Monday, October 01, 2012

Steady Progress

People keep reminding me that we're only a few short months away from our move date.  I can't really relate to that date.  Life seems to move along at the same speed it has taken for the past year.  In fact, it feels as if it has slown down.  We've enjoyed visitors this month, amazing weather, some fabulous teachers, and some really great rec league soccer games.  We spend less time in the car and more time outside, and its hard to live anywhere but the present these days.

But we are making steady progress toward the goal of leaving in December.  I'm studying Spanish 5-8 hours per week, which I'm realizing is not enough time to make any real headway in learning Spanish.  However, I'm also discovering that Spanish is fairly easy to learn.  Dave's doing quite well in his studies, and on track to be a strong speaker by the end of the year.


We received our diplomatic passports a few weeks ago.  Today our family were all medically cleared for worldwide availability.  And tomorrow Dave picks up the regular passports for Sophia and I (hard to believe there was time for them to expire!)  The fun thing about passports is that our family of five will travel with 10 passports in hand - the official diplomatic passports, for official travel; and the regular blue passports, for personal travel.  Each needs to be present, in case the last stamp if in a different passport!

Dave's put together an itinerary for pack-out and travel over the last few weeks of the year, and we hope that his itinerary will be followed.  It seems that the Venezuelan government is in a bit of a tizzy over diplomatic visas.  That is, they don't choose to give them out on time.  Our government may be involved in a tit-for-tat style action over this, which makes international politics feel a bit like fifth grade recess.  No matter - the implication for us is simply that we may or may not leave for Caracas in December.  We move forward planning for a December move, and hope that all correct contingencies fall into place.

The more interesting contingency occurs next week - Venezuelans hold their presidential election on October 7th, and this should be one worth watching!

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