Finally

Yesterday was a day of mixed emotions. First, I lost my phone. It fell out of my pocket when I got out of the taxi going to the post office in the morning. There is no way anyone gets stuff back they leave in a taxi. Finder's keeper's is the rule of Bolivia. Of course I felt really stupid and upset, but I went on to the post office and mailed my stuff and then as if to reflect my dark mood when I stepped out of the building the weather had turned from warm and sunny to cold, windy, and raining. I never wear shorts out either and this day I had decided to wear them since it was so nice out and I had just got back from a trip to the cold altiplano. So now I was mad and cold and wet. I called Ann to tell her my phone was gone and soon after got a call back from her informing me that she talked with the guy helping me with my visa process and he said everything was ready to go. I could get my visa that day! But there was a catch. Interpol said that they were still waiting for clearance from Interpol USA on my background check (2 months after we had submitted it) and the guy who does the documents I need from them was willing to make one up for me for the price of Bs. 300. Dang, now I have to buy a phone and bribe Interpol? And what the heck? If the guy helping me knew we could do that why did he wait over 2 months to suggest doing it while I rack up $2 a day fines for every day I was here illegal? So in the end we got the document from Interpol, went to immigration, and finally heard the words I had waited for for so long, that I had all my papers in order. Exactly eight months from the day we arrived in Bolivia, and a huge amount of money, I finally have a visa. I'm relieved a little about it, but at the same time very upset that I could not do it completely over the table and I'm upset that we had to spend so much money on it. And now I'm on cell phone number 3 in eight months. I guess I'm really having to learn how to let God be in control and not find my security in money again. Ann's right though, this visa crap is probably the number one reason not to stay in Bolivia longer right now. At least we don't have to think about all this again until next year. And this time I'll make sure to hang on to my phone in the car.