And just like that, a month has flown by!
High: My sisters came to visit! My three older sisters came to celebrate my 30th birthday, which is just as ideal and unbelievable as it sounds! Epic enough, in fact, to require a number of posts on its own, as soon as I can sort myself to post them. Better late than never, or so I keep telling myself.
Low: We found out in April that our one-year visa for Thailand couldn’t be renewed due to a law change. It also expired right as Stephen’s work permit expired–which, I’ll save you the details–just makes things complicated. We had a narrow window to go, and wanting to wait until my sisters left, the window became even narrower. We were back in Mae Sot for four days before turning around for a visa run.
High: In this four days turnaround, we finished up the Summer Program, including a little ceremony for certificates and gifts!
Low: Due to some law changes within ASEAN, it was unlikely (many said impossible) to get another one-year visa within Asia. We could return to the US for a one-year visa, or settle for a 3-month visa from a regional Thai embassy. All this plays into the adoption process, timing and tickets; and just unknowns. We decided to go for Yangon, where there was a very small chance we could get a year visa. They were the only embassy willing to say it was a possibility, albeit just that.
Low: We found out they changed even more laws, and now Stephen’s work permit would be linked to his visa. If he received only a three-month visa, he would only get a three-month work permit. Again, to simplify the details, it was starting to look like we’d be spending about a week every three months doing paperwork and at government offices. This is not fun for us, for our budget, or for our organization doing all the paperwork.
Low: We bought a flight out of Mae Sot to Yangon, and then planned to take a car back through some of our friends’ villages and towns. We thought we could visit friends and make the trip a bit cheaper. We learned in the airport that (perhaps more law changes?) they weren’t going to let us do that. We ended up purchasing flights back in the airport, in order for them to let us check in and go through immigration. This was both #stressful and #expensive.
Low: The first day we arrived to the Embassy to find it closed.
Low: The first day I got sick. After just an afternoon of a blinding headache and the achiest body I can remember since last July, I was pretty sure it was dengue fever. Again.
Low: It was dengue fever. Even if it took some convincing of a number of doctors. The tests still came back positive, and it is just as miserable as I remembered.
High: You can only get it four times, and I’m at two. In ten months.
Low: It gets more dangerous and potentially fatal each time, so, uhh..#fingerscrossed?
High: We got one year visas! This is an incredible high, and still feels like a miracle! I’m not sure why we got it; and I’m not sure why it was so easy. Other then perhaps God knew we might just throw in the towel? I hope I never forget Stephen’s smile as he turned away from the desk.
Low: I had to fly with dengue.
Low: I had to go back to the doctor two more long days for blood tests.
High: I’m feeling good enough to write this blog; I’m sorting photos; generally I’m sitting up! And the school year is kicking off, including Year 2 of The Breakfast Club!