How I got here (part4)

I arranged my medical appointment. There is not much to report about this except to say that you look exceptionally camp when you have to have your chest x-ray done, and that I got asked exactly the same questions that were on my form. I then had to strip down to my boxers (allowed to keep my socks on – how classy!) and had my lungs listened to, my heartbeat checked, my blood pressure measured and also asked if I was circumcised. I didn’t mind the question but I thought it was strange as the doctor then proceeded to have a look at my penis. Like most men I think I am slightly paranoid about my penis and so when the doctor said that my penis looked “normal” I was over the moon. Small things amuse small minds I guess, and that is certainly the case with my penis. In fact I told one of my friends about the check up and mentioned that the doctor said I was “normal”. She said the doctor probably added under his breath “normal, if a little small”. With friends like that who need enemies? Oh and the whole thing cost me £160 which is a bit extortionate I think as I have heard that you can get someone in Kings Cross to look at your penis for about a fifth of that.

The last thing I needed was a document from Jen saying that she swears to support me financially until I get a job. I am going to have this photocopied and framed and hung up in our house. For some reason Jen is not as keen on this idea.

Once I had everything back and in order I then sent on the check list to the embassy to say that I had everything. The final step is an interview at the embassy. I sent my paperwork back and over the next week I waited for the postman to arrive with the letter telling me when my interview is. I handed my notice in at work and started dreaming of my life in California. It was extremely hard to wait for the interview date. For one reason everyone at work kept asking me if I was getting excited/nervous about the wedding. The honest answer was no because I had no end date in site. Jen and I pencilled in the 21 April and told all our friends and family to book their flights and hotels etc. But I could not think about it because I had no interview date, and although it was extremely unlikely that I would get turned down for my visa there was still that possibility and that thought scared me more than anything in the world. I was a nightmare to live with for all that time as all I wanted to do was to get on a plane and go to California.

Things went from bad to worse. Basically I had to extend my work by a week. There was no guarantee that the visa would be finalised by then but the plan was to fly out on the Friday in order to be in California in time for Becky’s (Jen’s sister) wedding. The embassy had apparently received something but the call centre that I had to call (which is in Glasgow not actually in the embassy) could not confirm what it was.