A couple weeks ago, we received a massive package in the mail that was my Visa application. Oh my lord, there were so many forms to fill out, I wanted to cry. Luckily, my mom, being the amazing person that she is, jumped into the fray of papers, knocked out the ones that we could fill out, and rounded up the rest with color coded paper clips. I love you mom! :) So after that, we had to go to the doctor, get x-rays, get blood drawn, and other stuff. It was tough. But in the end we got it all done and prepared to be sent off in the mail. The only thing we were waiting on was for my real dad to sign my visa papers... That was painfully, watching the deadline pass for my visa, and then more day's passing... Until the week before last when he finally signed my papers! We promptly sent application of to Tzell Travel Agency and are now just waiting for the agency to contact me, letting me know that I have my visa and plane tickets. Ah, I wish they could tell me soon!
My first host family has named me! Here is the email she sent me explaining everything:
Dear 柳安柏(Amberly),How are you doing? Usually, the exchange students here will have their first host family's last name. Since the day we knew that we are going to be your fist host family, we have strarted thinking about your Chineses name, therefore we were wondering if you like the name "柳安柏"( Liu Am-ber) ! Let me introduce the meaning of each word. 柳(Liu): It's a romantic and poetic tree, many ancient poets wrote their poems under this tree or use the tree to create new poems. 安(Am): It means peaceful,quiet, safety, smoothly. 柏(ber): It is an evergreen tree. It means young forever.(松柏長青) Hope you like it ! Awesome, right?:D Amberly Few of you may know that my mom and I are in the middle of a custody/decision making battle with my real father. My father is unwilling to pay for any medical attention I may need while I am on exchange, and thus will not sign any of my forms that I need to get my visa. At this point, we are waiting for a judge to rule in my favor; give my mom full decision making custody so that it is only her signature I need on all of my paper work.
This is really nerve racking, and scary. I'm not sure If I'll actually get to go to Taiwan because of the visa deadline. If the judge can't make a decision before the absolute last day of the deadline, I will not be going to Taiwan. We have talked to the Rotary and they have agreed to find me an exchange in South America. Hopefully we won't have to resort to this. Well, that's where we stand. I really hope and I really have been praying that the judge will hurry up and make a decision, any decision, just so I know what to prepare for. Please pray for me that I will be able to go to Taiwan on time, Thank you, Amberly |
Amberly PittsI've always been fascinated by Asian cultures, so traveling to Taiwan is a dream come true! I like reading, writing, drawing and trying new kinds of foods. I have a rather large family (two brothers and two sisters), but I love them very much! And I love to play sports and sing:) Archives
June 2012
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