Everything is easier when it’s just a date. It all becomes more real when that date is only two weeks away. September 28 is no longer just a date I throw out in casual conversation. It’s a very real date that I am counting down to. This past weekend I made the trip to Chicago to pick up my visa. The nine-hour drive to pick it up in person resulted in a five-minute exchange at the consulate. The short time there allowed me to travel and see the sights, which included Navy Pier, Millennium Park, H&M (the closest one to me is Chicago), singing karaoke in Boystown, and watching improve at the iO Theater.
Now that my visa is in hand, I have to start planning this trip. I need to get the things done to live abroad comfortably for eight months. This includes lots of lists and errands to be ran. Skype is installed, and I’ve figured out how to use 10 percent of the cool features on my camera. The least excited thing I have to do is a flu shot tomorrow.
The few days that remain also remind me to really spend time with family. My sister and nephews visited this past weekend. We went to a local arts festival and had a nice family meal at home. Not only was it a good opportunity to take some photos, but also was great to fully enjoy the time we had together because I know I won’t be able to see them for quite some time. Today, I spent a lot of time with my dad. We worked out, got coffee, ran errands around town and watched the finals to America’s Got Talent together. One of my favorite days at home for sure. Since I know those days are limited, I’m making a conscious effort to really make them count.