Friday, December 7, 2007

The Red Tape Begins

There's been a slight delay in the visa process, which has just begun for me. The South Korean government has issued new regulations. Fun! (note the sarcasm) So the agency has decided to wait a few days while they figure out the fastest/least confusing way for me to get my visa. Apparently there will be much more paperwork than we had planned. I don't mind the delay terribly; I'd rather do things slowly and correctly than rush and make mistakes.

In the meantime, I'm still waiting for Liberty to send the copies of my diploma so I can get four copies apostilled. That process is highly amusing to me. In order to prove to Korea that I have a bachelor's degree, I have to give out copies of my diploma. Understandable. But, to prove that it really is my diploma and that the university that issued it is real, I have to have all copies notorized. Still understandable. The crazy part comes next. Apparently the signature of a notary public is not trustworthy enough. I have to have the Secretary of State attach an apostille, which effectively notorizes the already-notorized documents! Ahh, the world of red tape!

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"Passage—immediate passage! the blood burns in my veins! Away, O soul! hoist instantly the anchor!
Cut the hawsers—haul out—shake out every sail!
Have we not stood here like trees in the ground long enough?
Have we not grovell’d here long enough, eating and drinking like mere brutes?
Have we not darken’d and dazed ourselves with books long enough?

Sail forth! steer for the deep waters only!
Reckless, O soul, exploring, I with thee, and thou with me;
For we are bound where mariner has not yet dared to go, And we will risk the ship, ourselves and all.

O my brave soul!
O farther, farther sail!
O daring joy, but safe! Are they not all the seas of God?
O farther, farther, farther sail!"

~Walt Whitman, "Passage to India"