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Let me just start by saying this: I typed almost this entire entry using my Spanish  keyboard and kept wondering why the words continued to change to words that I had no idea the meaning was. That was why. The Spanish keyboard is helpful when you are typing in Spanish, not English. 

ANYWAY, today was my lucky day. After hours of confusion and many cancelled appointments. I finally have gotten my visa. Unofficially of course. Today was appointment at the Spanish consulate and it was the easiest thing ever. We literally walked up to a window (to a VERY nice looking Spanish man I must add) and we handed him the papers he asked for and boom, I had my visa. Not officially though. He said that we were successful and that my passport containing the visa would come in the mail in 3 weeks. HALLELUJIAH. The visa process was soooooo complicated with collecting papers and trying to book appointments and everything, but when it came down to it, it was just a 10 minute confrontation that made the whole process seem pointless. All in all, I am super happy and I leave in 34 days. Ahhh it will not come soon enough.

Lilly

Stupid visa

I can easily, without a doubt say that the visa process is the hardest, most stupid, and difficult for no reason thing that had to do with going to Spain. To everyone who will be reading this, thinking about studying abroad next year, I'm not going to make it out to be a stroll in the park. Because it's not. It's hard and annoying. 

When you first start, the paperwork seems like a lot and VERY overwhelming. But once you get it all together, you realize that it wasn't that difficult. My ONE recommendation would be to go onto the consulate website ATLEAST 2 and a half months ahead of time to make your appointment. Me and my mom went on in late May and the earliest appointment they had was August 7, which is cutting it very close. Luckily, a week later a couple spots opened up in late June. But not lucky. THE DAY BEFORE we left for NYC, we were told that I can't get my spanish visa unless I have my school in Spain. Ugh. Wow so I have my host family, but not school. So that day we cancelled me June 23 appointment, and scheduled the nearest appointment....... September 3. Yes. Exactly, do not procrastinate with scheduling the appointment or else you may be leaving separately than everyone else. BUUUUUTTTT, today, my mom called me and told me that a couple slots opened up in late July, which is exactly what we needed! I was also able to message my friend Ryan (who's luck was not much better than mine with a date of September 2) and tell him to get on the website and get booked!! The appointments get booked VERY fast and really the only way to get one without missing it is to refresh the site every half hour. Yes, that is what my mother and I did for about 4 days straight. But anyway, I just felt the need to post because I am so ecstatic. 

So, I already have like 8 posts or something like that, and I'm not even in Spain yet..... My prediction is that as soon as I get there, I will either post all the time, or drop off the side of the earth and just forget about my blog as my new life progresses. I guess we have yet to see.... 68 days and counting!

Buenas Tardes,

Lilly