am I dragged my stuff to the train station and then went to the airport. I had to wait a while before I could check my bags because I was there so early, but I think I did get a bulkhead seat for the leg to Los Angeles. The flight is with Air Newland and we are on a smaller plane for the 4 hour trip to Auckland, and then a regular 747 for the (~12 hours maybe?) flight to Los Angeles arriving 12:40 pm Sunday LA time. If all goes well, I might be able to catch the 3:15 pm Delta flight to Bozeman and close the circle. *fingers crossed*
I believe that in Bozeman, everyone is going out for Katie's birthday which is annoying. I just feel left out, but it's my fault I have been stuck here. I think I'll have to cancel my classes as I'm so far behind already. As for work, well nothing can be done without me which is both a curse and a blessing. It's good job security but you feel bad for putting everyone else behind, I suppose I shouldn't worry as they should have been proactive themselves.
8:45 pm (Local Time) – Auckland International Airport
Well, everything has gone ok so far. *fingers crossed* The last time I flew out to Los Angeles, it was a debacle, the connecting flight was delayed because of fog at Wagga airport (in the middle of summer in outback Australia!). So they changed my ticket from China Air to Qantas but the next flight was late arriving, so I had to run to the International terminal in tears and with no voice (the flu had given me laryngitis). That flight was quiet, but then there was the immigration debacle which started this whole mess rolling. I won't be able to relax until I'm in my apartment in Bozeman.