Applied for my Visa

So, I got an email from Cynthia (my travel cuts agent) saying she had some thinger for me to pick up and to come in sometime this week, which I was going to do anyway to apply for my visa so yay! Well, I got there and it was actually some other persons package thing... but whatever, we were going in anyway. So, I handed in my visa application, my bank statement, two passport photos (which are just as blah looking as my current passport photos) and my actual passport. I also bought my travel isurance for now til I come home for Christmas. Then, as I was sitting there all my paperwork went off with a courier to head office.

My next step is to book my flight... ahh! Well, my actual next step is to give notice at work on Friday. Yaaaaayyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!! For awhile I toyed with the idea of offering to work a few shifts here and there between getting back from the cottage and leaving for Ireland but the smarter choice seems to be take as much time as I can to get my stuff together. I want to have all of my stuff organized, including the stuff thats not coming with me so that when I come home its not a total disaster.

So right now I'm torn between leaving on the 8th, a tuesday when I also have a doctors appointment. Or waiting a week. The upside of waiting a week is less time spent in hostels/ less money spent. My big worry right now is that I will find an apartment in the second half of september and have to pay the rent for the whole month... which would bug me.

Anyways, I never really accomplished any of that to do list from my last post so I'm going to try to be productive. I'm getting excited though, its all starting to feel real.

Things are looking up

Well, I have officially been Welcome'd to SWAP! Yay! I got my welcome letter, stuff to access the swap exchange and all the forms I have to fill out. Blerg.

Well, it officially took me two hours to write those two sentances. Three if you really count the word blerg as a sentance. I should probably try this again tomorrow. Tomorrow I am also going to make a facebook status update to tell everyone my big plans in one go. I might also go into work and let my boss know my plans. If I don't let her know soon someone else probably will and I really like her, despite only working with her for a few weeks. I'd like to be the one to tell her. I'll also make a point of filling out... wait... to do list. Not that I think any of you are interested in what I have to do tomorrow but its related to the trip and well, its my blog, i'll write about boring stuff if I want to (8)

1. Clean bird cages
2. Give notice at work
3. Print out all work visa papers
4. Figure out next step in applying for irish passport (as a side not to anyone who doesn't know, I am also trying to get my irish passport. I wont have it by the time I go but because my dad was born in Northern Ireland I technically qualify for both a British passport and an Irish one. I only need one or the obviously, and if I get it before Christmas it will save me a little money if I go back after Christmas)
5. Link to first post on blog
6. Do facebook status update

annnddd
7. Do laundry. Woo.

All before 7ish, since its Glorias birthday party tomorrow, yay!

Registraton

So, yesterday my mom and I drove down to York Universities Travel Cuts office and I paid my registration fee, officially signing up for SWAP Ireland. Apperently there are about 3000 other Canadians doing the same thing within generally the same amount of time, thats pretty crazy! My parents have been really worried about the whole being alone thing, but its looking like there will be a lot of other people to meet who are in the same situation.

Basically, we got there, then sat for a bit as the girl typed my papers into the computer, then my mom asked some questions, then I paid with my credit card, then we got papers on travel insurance, then we went home. Easy peasy.

In the next few days I should be getting a welcome to SWAP email with my visa application, my bank statement form etc. Once I get that I'm going to consider it officially in, join the facebook groups (apperently theres also some way to get in touch with other swappers via their website but I haven't figured that out yet, maybe with the intro email?) Anyways, I'm excited.

My cousin Michael came over for a bit today and we told him about it over dinner, he didn't seem to think it was a massively crazy idea, so thats good. If he had my dad probably would have been even more anti Ireland, although he is coming around.

I want my welcome email!!

Told the Parentals

Well, I've finally told my parents about my plan to try a working holiday in Ireland so it's time to start my blog about this whole thing. I guess, since this is the first post I should start off at the beginning. Awhile ago I found this website, swap.ca, which basically helps you get set up with a work visa and what not for students or people under 30 to do a working holiday, which is basically like a holiday where your working to pay for it as you go. I found it about a year ago and came kind of close to doing it, but then for various reasons kept putting it off.

This summer I started thinking about it again and after talking to my friend Gloria, who thought it was a great idea I decided to just go ahead and do it. I've been following lots of other blogs of people who did the same, finding random advice and what not, and have also been in touch via facebook with this girl from the states, Danielle, who is over there now. My plan as of right now is to leave in September (about 60 days from now), and book a flight home for Christmas, since no matter what I want to be here for Christmas. Then, if things are going well I'd go back to Ireland for a few more months (but be back by my birthday) or, if I can't find a job or am just ready to come home... then I'll stay put.

Anyways, I decided to wait until after my trip to NYC with my mom to tell my parents. I didn't want to over shadow our trip, and well... one thing at a time. My mom seems to think it's a good idea and that it will be good for me. I'm thinking the same thing, that it will force me to be more independent and come out of my shell a bit. All my dad basically had to say was that I can't afford to do it. After I told him that yes I can, I've worked out a budget, etc. etc. (too which his response was again... "no you can't") he then went on about how my passport will get stolen right away, or my visa. Anyways, I'm going to pass that off as him being tired from working all weekend. I probably should have waited to tell him but just thinking about it was making me nervous. So, I just did it. I won't bring it up again right away, and when I do it will be with a printed out copy of my budget. I really don't want to chicken out again, and for that to happen it would be really useful to have the support of my parents, preferably their enthusiasm.

I know this trip will decimate my savings, but I'm okay with that... this is what I've been saving for. It's not like I'm going to Ireland to make my fortune or whatever. This is something I have wanted to do for awhile... Lots of reasons why... It will be good for me, for all the reasons mentioned above & I want to try living somewhere else & I want to travel now, rather than later as life is bound to get in the way eventually & if I do manage to get a job, its way less expensive to see Europe from Europe than from here.

Anyways, that's it for now. Everyone knows (friends & immediate family), not sure when I'm going to tell work. The next step is to get either a past employer or teacher to fill out this form that basically functions as a letter of recommendation, and then I need to go to a travel cuts office and sign up so they can start processing my paperwork. I'll let you know how that goes.