PIMB stands for "pains in my booty."
It is rather unfortunate that I begin my journey to Italy with some major traveling pains. There are many obstacles I have to overcome before I even board the plane. However, it is ridiculously fortunate that I have had some amazing resources (mostly people) to help me along.
As soon as I was officially accepted into Bocconi University, I jumped on getting a student visa, and promptly missed by a mile. This was going to be no easy task, and with little advice from anyone, it seemed almost impossible. My advisor's advice to applying for a student visa was "apply for a student visa," and it ended there. Enter Daddy to save the day! He sent a few emails and made a few phone calls to find out what really needed to be done. (I, meanwhile, am trying to pass all my classes.) He arose victorious, with a lengthy and detailed checklist of everything that we ever needed to get a visa.
These things included, but were not limited to, the following: visa application, passport, passport copy, flight itinerary, photocopy of driver's license, notarized affidavit of financial support form, certification of enrollment from home university, acceptance letter from host university, housing contract, health insurance policy, and three passport photos.
After all these things were gathered, it was required that we made at least two copies of each and turn in the originals to...where?
Turns out, if you are staying over 90 days, you have to apply in-person to the general consulate of Italy in Coral Gables, Miami if you live in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, or South Carolina.
Thank goodness that my Daddy was absolutely amazing, and worked tirelessly to jump through all the hoops, keep me informed, and get the proper documentation. We corresponded quite a bit, as I had to provide the various university-related things. When I got home (after almost-passing almost-all of my classes), we went to AAA travel agency, where an agent built a customized flight itinerary, printed four copies of it, and even notarized our two affidavit forms!
Also thank goodness that the amazingness of my ohana knows no bounds, and my Uncle Carly's sister works at the swanky Biltmore Hotel in Miami (seriously, look it up, it's rad), and gave my Daddy and I a great rate to stay for a night! We road-tripped down to Miami the Sunday after Christmas, and Monday morning, we anxiously milled around the consulate office at 0845. We also took a stroll down the street to look in the windows of the Ferrari dealership next door, because why wouldn't there be a Ferrari dealership next door?
All in all, the bank-like office took about ten minutes, as the slick-haired, well-dressed, short Italian man looked at the papers, stamped a few things, asked me three questions, and said come back in ten days. I was shocked. Maybe this wouldn't be so hard after all.
We are leaving Thursday morning to go back to Miami to pick it up, since we opted to not have it possibly get lost in the mail. No complaints from me about that, the coffee is freaking amazing.
Other obstacles coming up quickly on the radar are some kind of international debit/credit card that we can transfer funds to and/or reload with money, has a "chip" in it, and we can get in the next three weeks. Also, I have no idea what to do with my cell phone. And I have twenty-four days to become fluent in Italian. THUNDERCATS GO!
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