Bucket List

I am of the firm opinion that everyone should have a bucket list. Whether it is only those 2 unfulfilled dreams bouncing around in your head or that perfectly precise, color coordinated and sequential list of 200 objectives taped to the bathroom mirror, one should find satisfaction in making and attaining goals.

I am caught somewhere between the invincibility of youth and the eventuality of age. It is a perplexing state of limbo. Too young to forget the anything-is-possible approach of my 5-year-old self and too old to deny the remorse that comes along with another dumb decision. I am stuck somewhere in between and I kind of like it.

I take pure pleasure in paying off my Discover card instead of blowing my paycheck on a spur of the moment girl’s weekend to the Keys. But I am also in love with the fact we know that moving halfway across the world could quite possibly be the most self-indulgent decision we’ve made, but absolutely revel in the adventure and opportunity anyway.

I've also noticed I am slowly slipping into only looking towards the future. Since our moving date is getting so close, all of my decisions, all of my days have recently revolved around Israel. I am forgetting I still have a life to live here and now.  And I hate that.

My Pre-Israel Bucket list should keep me pretty busy

Follow-up letter to the Ministry of Absorption

Dear Ministry of Absorption,

After DH stayed up until 2 am to speak with someone in your office, worked tirelessly throughout the next morning and contacted literally nearly every Israeli in the country, we have recently been informed that I will indeed have to get a B1 work visa until I can obtain an A5 permanent residency visa.  I apologize for my previous letter in which I may or may not have made reference to a deficiency in logic, although I still stand firm in my opinion at the utter ridiculouslessness in this matter.  Unfortunately, I have a much longer journey ahead of me than previously expected so that I may become a resident of your great nation.  I am disappointed, but you have not deterred me in my quest to become a citizen.

As per your request for my B1 visa application:
 
For the application, you need to prepare letters from friends and family that know you as a couple, from your employers, parents, a mutual Bank account, a contract of a flat rented together, photos of the two of you in different places and periods, prints of your phone bills to show that you call each other and so on.
 
Ha...are you sure?  I have eight years of photos, eight years of bills, contracts and bank account statements and no less than 100 people who are ready and willing to inundate your inbox with glowing letters proving the legitimacy of our marriage. And a royally pissed off very Israeli, very protective mother-in-law who is on a mission. 
 
May I make a suggestion? You may want to open a special office to handle the incoming phonecalls/mail/emails/visits from a pissed off mother-in-law for The Bride. Thank you for making this a bit more difficult for me. I love Israel and you made me realize just how much I do.
 
See ya soon! 
 
Sincerely,
 

 

Visa Fail

Date of Departure confirmed-check. Plane ticket purchased-check. Pet import documents-check. Acceptance letter from the IDC in Herzliya-check.  Aliyah paperwork complete-check.  And yet a little more than 3 months left until we move and I still don't know how I will be entering the State of Israel. The Ministry of Absorption has recommended I get a B1 or a B2 Visa.


The B1 Visa "is for a person whose stay in Israel is approved for a limited period of time for the purpose of work. This visa is given to experts and artists, among others, and is granted solely with the approval of the Ministry of the Interior."


The B2 Visa  is "issued to visiting scientists and to accompanying persons. Granted to participants in short-term programs such as conferences, Ulpan (Hebrew school), academic meetings, etc."