HAPPYNEWYEAR
It's the very last day of the year 2010 and it doesn't feel like it whatsoever! I am in Aurora, CO staying at Lysiane's apartment.
Pardon me if I don't make much sense, I JUST woke up and I usually am not all there right when I arise :) (especially when it's against my will). :)
Alright so you must be wondering how I am doing and what's going on through my head and heart.
Well to put it in very simple words....I have no idea how I am doing! Yea sorry...not what you were hoping for. But it's true.
Almost a month has gone by and I've come to a point where my situation is almost non existant. I sometimes forget about it. I don't know if that's a curse or a blessing, but it is what it is.
Last time I wrote you all, I had asked for specific prayer for my trip to Colorado, and I just want to thank each and everyone of you that was able to do so because I truly and consistently felt God's angels surrounding the car for the entirety of the trip.
It started out extremely scary because I left around 5 in the morning and not only was it raining with a crazy intensity but it was also foggy AND there was traffic...go figure...and as we all know California drivers aren't the best :p SO my trip started out filled with fear, but I prayed and said "God, you and I both know that I am not a very good driver, so just take control of the wheel." and though I had some very scary moments and lost over two hours between getting lost, gas, listening to my gps over my instinct, and the terrible weather conditions, I felt like I was never going to make it, but God never fails, and that's the truth. AMEN.
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| Me on the icy/snowy road |
So I got here after 19 hours of driving and a few breaks here and there, the next day I got sick. Boooooo. I was so bummed about that. Lysiane had to work so I didn't have much to do other than catch up on sleep, which you better believe I did!!!
Christmas eve, Lysiane and I went to church with her family and then went to the Wildlife Experiment where they had Christmas lights and we could write letters to Santa. I asked Santa for a job. :)
We then looked at houses that had the most amazing Christmas lights and decorations I'd ever seen and ended the night at Lylie's dad's house eating crepes and just enjoying each other's company.
Being out in the cold for so long while already being sick wasn't the brightest idea on my part. I woke up on Christmas day feeling just as bad, if not worse, We figured out that the room in which I was staying's vents were closed for the first couple of days and that's why I was so cold and got sick so quickly.
Well Christmas morning, before heading to Lysiane's parents for gifts, joy, and food :) I decided to foolishly swallow 5 pills to get rid of my cold once and for all. I repeat FOOLISHLY! I also did this on an empty stomach. I know better, and I've never done that, but it was Christmas day for crying out loud. I just wanted to fully enjoy it!
Well the opposite happened. Not only was I still sick (felt a little better throat and symptom wise), but I had the absolute worst stomach ache for the entirety of Christmas day. It was awful.
It didn't keep me from enjoying the day, but it just didn't feel like Christmas nonetheless. I am not sure why, I think a lot of different things may have joined forces to make me feel that way, but overall a good day nonetheless.
Here are a few pictures:
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| A purse I received from Christmas and plan on wearing a LOT! |
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| Lysiane's little sister Iyanla :) |
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| Christmas Diner |
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| Reggie!!!!!! :) |
I'm still a little sick, but getting over it and ready to start a new year nice and FRESH!!!
So concerning my situation...I guess I'll update you with the new "foundings."
Well for one, I was able to find out that the government does give me 60 days after my permit expires (it expires on the 2nd of January) before I must leave.
I spoke to a very nice immigration lawyer, who was able to confirm this fact to me but also confirm what my father had found online, which is the fact that IF I do find a job, which would be called a "specialty job" meaning it would have to be a job that someone with my qualifications or hopefully higher would be required to hire me based on the qualifications and skills that I have.
It basically means I can't just go to starbucks and look for a job.
Once and if I find a specialty kind of job (photography, videography, broadcasting, commercials, etc...), my futur potential employer would have to petition so I can aquire an H1B visa. Basically an actual working visa. This visa would allow me to stay in the US for up to 6 years depending on what the government would decide. I would also do my share of work by asking for a change of status as this is all going on.
So, this brings in a whole lot of pressure, because the lawyer was advising me to find a job before february due to the government started to hand out H1B visas in October and them running out of them very fast. They only have a certain amount that they give out each year.
Another reason this puts a lot of pressure on me, is because a specialty job is basically an employer telling the governement "listen, this foreigner has all the qualifications our company needs, and stomps any other regular American citizen, so we want HER, can you make her stay because we need HER."
Do you see what I mean??? I mean I have passions, and I wouldn't call myself insecure, I mean I'm good at my passions, but I'm just saying I'm not THAT good, that a company would fight to have me stay over just any regular person.
SOOOOOOOOOOOOO....all of this to say....there's the situation I'm at. I decided to continue to look for jobs anywhere and everywhere, including the US, and depeding on what I find, maybe God's will will be more clear.
I just know I can't sit around and do nothing and wait for something to happen, as I so often do :(
Another situation in my life, that I realized just a couple of days ago, which I need YOU to pray HARD for PLEASE!!
I just realized that the driver's license they gave me was one that would go until my working permit expired because they didn't want to give me a driver's license for longer than the proof they had of how long I were to stay in the US.
At the time, when I got my license and they explained it to me, I told them I completely understood, and wasn't worried about it because at the time I believe my job was going to renew my papers for me.
Well, after this little curve ball was thrown my way, it's added 101 problems to my life. I guess depending on the perspective they could be problems or blessings.
Either way, after the 2nd of january, I will no longer have a valid driver's license, nor will I be able to renew it :(
There are many other details with the car that I'd rather not go into, but please pray for those as well.
SIGH
I think I hit a little wall in this journey, where I feel like I'm at a dead end. I mean as Christians, we have faith and trust and believe but that human fear is still creeping around the shadows pushing me to want to give up, although I wasn't given the spirit of a quitter, as one of you strongly encouraged me and reminded me the other day.
Year 2010 honestly brought me more challenges than joys overall. From beginning to end. I must say, it was a hard year. Definitely not the best, but I did do a LOT of growing, which usually happens through challenges, and I did meet quite some amazing folks along the way, so I am very grateful.
YEAR 2011 holds much more mystery to me than any other year has in my life! I literally could be in any country for within the next 2 months, OR I could still be here. Who knows! ONly GOd. And He is what I count on holding on to in order to start new and fresh.
Thank you soooo much for your precious time.
I hope you have all had an amaaazzziiiiinnnnng Christmas day to celebrate with friends and family, and I hope you each dance a little (At home, in public, in your own privacy, just you and God) to celebrate a NEW BEGINNING!!
BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL!!!
love, DJO
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