feel like an idiot

Tuesday night, while my husband was out of the room, it occurred to me for the first time that perhaps the visa was put inside the passport that I recieved several weeks back.  So I checked.

Who knew that the visa would be a sticker inside my passport?!

Needless to say, I feel like a complete idiot.  But at least that problem is solved.  Now I am trying to get Priceline to tell me how to reschedule my flight for Dec 1rst or 2nd.  They haven't responded yet, but that is probably because it is Thanksgiving, and there are blizzards in different parts of the country.  I hope to get this arranged soon, as I have to be at the British Library for a symposium on the 6th.  I want to be somewhat settled before then so I don't have to schlepp a lot of luggage on the train to London.

On the flip side, that means Chet and I suddenly have very little time left to be together.  That is not a happy thought.

Still no visa

It's been almost a week since we got Chet's refusal notice, and I still have not heard anything about my visa.  I figured it would take them a while longer to print up the papers, but really!  I hate being in limbo.  It really messes up my world, partially because I can't organize a schedule (in as much as I ever work from a schedule).  I'm going to send another email to the consulate website in the morning.  You never know...it might help.

Between the two of us, my husband and I decided to have me attend school while he attempts an appeal on his visa.  He does have a passport, so can visit from time to time, as money allows.  There will be advantages, such as not needing as much of a social life and no one else to worry about, that will make it possible to complete the doctorate faster.  Not to mention the motivation of coming back to my husband.  I really hate to be apart from him. 

More visa difficulties

Sunday night we got an automated call from UPS saying a package was being flown out overnight, and someone should be there to sign for the package.  Of course, we were home at 9:00 in the morning when it arrived.  Inside was my husband's passport, and a refusal notice.  He is not being allowed a visa.  In the phrasing of his denial was notice that my visa had been approved, however.  I haven't seen my paperwork, and there is nothing in the email to indicate when, or even if, my visa will arrive.  As always, there is no one to call or contact to find out.

This still leaves us with a terrible decision.  Do I continue on to England without my husband or stop trying to get my doctorate and just get a job?  On the one hand is all the work and time it took to get to this point, the amazing opportunity to work with Dr. Gale Owen-Crocker, and my employment prospects without the PhD.  On the other hand is three years of living without the man I have spent almost every day in the same room with for 18 years (the length of his disability so far...we've been married for 25 and known each other for 28).  Not a happy thought.

British Library seminar

I received an email yesterday asking which two classes I would like to take in the seminar at the British Library on December 6.  I'm really excited to be able to work with the archivists and librarians there, but the available classes are a continuation of the problem I run into with my work.  I can choose between options like 16th to 19th century newspapers, 15th century printing, records of the East India company, the English Civil War, France in North America, Medieval Historical documents including early maps up to Tudor Era, and 16th to 18th century documents.  Once again, there is nothing in my era, let alone my area of study. 

I realize there is much more material available for later centuries, but it would be nice to have something for the pre-1000 AD researcher.  Chet says it is just more evidence that I'm on the cutting edge.  I just wonder if it means there is no real need or avenue for my work.  But then I come across someone like Beth Matney, who makes it her life work to gather this information, and that gives me incentive to work harder.

Medieval Textile Library (and librarian)

Last Wednesday and Thursday, I spent some time with Beth Matney at her property in Arkansas.  This amazing woman has made it her life's work to collect everything ever written about Medieval textiles, in any language.  Her book collection has something over 10,000 works in it, including a large selection of science fiction and fantasy (which suited me down to the ground).  Many out-of-print books and articles are only readily available through Beth. I understand several libraries have approached her about donating her collection.  Who ever gets it will be very lucky, and may need to add a wing to the building...

We spent two very packed days creating a large-ish, though probably not comprehensive bibliography for me to work from.  I can't wait to roll up my sleeves and get to work on it!  It will be quite enjoyable.  First, I need to get my computer back, which will involve getting to England, so my husband can have his computer back.  Long story.

I intend to start posting pictures and possibly video clips as soon as two things happen: 1) I get access to my image files, and 2) I learn how to upload pictures from my camera. My son, Eric, and my husband can upload the files from my camera to their computers, but for some reason the camera won't talk to my computer.  Modern technology is one of the reasons I'm a medievalist ; ).

The adventure begins...eventually

November 5, 2010

I'm never sure how to start these sorts of things.  What seems like old news to me is often something others have not yet heard about, which makes it fresh news, I guess.  So background seems to be a good beginning. 

I have been accepted into the PhD program at the University of Manchester, UK, but can't seem to get there because I'm in some sort of visa purgatory.  Classes actually started September 21, but I'm stuck in the States, apparently because either I don't have the requisite precognition to guess the forms and paperwork required by the British consulate, or they really want more money.  The first two applications for visas were denied due to missing forms/papers.  Of course, actually contacting me using any of the avenues listed on the applications was too difficult, so I was denied.  Twice.

We (my husband and I) are waiting for our third application to be recognized as existing.  The online forms were sent October 1, and the hard copies and vital papers were signed for at the Los Angeles consulate on October 15 at 10:15 am.  We are supposed to get an acknowlegement email shortly after that saying, essentially, "Thank you for your application and money.  Don't call us, no one will answer."  The Brits are apparently very serious about not receiving calls, as there is no phone number that actually reaches a real person.  I've tried.  You are either sent to a website or can pay $3 a minute for a service to have someone help you fill out the forms, but that individual can't answer any other questions.

The email never came.

I waited two weeks, assuming...ok, hoping, really...that someone just forgot to register the paperwork.  At that point, I used the email only service for questions.  I quickly got the automated response, recognizing I sent an email.  Then eight minutes later I got another automated response that due to the urgency of my situation, my email would receive priority status.  And, by the way, please don't try to contact us on this matter again.

On Wednesday, we got a call from UPS saying they had a package for us, and would we be home?, followed fairly quickly by the bubble wrap envelope containing the documents we sent.  Not included were my husband's current passport, the hard copies of the applications or biometrics (bureaucratic speak for fingerprints and a photo), or either a rejection letter or the visas.  So I sent another email, getting the previous two automatic responses.

So, here we wait.