Getting the Visa

Boston

Boston

ND on Easter

Not a whole lot to post just yet, but I thought I might share some of what's gone on.

In order to be in Europe for more than 90 days, one needs to acquire a Visa from an Italian Consulate. Our hope, was that I would be able to receive my visa prior to leaving for Albania May 14th, which would save me having to make a trip back across the pond before studying abroad in the Fall. There are only Italian Consulates in certain cities in the US, most notably Chicago, Detroit, Boston, San Francisco, Miami and DC. It typically takes the consulate three weeks to process a visa, and while they're processing they need to keep my passport.

For our plans to work, we knew that I would have to apply for the Visa prior to the end of the school year and since Chicago and Detroit were both booked until May, Boston seemed like the next logical choice. I flew to Boston on April 15th after my Tuesday classes, mom met me at 1 am at Logan and we drove to a hotel. We got up the next morning, and drove into downtown Boston to meet with the Italian Consulate. We had a 9 am appointment, at which the consulate general denied me a Visa, due to the rule that one can only acquire a Visa 90 days before studying abroad. We tried to explain that I won't be in the country 90 days before I study abroad and will already be in Europe. He apologized, but said there was nothing he could do.

This raises some problems, as without the Visa I could be thrown out of Italy. I have the option of applying for the Visa in Europe, leaving Italy after the Vatican internship and going to France, Germany or Switzerland and trying to apply in time for September 3rd, but foreign embassies usually only give Visas to residents of that country, and I would have to explain my case in French or German. Instead, I'm flying home to Boston, to reapply for the visa and spend two weeks at home before returning to Rome.

Pros of this mess: I got to see a city I'm awfully fond of (despite their obnoxious sports fans), as well as spend time with my mum and eat lunch with my uncle. I also get to see my friends and family briefly between the summer and fall semester.

Cons: Money.

Random thought: I'm going to occasionally use this blog as a bully pulpit where I post some random thoughts.

Thought 1: It's a small world. I ran into Austin's (Austin is one of my roommate, fyi) best friend from high school in the Boston airport flying back to Chicago. He goes to BC and was headed home for Easter break. I was sitting in the airport, and this random dude just came up to me, extended his hand, and said "Hello Tom, nice to meet you." I didn't hesitate, but instead extended my hand and said "The pleasure is all mine." Never felt like such a secret agent.

Thought 2: Interview speech. Notre Dame students are always meeting new people, but this applies to the world. If you were to sit down tomorrow, meet someone new, talk for five minutes and then get up and leave, what would that person remember? You can learn a lot about someone in a 5 minute interview. What are the characteristics you try to stress?  Make sure that the entire thesis of the 5 minute meeting isn't "acknowledge how important I am" or "pity how difficult my life is." Think about it and improve your answers.