Still In Edmonton
I am still in Edmonton. Despite my best efforts of planning and organizing, I have yet to leave the country, let alone the city. Unfortunately, the administrative side of my application is going quite slow...
As some people know, I originally wanted to leave in mid-May, and do some travelling around Europe before I began my studies. However, I didn't receive my tuition/living permit invoice until after mid-May, setting me back a couple of weeks. Once I got my tuition invoice, it came to my attention that I had to pay the invoice before I could apply for the living permit. I am funding my studies through student loans and thus, had to wait until the application for the student loans opened. Every government official I spoke with assured me that the application would open on the 4th of June. Through and through the application did not open on that day and I was utterly disappointed. It finally opened the Friday after the assured date and I was thrilled to fill out the application and await my letter of approval. Unfortunately the application did not have my program in the system! Talk about hurdles to jump. Apparently when a program is not in the student aid system you have to fill out a special form stating your program, school, and duration of program and then email it to a VERY specific email address asking nicely for them to add your program. I did that and the lady was nice enough to add it THAT VERY DAY! But I had to wait until midnight to actually submit the student aid application because all updates happen at midnight and the addition of my program was an update. Finally submitted I just had to fill out my living permit application!
Let me tell you. Websites, brochures, "testimonials" and anything you read about how easy it is to move to a new country and a new school is a lie. It is difficult, challenging, make you want to cry your eyes out frustrating and I haven't even made it to the end. I am still waiting for my living permit application to be fully approved. Every morning I check my emails hoping for SOME sort of correspondence and normally there is none. On occasion I will receive an email that will confuse me even more, and there comes a point where I wish I could just go, or I want to give up.
Despite the annoyance and prolonged waiting of this little adventure, I am trying to stay positive and live in the moment.
Some good things about me being stuck here is getting to spend time with my favourite people.
I now that I have all the time in the world to spend with people, I am making the most of it, and creating the best memories!
I was able to go on the Edmonton Street car last weekend!
I got to go with my lovely friend Jill (featured in essentially every photo), and it was a wonderful time. Riding the street car has been on both of our bucket lists since last summer. It was not disappointing.
I've also gotten to go to new places, and try new things such as new ice cream shops, coffee houses, restaurants with AMAZING dessert, and exploring the wild!
This past week I got to go to my favourite festival in Edmonton (Freewill Shakespeare Festival) with my mom! We have been going for 14 years together!
This year I was the first costumer of the season. It was pretty rad!
So there is your update!
As of next week I will no longer have a phone number so that will be fun... But I guess being organized doesn't always workout how you planned. As of right now I have no idea when I will be leaving (insurance is complicated). But I am hopeful to see what will happen in the next few weeks!
Still in Edmonton. We hate it. We love it. Still here.
The struggles are there to teach you things. You will be able to help others with what you are being taught in this situation. It's what makes you great!