Final Prep....

So I know it has been awhile since my last post but a lot has happened. I have sent and received back my documents from Washington D.C for my visa application. I needed to send in a police report and my college degree to get attested by both the American and Kuwait embassy's. Now that, that is done. My visa is currently being processed and I will receive the copy one month prior to my leaving and I will receive the original in Kuwait once I arrive there. It still does not seem real that I am really leaving and moving overseas for 2 years. I don't think that it will be real until I am in the airport to leave.

The other thing I am working on is shipping my stuff over to kuwait. It seems easy right?..... yeah how about not so much. I have packed 6 boxes already and you would think that's a lot of stuff..... but I feel like packing my life into 6 boxes is not that much am I right? Not only do I have to ship them but I need to weigh them, and measure the boxes so I can find out how much this is going to cost me up front. Other than shipping my belongings over there all I have to do is wait to receive my ticket (July 31st) and then go....

I am both excited and nervous. The closer the time gets for me to leave I am getting more and more excited for this amazing opportunity. I can't believe I am going to be living out my dream of teaching overseas. I know it's going to be hard and a challenge and there will times I will be home sick but with the love and support from my family and friends I know I can do this and succeed. Stay tuned for more updates and thanks for reading!!!!

Paperwork

Obviously moving to a foreign country requires a lot of paperwork, I mean they just don't let anyone move to a foreign country. I had no idea how much paperwork or how stressful the paperwork would be to go overseas. Well let me tell you all about it. So the first thing I need to do is scan and email my degree and diploma from college as well as a copy of my passport to start the visa process. I also needed to get medical clearance, which included a; TB test both a shot and a chest x-ray, HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. So I just finished all my medical tests and I am awaiting the results to forward them on for my visa. 

The next thing I need to do is get documents attested by the U.S Embassy and the Kuwait Embassy in D.C. This takes around 8 days turn around time which is really great but.... it costs around $400 for two documents. Now the school I am working for is wonderful and reimburse me but I just have to wait to get reimbursed until I got to kuwait. For the documents to get attested I have to get my degree attested as well as an official police report stating I don't have a criminal background. So I need to go and request the police report wait for it then send it off to D.C. I am trying to stay calm and stress free and take it one day at a time but it can be overwhelming. Don't get me wrong I am so excited for this opportunity and can't wait just gets stressful at times.

One really cool thing about working for this brand new school is our ability as teachers to help build the programs at the school and to customize our classrooms. As a music teacher we need a lot of stuff, so having the ability to customize my classroom and help make the music program to what I want it to be is so exciting and a dream. I am so fortunate that the school is also tech based and values technology as a vital tool in education today. I am so excited to and honored to be working at this school even if it is so far from home. I am so looking towards all the adventures and fun times to come.

So as much as I get stressed out about all the paperwork and forms and all the things that come along with moving to a foreign country I know that the opportunity is absolutely amazing and once in a lifetime and I can't wait.

First Post!!!

So.... as most of you know I have accepted a teaching position at The American University of Kuwait for the next 2 years. I am both excited and nervous for what lies ahead. I think it is going to be such a cool adventure and an amazing experience. I decided to write a blog chronicling my adventures and life over in Kuwait. Being that this is my first blog And first post I am going to keep it short, so stay tuned for updates on my preparations for Kuwait!!! :-)