This may be my last post from NYC and I'll try to write off line until I can get back on-line from Italy. I have my residency visa and on Thursday, April 28th, I'll be "home" in Italy. Finally.

I've just taken a break from sorting through thirty years of my life as I prepare for the shippers to arrive the day after tomorrow. I'm surprisingly calm.

posted by Joanna @ 4/25/2005 04:34:00 AM 0 comments  

I'm going quite mad between the consulate and the shippers, the real estate lawyer and the tax accountant, doctors and dentists, pharmacists and notaries. Today I spent five hours at the consulate. I haven't done my taxes or, more to the immediate point, the inventory for the shipping insurance. Everyone wants a piece of me before I go and there is no way I can fit half of them into the schedule. And I am trying! If they don't understand, well then I just won't be home when they come for their visits to Italy. So there!
(just a little stress, folks)


But I know my real friends will forgive and look forward to coming over. And I can't wait to see them!!!

posted by Joanna @ 4/13/2005 04:42:00 AM 2 comments  

So I sold the apartment for much more than the listed price (yay! used car and winter holiday at my sister's in Australia?) and I won't have to be here for the closing since my attorney will do it all for me.

I have everything but one signature ready for the consulate. I will get that on Monday and be on the doorstep of the consulate at the crack of dawn on Tuesday. Let's hope that gives them enough time to approve my residency visa before I fly out on the 27th. Otherwise I'll be back here in late July having a sit-in in their lobby.

Doing all the medical and dental appointments and closing accounts and seeing all my New York friends.

It is finally spring here and I should be taking my leave when the city is at the height of its being in full bloom. Better to leave when it still seems lovable.

posted by Joanna @ 4/09/2005 12:28:00 AM 1 comments  

Surprisingly, and in what seems record time, the FBI sent my fingerprint card back stamped "no arrest record" and I guess that's it. I could have told them that. They took no note of my being a life long dissident. I hope what they've given me is good enough for the Italian consulate. Now for some letters of endorsement from the financial world and some translations and Xeroxes and then it's off to the photo booth and then the consulate. Maybe I'll actually get a residency visa. Magari!!!

I went to a luncheon at the Asian Cultural Center today in support of my friend Augusta who was one of the four guest speakers. The topic was "Women Beyond Borders" and there were thirty plus women in attendance: Chinese, Korean, Ukrainian, African-American, Caucasian (French, Italian, American) and perhaps two or three other ethnicities represented. A delightful afternoon. One note of interest to me was meeting the world's most successful Korean businesswoman who serves on the board of the university where I taught during my Peace Corps service. She is stunning and charming and we plan to keep in touch. Everyone enjoyed the cross-cultural, cross-gender conflict resolution discussions, especially as they related to the future success of the world's economy.

Now back to the endless paperwork for the shippers, the consulate and moving - with all the tax and mail issues they entail. Life away from work is really busy!!!

posted by Joanna @ 4/01/2005 12:13:00 AM 0 comments