And now we wait...

These last few days have been hectic. Finally got my passport back - yayy!!! One hurdle down, 984 to go... O_o

I had to re-apply for my US visitor visa, which meant making an appointment online, rocking up to the embassy and attending an interview with a Visa Officer ("no, sir, I do not intend to blow up the country with a bottle of Coke and a tube of hand cream"). I got turned away the first time because I haven't paid the USD100 application fee, even though it stated on the embassy website that applicants would be exempted from paying if the visa needed to be re-issued through no fault of the applicant. Well, apparently that only applied if an error had been made by the US visa office. As long as it was not their fault, one had to pay.

Well. Rushed off to the bank. But not just any bank. US visa payments here are only accepted at one particular bank (unlike in Oz where I could pay at any AustPost outlet). Found a branch, only to be told that it was the wrong one ("this is only a sales kiosk" - well then, WHY did it say on the front door that you were a licensed bank?!!??!!), and was sent down the road to a "full service" branch. Grrr.

Anyway, to cut a long story (or whinge) short, I got through the rest of the process without any major hassle. Although I did shed a tear or two while waiting for my interview. Mostly out of disappointment that things haven't gone according to plan, and also out of frustration that working to recover my travel documents and rearranging my travel plans have been *SO* hard.

I have been trying to see the positive in this situation, and to not wallow in my own misery and self-pity. It has been hard as I have been planning this trip for the better part of the year, and having to cut it short is disappointing. And having _all_ my stuff stolen was traumatic.

But...

I have become closer to Mum and Dad - without them and their support it would have been twice as hard.

At least it happened here in KL, and not while I was halfway through my trip and stuck in a foreign country far far away.

I can't dwell on shit that has already happened. I have to learn from it and move on. Whatever doesn't kill you can only make you stronger.

And it'll make for a killer story to tell at dinner parties... :)