Today is the day we are booked to travel to Dubai for the rugby 7s competition, to relax, shop for food for Christmas, and to replace my wedding rings. We planned this trip a year ago and have been really looking forward to it.
We are not traveling because we have not yet been granted our residence visa or a travel visa (dependent on the first). We cannot legally leave Siberia without an exit visa. Although we are free to move around our city, we cannot travel domestically or internationally. So, if we wanted to leave Siberia "voluntarily" without one, we would have to grease a palm at immigration. Rather ironically, and conscience-tugging, this is exactly what we have refused to do in the process of seeking our residence visa. If we did leave this way, it would also cause significant issues for His replacement when he/she seeks a work permit.
As time has gone by and we have continued online sessions with a counselor, my anxiety and panic about being stuck here and threatened with expulsion has reduced. For this, we are very grateful. The increased stability of emotions has also strengthened my resolve to want to stay here for another year. In the last 4-6 weeks, we have expanded our group of friends and social adventures with many nationals. The thought of leaving "voluntarily" now fills me with sadness and disappointment.
In His ever-optimistic view that the visas are resolved later in the week, but too late to get to Dubai, He has decided that the Capetown 7s on the 10th would be a suitable substitution...so we're daydreaming about that. His favourite city in the world and somewhere I haven't yet had the pleasure to visit.
We are not traveling because we have not yet been granted our residence visa or a travel visa (dependent on the first). We cannot legally leave Siberia without an exit visa. Although we are free to move around our city, we cannot travel domestically or internationally. So, if we wanted to leave Siberia "voluntarily" without one, we would have to grease a palm at immigration. Rather ironically, and conscience-tugging, this is exactly what we have refused to do in the process of seeking our residence visa. If we did leave this way, it would also cause significant issues for His replacement when he/she seeks a work permit.
As time has gone by and we have continued online sessions with a counselor, my anxiety and panic about being stuck here and threatened with expulsion has reduced. For this, we are very grateful. The increased stability of emotions has also strengthened my resolve to want to stay here for another year. In the last 4-6 weeks, we have expanded our group of friends and social adventures with many nationals. The thought of leaving "voluntarily" now fills me with sadness and disappointment.
In His ever-optimistic view that the visas are resolved later in the week, but too late to get to Dubai, He has decided that the Capetown 7s on the 10th would be a suitable substitution...so we're daydreaming about that. His favourite city in the world and somewhere I haven't yet had the pleasure to visit.
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