Facing the Challenges

The first of many sweet treats for K1

Here's the thing... I wouldn't recommend living abroad with your family if your marriage is rocky. Luckily, Dave and I have a strong marriage, but I'm not going to lie. We have bickered more in the past two weeks than in the past two years or more combined. This is stressful. And challenging. And actually quite wonderful all at the same time. Lots of decisions to be made and transportation to be sorted. We have to remember that we are here for the experience and a big part of that is facing the challenges and becoming a stronger family unit as a result.

Staines Rail Station

K1 and K2 are doing great and almost back to a routine. Tonight K2 went to bed at 8:45pm and K1 at 10pm. So we're bridging the six hour gap and have about two more to go. 

First Train Ride Together_Staines to Chertsey

We managed to open a bank account today and order our cable/internet. Of course we don't have a TV yet, but Dave assures me one will need to be purchased sooner than later. No UK cell # yet. It seems we need a UK bank card for that and it'll take 5-7 business days to show up in the post. It's all a bit tricky, especially since I messed up MAJORLY on something really important. Our visas.

Yep, I totally screwed up. It's interesting how that happened. As an ESL/ESOL/ELL/EAL teacher, I often read instructions a little too closely. And when the form I was handed following my biometrics appointment only stated that I should send accompanying "documents" along with my passport to the UK consulate in NYC, I only included the documents (VISA application, biometrics approval, photos, etc) and NOT my family's passports. They were listed on my VISA application and I made an assumption that if the passports were needed, I would be notified and would expedite them to NYC. No notice was given. I had an uneasy feeling from the moment I sent the paperwork off, but couldn't find anyone or anywhere to find out if I had done something incorrectly. 

Sure enough, Dave and the boys were given a maximum of six months in country at airport immigration and told they must obtain new visas in the U.S. by then. Yes, IN the U.S.  Lovely. %&#$!!! I muttered many expletives and then tried to bribe the immigration agent with K2's adorableness. I got nothin'.  Soooo...let me know if anyone has ties to the UK embassy here so we can get sorted. Otherwise, it looks like we're coming home for Christmas after all! Ugh. NOT what we planned for. And financially a big blow.
I know this is a learning experience, but it's a very expensive, time-consuming, and frustrating one. 


 

We move into our house tomorrow (Thursday) and I am extremely anxious and excited about it. The four of us and all of our luggage have been crammed into a hotel room since 31 July with very little wiggle room. We are more than ready to unpack and the kids are ready to P-L-A-Y. Thanks to our new friend and taxi driver, Geoff, we should be moved in by 10am! 

TASIS Grounds

TASIS Lower School: My new place of employment