One Down, One to Go

Just before leaving for New York this weekend, we found a note in our mailbox to pick up a package at the post office. The note lacked any sender information whatsoever. All it said was Express Mail, Large Envelope. What could it be? The camera that Andy got us? No. Our plane tickets? No, those came a few days ago. Worried, we called the post office to make sure they would hold it for us until we got back. The very patient woman I talked to assured me that the package would remain at the post office for 15 days before they send it back. Fears allayed, we drove to New York for Andy's marathon.

When we returned on Monday, we went straight to the post office, note in hand. As it turns out, the big Express Mail envelope held our passports, each with a freshly minted visa, allowing us entry to Vietnam. Not a camera, but definitely exciting in its own right. Somehow having the visas makes it that much more real that we are going on this trip. That IS actually going to happen.

In that vein, we sent our visa applications and passports to the India consular services organization yesterday. And today we each received an email, saying that the applications were received and will be processed in 5 business days. And then, all of the pre-trip bureaucratic work is done. Then, all we have to do is get on a plane. Easy.