It's Starting To Set In: Visa and Car Sale

It's finally starting to set in that this is really happening.  I leave in three days.  And it's only begun setting in over the last two days.

Part of the reason I think it's finally setting in, is that my visa has finally been approved and is on it's way back to me.  It will be here on Monday.  I spent Thursday afternoon and all of Friday morning desperately trying to get in touch with the British Consulate in Los Angeles, where my application was submitted.  I finally faxed a letter explaining what had happened and asking why I had heard nothing. 

The backstory: My application was opened on August 3 when all my documents arrived.  A couple days later, I recieved an e-mail saying I'd forgotten to check the box to pay the postage to have it mailed back.  Oops.  Okay, so I responded with my credit card information for it to be charged.  A week goes by, and I recieve the same e-mail again.  I check my statement, and sure enough it hasn't been charged.  So I re-send the information and the card is charged the next day.  Then... nothing.

When I finally got through via the letter I faxed, I recieved the following e-mail:
Dear applicant,

We have received your faxes and your application will be assessed today. We have also confirmed that your credit card was charged on 12th of August.
If all documents were submitted, you will receive an automate email today, confirming your visa has been issued and including the UPS tracking number.
Regards,
XXXX XXXX
Visa Section Los Angeles

Now, tell me this doesn't sound like "Whoops! Our bad! We'll get right on that!"  So from what I can infer, after the postage fee was charged, my application simply never got bumped out of the "incomplete" pile.  A few hours later, I recieved the e-mail confirming that my visa has been approved and the tracking number.  So lots of time, stress, and one emotional breakdown later, it is finally on it's way.
 
The other thing helping it set in that Yes, I'm actually leaving, is that my car has finally sold.  Which I am actually kind of sad about.  It was a great car, I just couldn't afford to keep it while I spend a year not driving it.  But I think it's gone to a good home, and the money from it (that's left after I pay off the loan!) will be helping pay for my housing.  So it's okay. 
 
Everything is finally starting to come together.  The two biggest things have been taken care of over the last two days.  Sure, I still have to get together the last bit of the loan to pay for housing; but overall, I just have a long list of minor things to do.  They'll get done soon.  And then... I will be off to LAX and landing in London.  And the year that I have been looking forward to for so long will commence.
 
In the meantime, I must now go get ready for my leaving-the-country party.  As I will not be coming home for Christmas, just wanted to make sure that I can see everyone before I go.

Visas, Packing, Financial Planning

I leave the country in just over a week, and I think the reality of this still hasn't quite set in.  I also think that this is in large part because my visa has, unfortunately, still not arrived.  I was told by the father of the kids I babysit that my Congressman's local office can help in situations like this, and have contacted them.  And they are helping, getting in touch with the Embassy and, apparently London, as my application was sent there from the embassy.  It's a slightly disconcerting thought that my passport is in London while I am still in California, but if that's what's needed, then that's what's needed.  I recieved a call from my caseworker there this morning for extra information.  Unfortunately, I was really tired and don't recall much of what was said, except that she was going to try to get in touch with the Embassy in Los Angeles, so I'm not sure how this is going.  I only hope it's going well. 

I've been getting the compulsion to start packing over the last few days.  I guess it's understandable; I will be trying to fit my life into three suitcases, two full-sized and one travel-sized.  But as it's still over a week until I go, I'm trying to delay myself.  Most of the things I will need to pack, such as clothing and toiletries, I will need to keep out until the day or day before I leave.  Instead, I've started listing what I will need to pack and trying to organize it by which suitcase it will belong in.  It slows the compulsion for a while; unfortunately, it can later also make me want to just start already.

Financial planning is also starting to get sorted.  Bank of America has an agreement with Barclay's in which BofA customers can use their debit card at Barclay's ATM's with no fees, so I have set that up.  Also working on getting the last of the student loans done, so that housing will be completely paid for. 

It's amazing how many little things start popping up in the final week before a long-term trip.  My to-do list for each day is long enough to be almost frightening, but yet nothing should take extremely long on its own.  And then my mood seems to follow the list, in which I am partly overwhelmed, yet still somehow not quite as motivated as I should be to get it done.  I'm not quite sure what to think of my mood the last two days.