Mostly Long Island, New York
Dyker Heights, Brooklyn
2 places in New Jersey (but who can actually pronounce them?)
So here is a quick update to the madness that has been this
immigration process. I went in for my screening before I left for California on
the 7th of December but my paperwork wasn’t actually submitted until
Monday the 10th. That had left me just 7 days to hopefully have my
paperwork processed and my passport mailed back to me before my flight on the
17th. Well that was wishful thinking and here I am on the 27th
of December still in New York 1 month later, and its now been 1 month since I
have seen Sam. With some luck I was able to change my flight… again.. to the 23rd
of December thinking that had to be it. I tried hard to stay optimistic but
when that Thursday rolled around and I still had not heard a word about my visa
I knew it is unlikely that I was going to have my visa by that Sunday. So
unfortunately I missed Christmas and will now be missing New Years as my new
flight is scheduled for January 2nd. I am not happy about it because
I would have obviously loved to be with Sam in our first year in our new home.
I’m not going to lie though my frustration level is at an all-time
high and I’m having a hard time believing how long this has all taken to get
done. I know it could be worse and at least I know there is an end to all of
this coming but this is the type of human that I am. I need to know dates, I
hate not being in control, and I really really hate the lack of empathy from the professionals we are paying to help us make this
situation easier.
But and here is the big BUT, the revelation that I have has
after spending the holidays seeing my family on Christmas Eve and all of
Christmas day with my parents I know now that I was meant to be here. I've been to some fun Christmas parties where I dressed as the Grinch and was being all sorts of mischievous.... mostly just by drinking all the wine at the party. If being
with Sam and our entire relationship has taught me anything it's that EVERYTHING happens for
a reason. I could not have planned a better Christmas day with the two most important
people in my world. This entire situation has brought the three of us closer
than ever. And FINALLY my mother took the time on Christmas day to teach me all
of her special recipes. My Italian-American family is cheering for joy reading
that I’m sure. I now know how to make baked ziti, spinach pie, broccoli pie,
and sweet potato pie! Which I know that Sam will find that more of a Christmas
gift/ miracle than anything else I bring back to him.
I really have had an amazing month in New York so far! I’ve
been spending loads of time with my parents and creating some wonderful
memories, seeing friends, visiting family, stopping by my school in the Bronx
and Queens, took a mini vay cay to Cali, and was asked to be a bridesmaid to my
bestie getting married next year! I've been able to spend to major holidays with Thanksgiving and that's made me appreciate the struggle that
a lot of people are also going through with immigration. Most of all I have had
an out pour of people messaging me asking how it’s all going and sharing their
stories with me. I feel so very loved and supported so thank you all so very
much! I also have to give a shout out to a few of my cousins who talked me into posting again sooner than I thought. Knowing that you're reading and enjoying it means the world to me!
So now that it is all a waiting game I will have fingers
crossed for a swift return to London but also enjoy the time I have by making
the most of it. If you or someone that you know is going through something
similar please feel free to share it with me and my story with them. There has
been so much comfort in having people reach out to me and even to Sam and
helping out in any way that we can.
Cheers to you! Great attitude and I agree 100%, everything happens for a reason! Xoxo
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