Dreams and Travels

So I finally have my passport back from the Kenyan Embassy/KImmigration. They got the name and eye color right, but the still charged me. I will follow up with them tomorrow. I like the new design…it’s a HUGE step in the right direction. Kudos to whoever worked on the design and whoever approved and implemented it. Some things do go right, after all.

It’s sad when you’re happy just to get the document you actually have a right to, even if it costs you when they should have footed the bill. They dared send me a receipt, too. Ugh! I dislike inefficiency and bureaucracy and corruption. But as has recently been proven, African countries aren’t the only corrupt ones. Even the world power, USA, is rife with corruption. It’s just done with more finesse.

Where Things Stand

There’s been so much political upheaval in Canada these past few months. Now that I’m considering it as my adopted homeland, I try to stay abreast of important things taking place there.

So the Prime Minister of Canada is currently beleagured by having a minority government and not being able to make things happen in the country. As a result, he called snap elections in October, which he, again, won but still without a majority government. Now the opposition ganged up against him and allegedly intended to pass a vote of no confidence in him yesterday, but Michaëlle Jean, the Governor General and Queen Elizabeth II’s representative, bought him some time by dissolving parliament until January.

Needless to say, with a new Minister of Immigration brought in after the October elections and with parliament now dissolved, there’s hardly a possibility that the Minister has provided any updates for the processing of our applications.

Waiting is the name of the game.

There Are Wonders

After more than 2 years of holding a passport in which my first name had been made my last name, I decided it wouldn’t do. Because the Canadian Consulate seemed to be going off that info, despite all the other paperwork I submitted. So I emailed the Kenyan Embassy and politely asked them to issue me a new passport at their expense. Confrontation.

I thought it certainly would be a month before I heard from them, but in just 2 days, someone wrote me back to indicate they had forwarded my message to Nairobi for a response. Two days after that, she wrote again to indicate I should go through the process of applying for a new passport and they would refund the app fee once they figured out where the problem was.

The problem was theirs. My forms were correctly filled out. And they had the expired passport to go by. Dang, man! If they don’t refund me, I won’t let it go. I will hound them until…they can’t get away with it.

But it was a wonder that they responded at all, so soon, and that they are willing to replace the passport! That is forward movement, my friends. We have come a long way!

I’m a Number!

I heard from the Canadian Consulate earlier this week. Finally, they have established a file number for me. I’m no longer a pending; I’m a number.

They got my name totally mixed up: made my first name my last name and a hideous middle name my first name. My last name was nowhere to be seen on the communication they sent me. How’d that happen? Maybe it all stems from the incompetence of the Kenyan immigration office that messed up my new passport. Dang! I wonder if I can get a completely new passport after 5 years. Well, the good news is that my country of birth now allows dual citizenship, so I can keep my citizenship there if I ever decide to take on another one.

Matters are now getting a bit more complex because I’m falling for a possible descendant of a Viking who is American and wants to live in Europe. And I’m planning to head to Europe myself about a year from now for a 3-year degree program. How’s all this gonna work out? US, Europe or Canada? Can I have all 3 cakes and eat them?

Window shopping

I’ve been window shopping for the move to Canada, which is still about 1 year away. Was looking at dishes and flatware and some home decorations. Since my sister will be going to grad school on scholarship and probably moving to the West Coast, she probably won’t need most of our household items. I guess I can keep those, so then I won’t have to shop for too much.

I really am excited about this move to Canada. Feel like I’ll finally have a place to call my own out there. It’s thrilling, really, because I’ve been so unsettled these past 12 years and more. I’ve been a nomad…moving from one place to another. Maybe Canada is my chance to finally settle down. And find a husband, too.

Canada, here I come!

An update

OK, this is loooong overdue. I submitted my application to the Canadian Consulate in early April. They finally returned everything to me in late May: the exchange rate had gone up so the funds I had submitted for the application fee were insufficient. And they wanted an additional document that they had not initially requested.

I was upset at the delay at first, then I realized that God is in control. Everything has its time.

So I resubmitted at the beginning of June, and I’m waiting eagerly to hear that I have joined the ranks of the eligible! I’m already dreaming of learning French. Oui, c’est vrai.

Late Night

Really, I should be asleep. But I can’t resist making my maiden post. I’m in the process of moving to Canada, so will be chronicling some of that journey here. What started a few months ago as a half hearted attempt to “see where this goes” has now turned into a rather serious pursuit. I’m excited about yet another move. I’ve become quite the nomad. It’s not what I wanted for my life, but it is what it is.

I’m adjusting to this new kind of normal. Who gets to define normal anyway?

Hello world!

Oui. C’est moi!

 Ich bin’s! En an…ni mimi…it’s me.