Next Stop: LOI

Great news today from my agency-- my file has been released and they are waiting for my LOI. My travel meeting will be sometime next week, then watch out Kaz-- here I come!!

Doin' the "it's happening" dance!

Yay-- I got some news! It's still a little vague, and I'm not allowed to construe any of it as a guarantee, but... The remainder of my agency's files are supposed to be released by the MOE next week, then its just a matter of time before the LOI's and numbers are issued. Travel is anticipated by mid-November, home by Christmas.. Everyone cross your fingers!

My email is messing with me!

So, I now check my email so often during the day that my email account has decided to have a little fun with me-- by telling me I have new emails when I really don't! Today it was particularly devious because I had emailed my agency for an update, so every time I saw there was a new email, I thought "Here it is-- the news I've been waiting for!" But when I sign it, all that's there are the same old messages that were there 2 minutes ago.. 5 minutes ago.. 10 minutes ago.. You get the picture..

20 pounds overweight-- the story of my life!

So, I'm packed. Really. Okay, my carryon bag is not 100% packed.. But the bulk of my stuff is packed.. So I take out my handy-dandy luggage scale from Target-- and the first (big) suitcase is 44 lbs. Not good, 'cause the limit is 50 lbs give or take a few, depending on your airline.. It's probably even less in Kaz. So, I only have 6 pounds to work with for the 2nd suitcase.. I know its more than 6 pounds, but "how heavy could it be?" I thought.. Well, the answer is approximately 28 pounds.. Back to the drawing board!

Images of Kazakhstan

I found a site that has some cool pics of Kaz landscape, architecture and people:

http://www.travel-images.com/kazakhstan.html

I can find significance in anything!

Okay, so yesterday, I bought a trashy magazine (like I always do-- what am I going to do in Kaz for a month without them??) and it had a horoscope page.. This is what it said for next week (10/15-10/21) for Cancer:
"... An opportunity to travel somewhere special arrives unexpectedly. Let go of any reservations and pack your bags. You... are in for a wild ride-- Hold on!"
I hope the people at Life & Style magazine told the powers that be in Kaz!

Start the countdown!

We are talking weeks here, not days, but the news is good.. My agency has 3 families leaving for Kaz next week.. After that, there are 5 families that will probably travel before me and if things go the way they say, I should get my LOI late this month or early next.. Now (of course!) there are always variables that could change that, but woooo hoooo! Things are starting to come together.. Now, seriously-- I have to learn some Russian!