I'm in the States. (Kingston, just 3 hours north of NYC. I got in yesterday.) I'm jetlagged (despite trying to pull a stunt that had me going to sleep in the evening). And I don't have regular internet access (or at least not at any time).
It's going to take the immigration department about ten days to put my details into the system. Until then, I can't even start applying for a social security number - and without that, I can't get anything else I need. Like a tax file number, bank account, driver's license, etc. etc.
*yawn sleepily, even though it's only 4:30 pm*
I'll sort things out. Somehow.
I fly out on the 29th of March. Wednesday. Which is...one, two, three...days.
What have I arranged, so far?
Bought a 12-month open return ticket. (A$1,700)
Sold my old cranky laptop and bought a spanking new laptop. With all the bells and whistles, including widescreen. (A$ - uncertain, 'cause my brother can get some off it.)
(Bought and installed a Kensington lock for said laptop. And picked up Counter-Strike: Condition Zero while I was in the shop. A$50ish)
Picked up a new small carry-bag, with convenient wheels and pull handle, for carry-on luggage. It's a bit small, but...well...it was free! (A$0)
Worked for two weeks on two separate overnight camps, for an extra thousand dollars to pay off health insurance. I'm still going to have to take out a small loan.
Begun arranging to be picked up from the airport (JFK, thank goodness) when I arrive.
Begun arranging good-byes for friends and family.
Still yet to be done:
Visit dentist (ugh).
Purchase travel insurance. (A$1,100 for 12 months)
Despite stalling twice (I only stalled once on the first lesson), this one went quite a bit better than the first.
On the first lesson, all I really did was go around the block. This time (with a new driving instructor) I covered a fair bit of ground and a variety of different types of streets - little back sidestreets, two-lane main roads, divided main roads, and roads with trams on them. The driving instructor was quite pleased at my handling of the car and clutch...even though I'm still (obviously) in need of lots, and lots, and lots of practice. I'm fine on the upper gears, but still need work on getting the clutch to engage the engine.
Thanks for the notice on this, Liz ;-)
I booked a third lesson, which is likely all I'll be able to get in before I end up in the US. The fun starts again there, though, with me continuing to learn - on the other side of the road.
Thank the One above, I found a job in the States!
I'll be working as an Administrator/Coordinator/etcetera for a Chabad House (Jewish outreach center) in upstate New York - Kingston, specifically, about an hour's drive from NYC.
(Note to self: driving is going to become a necessity real soon. More lessons necessary.)
The head of the Chabad house is one Rabbi Yitzchok Hecht, and he wants me there yesterday. Apparently, administration experience and/or the common sense required to run an office is not particularly common among unmarried young men of my particular religious affiliation. Otherwise, I'd not have gotten the position; in fact, he kept looking around after I expressed interest, since it'll take me so long to get the visa and make arrangements to go there.
He didn't find anyone else, so...there's the visa application process I'm going to start on Friday morning. With a little more help from G-d, that won't take as long as it supposed to (3-6 weeks is what I've been told).
In addition to all my odd, varied characters...
Which include:
Vesper, halfling rogue (Lawful, on the edge of Evil and she's a part-time courtesan)
Kerowyn, human druidess (uses her tiger companion as a mount)
Talia, wild elf warlock/scout (wears next-to-nothing, or appears that way due to glamered armor)
Sean, human Judicar (PrC that specializes in bringing criminals in...he's hog-tied a freakin' Balor in the space of two rounds)
(Among a fair few others, of course.)
I now have a Flesh Golem PC. Despite the fact that, no, it's not really supposed to be possible - the DM in this case picked me for the task after I submitted a halfling were-eagle concept.
For the interested:
Jack's character sheet.
Jack's game thread.
Driving Lesson #1.
I'm 26 years old and this was the first time I've gotten into a car behind the wheel with intent to try and drive it.
Worse, I decided to make things difficult on myself and learn how to drive stick (a.k.a manual). The complexity of the task rises as you add not one, but three or four extra variables.
Fortunately, I went with a professional driving teacher, but it was still the most harrowing 45 minutes I've had in a long, long time. In fact, when I walked back into the house afterwards, I quipped, "People do this for transport?"
There was the stubborn 1st gear and its slow-halfway-out-clutch necessary to engage the gearbox. Fast clutch results in stalled engine (did that once or twice, can't recall exactly); that's so far on my list of hardest thing to get the hang of. There's pushing the clutch in quickly yet going easy on the brake while slowing for a stop. And there's the brakes versus handbrake while stopped at a light and needing to be able to shift the foot to the accellerator without the car slipping backwards. Let's not forget the feather-sensitive accellerator and brake, either.
All that? That's just inside the car! On top of that, I had to try and keep track of everything around me as well! *takes a deep, calming breath just writing about it a day later*
Still...I didn't hit anything (despite appearances of trying at least once) and I didn't run up on the curb. Getting the hang of the first clutch-engage while getting the car going in 1st is going to take quite a bit of practice, though...as is the fast-clutch-easy-brake while stopping.