Visa Approved!!

So I sit here writing this out with the wonderful knowledge that somewhere, right now, my visa is being processed :D

My interview was this morning, at the Consulate General in Auckland. Quite daunting for someone who has never done this type of thing before! The big (and I mean BIG) security guard took my bag, scanned it through the xray machine, then scanned me (luckily I didn't beep!), and let me through locked doors into the main room. There, a nice man on the other side of some thick glass took all my documents and scanned my fingerprints and told me to take a seat.
I was only waiting about 5 minutes, if that, when my name was called.
I spoke to a nice lady, who asked what I was going to be doing in the states, and if I like Auckland Uni because her daughter wants to go there, and then we started talking about media studies (my major). It didn't feel like an interview at all, and it calmed my nerves! Our chat only lasted a couple of minutes, and she said "Right, you're all sorted, it will be sent next week".
And that was it! Easy!

So, the moral of the story is definitely don't stress about the visa interview (like I was!). As long as you have all your forms and things, you'll be fine!! I was in and out within about 20 minutes.

As I had about four hours to kill before my lecture, I decided to cross another thing off my America Preperation list, and go to STA and apply for my ISIC Student ID Card (that I can use at lots of places in the states to get discounts!). Because I had just come from my visa interview, it meant I had a passport photo and my uni transcript, which you need to appy for the card, so it was perfect timing really! It only cost me $25, and hopefully will save me lots of money when I'm over in America!

The exchange rate was really good this morning, so I brought another $500NZD worth of american dollars. The Loaded for Travel card is awesome, I can top it up straight from my bank account!

Now all thats left to do for America is to save save save for spending money, plus pick up a few bits and pieces, like new contacts, anti-jetlag pills, my HUGE supply of medications, and whatever else I might need.

I can't believe its nearly June. It's gonna be 12th July before I know it! Argh!!
Til next time,

xx