Fourth of July and Chicago

Summer is lingering and I am getting a bit restless! The last couple weeks were relatively normal, I have been working at the Gallery and the White House in New Harmony quite a bit. I had the day off on the fourth and we had a cook-out at Rick's new house and afterward I went to Barnes and Noble with Mom to get a coffee. I had to get all the documents together that are necessary to apply for a student visa in Spain...

1. A letter from my Doctor saying that I am in good health


2. A Police Record (I had to wait an hour at the police station downtown and shell out $10 to get a document that says nothing except "No Record"


3. A letter from El ministerio de educacion de Murcia saying that I do have a job in Spain and that I will be earning enough money every month to support myself (barely)


4. A letter confirming that I will have Health insurance


5. A money order for $100


6. Passport photos glued to the photocopied application...etc.

I was assured that the letter I received from Murcia would be exactly what I need for them to start the visa process, but the woman at the Spanish Consulate in Chicago informed me I would need the exact address of the school where I will be working in order for them to begin processing my visa. I wrote Señora Garcia the next day and she finally gave me the name of the school where I will be working!

Nombre: Centro de Educación Infantil y Primaria CEIP Virgen de Guadalupe
Dirección: Avda. Constitución s/n.- 30.107 Guadalupe, Murcia

I will be in Guadalupe, a pueblo only 15 minutes outside of Murcia capital so I will be able to live in the city and commute.

I met Kaitlin downtown after my visa appointment and we walked around the city for several hours before we took the L to her new apartment in Wrigleyville. Her apartment is cozy and very stylish, it is so much more than what I expected. All of the apartments I have seen in Chicago have been older and more "college style" living, with second-hand furniture and ripped posters on the walls. It is the perfect place for Kate and her friends! We had a nice time in Wrigleyville that evening and later I went out with Sophie in Roger's Park.



I love going to the Art Institute of Chicago, I could spend days in that place, as in any art museum for that matter. There is so much to see and each time you go you leave with a different understanding of what you experienced.

Now I am back in Evansville and I finally have my ticket. I leave from Nashville August 21st and I will arrive in Madrid August 22nd at 8:00am! I have a lot to do before I leave but I am sure the time will fly, I need to concentrate on living in the present and taking advantage of beautiful Indiana while I still can!

(Thanks to Uncle Brad and Aunt Vicki for pointing out that I put the wrong departure date!)