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Trip Start Dec 06, 2008 Previous
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  Crows Nest, New South Wales, Australia
Monday, February 16, 2009

So guess what??? I got some FANTASTIC news...I can apply for the 18-30yr old working visa! I had previously looked into it but thought that since I was over 30 I couldn't apply. However, thanks to Kylene I learned that I am eligible (Australia has to receive your app before your 31st bday & since I won't be that old till Sept, I can apply! YAY! It's such good news bc it means that I can stay in OZ for a yr & come & go as often as I please. It also means that I can work legally!
However, it does mean that I have to apply out of the country to apply, so I'm heading to New Zealand! I am super excited about it as Mom & Dad have friends on the North Island that I can stay with (haven't seen them since I was 16yrs, wow! That makes me sound old...). I'm going to give myself 2 weeks to explore the Islands. Although I am a bit nervous as I have never traveled alone before (I have always met people at my destination). But I gotta say that my excitement far outweighs the nervousness.
Turns out that apply for a visa is a lot of paperwork! Most of the stuff I need I really don't need. But it's stuff that they might ask for. I would rather have everything & need nothing than have nothing and need it all.
So my job for today was to get my fingerprints taken so that I could send them off to the FBI to obtain a copy of my criminal record. Easy enough, right? WRONG!!! I went to the local police station to get them done there (a 10min walk in the sunshine, not bad). But once I got there they told me they couldn't do them bc they only have 1 officer on duty at a time so I'd have to head over to Crow's Nest to get them done. The only catch was I'd have to call them 30min before my arrival time (to make sure they weren't busy) BUT it would take almost 40 by bus to get there (that includes walking to the station from the bus stop). But I gotta try....so I called the station @ 2:45pm & told them I was on my way could they take me? They said sure, be there by 3:15. I thought ok no biggie. The bus was supposed to drop me off @ 3:08 & I mapped the route & it couldn't be more than a 10min walk. Things were looking up.
I get off the bus & start heading in the right direction. I soon come upon #273 which was great cuz I was looking for #274. The next building is #286 & I thought this is not right. So I crossed the road & checked the other side of the street, just to be sure. No such luck. Back to the original side. Walked up & down that side 2x before finally giving up & calling the station to ask for directions. They told me to look around for the New Orleans Pub. Great I say as I see New Orleans Café just up ahead. I walk up there & see nothing. So I continue to walk aprox ˝ mile downhill. I finally go into a mattress store & ask a sales clerk where the police station is. She pulls me aside & looks at me with concern & asks if I am ok. Did I mention that it was POURING down rain, I had no umbrella, a tiny sweater on, & that I was wearing my brand new boots (that I really should not be wearing ) so I was kinda limping? And I'm sure my mascara was running and combine that with my messy, wet hair...Yeah...she must have thought I'd been beaten! Nope, just trying to get my fingerprints taken. She sends me further down the street when I ask 5 more people where the police station is. No-one knows! I finally ask someone who know BUT it's almost 2 miles in the other direction! Up a hill! In the pouring rain! In my brand new boots that kill me! So off I trudge. By this time it's almost 4 & I'm getting worried that I will miss the appt. I call again as I still haven't found it. And they tell me the same thing..."We can't give you directions except to tell you it's right next to New Orleans Pub". Great, thanks! So helpful! I finally arrive at 4pm after having walked around for the last 47 min in a downpour. Unfortunalty, I am not a priority when I arrive & I don't leave till a bit after 4:30. Which they almost didn't let me leave anyway...I was supposted to have brought a stamped envelope with me (although I was never told that) bc they are not allowed to let you lv w/the fingerprints. LUCKILY the gal felt bad & let me take them as long as I promised I would mail them ASAP (which I did, but of course was in the opposite direction of my bus home). I did not get home till 6pm that night! I was exhausted, soaked through to the bone, & my feet were throbbing!

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