Lydle is Coming to Italy!

That sounds quite like it should be the title of a book :) And, perhaps it will become one! You see, my youngest sister - hence "Lydle" <3 even though she's not that little anymore, Lydia is coming to Italy for two semesters!!!! All together she's going to be here just over 8 months studying Italiano. So, as I said, it's a huge adventure for her an I wouldn't be surprised if it did turn into a really good book. Ahhhh... I hope so! 


It was a bit of a saga how she applied for an got her student visa. You see, typically, Italian bureaucracy is renowned for its rusty gears and creaky joints which result in SLLllooOOOowwWWW moving. Well, in order to assist them in their work, Mom, Lydle and I checked and double checked each jot and tittle in both English and Italian numerous times.
When we were all finally convinced Lydle's application was as thorough as we could make it Mom went to turn it into the Italian vice Consul there in Indy... only to find, she appeared to be MIA... Oops, not the most encouraging first official step. In light of this, in a whirlwind of activity and preparation, Mom and Lydle got everything together so they could make the 4+ hour drive all the way up to Detroit where our official Italian consulate presides. If I have my dates right, this was all taking place on Thursday, July 21st... also an opening night for the showing of Mr. H. Potter's final quest. 
Of course Lydle and friends went to see the midnight showing meaning Lydle crawled into bed around 3a.m. Well, when Mom came between 4-5a.m. to rouse her,
"C'mon Lydia, it's time for us to get going..."
Lydia responded matter-of-factly, "I can't go today Mom, I'm not coming".
That put a bit of a damper on things since it being Lydle's application, she's the one who had to show up in person! 
Good thing that when Mom came back a little later Lydle was ready to join the venture - pillow in hand she slept the whole ride there. Turns out, she had no recollection of Mom's first attempt to rouse her! :) 


At the Consulate, their well prepared file in hand, Mom and Lydle waited for their turn to come. They approached the window and the consular officer looked at their file,
"This won't do! You must go and prepare your documents and have them all ready and in order when you come to the window. You can go prepare them over there. Next!" 
Mom and Lydle obediently took their already organized folder of documents and re-organized and double checked again before approaching the window once again...
"What's this folder? We can't have this folder here. Here you go, take it away... that's right." and the officer began looking through the application. 
At a certain point the officer looked quizzically at Lydia,
"How old are you?"
"18"
"Mmmmmm.... And you're going to go live with this Zeno Tutino?"
The question was framed rather dubiously with emphasis on, "this Zeno Tutino"
Mom quickly seeing the confusion set things right,
"Ah, that's her brother in law. He and my other daughter are married and live there in Italy"
This was taken in and noted on the application. 


And that was it. Mom and Lydle were back on the road again in less than an hour hoping for sure that everything was in proper order. 


According to the official websites and to the consular officer we were prepared to wait up to 6 weeks before we heard the final verdict. How happy and surprised we were when Lydle received her visa the following Wednesday! Just 5 days later!!! 

All of that work paid off! CONGRATULAZIONE Lydle!!! 

I personally can't wait!!!! I'm trying to get everything all sparkling for you arrival :) Which is why I'm bummed about my sore throat today - Zeno said I shouldn't polish your bathtub because the fumes from the solvent I'll have to use will irritate my already irritated throat. Ah, well - now I just get to write about you instead!!!