Processing... Processing...

It would seem that the hard work is just about done. Yesterday, after collecting every document that has ever passed through my hands and having a bit of a panic over a website payment glitch, I finally, finally had my appointment for my BIOMETRIC SCANNING. Yow, exciting! Acutally, not really as exciting as I had hoped. There were no lasers or cyborgs whatsoever. Just a couple of humourless security guys who scanned me with metal detectors before I was allowed into the office. Apparently the document collection business is fraught with peril as there were two security guards for one 10'x10' office. After getting the ol' metal scan, the fellas checked my bag to see if I had brought in anything dangerous like a cell phone or hair spray. Electronics they did not find. However, I had forgotten that in the front pocket of my bag were around, oh, say 150 little Canadian flag pins that I sometimes give to visitors to Parliament. When this discovery was made, I don't think anyone quite knew what to do. The security guards exchanged a glance that may have meant something like "Should we scan every single one of these pins individually?" or perhaps, "Do you think we should confiscate these evidently dangerous objects?" or maybe even "How's about we arrest this deviant on the spot?" Exactly what thoughts were shared through that gaze I shall never know, but in the end all it amounted to was the senior guy saying "Wull that's a new one," and letting me carry with my appointment. Crisis averted.


                                               
                                                                                                    Oodles of pins


After that point, the appointment went smoothly. Got my picture taken. Signed some papers. Put stuff in envelopes (None of them were licky envelopes though, just the kind that seal with stickers. I like licky envelopes. They're tasty.). I was asked to use a super high-tech method to attach my photos to my application sheets (glue stick). The coolest bit was that I got to have my fingerprints scanned. I figured it was going to be the old-school inky-fingers method, but naw man, there was this neat little beep-boop machine that sort of photocopied my fings with its green flashy light. Cool.

Actually, I lied. The best part of the appointment was dropping my finished, be-enveloped application into the office's courier box. I did it with great pomp and ceremony. The security guys were not as moved by the scene as I think they should have been. But for me it was a big moment. ALL of my personal information is now in New York City for final approval. Funny that all of my info gets to go and hang out there, but I've never been there myself. Bizarre. Anyway, within 11-21 days, I should get back my passport with a nice new stamp in it! Or I'll be categorically rejected. We shall see.

In the meantime, both SWAP and its UK partner Britbound will be sending me their "Okay, time to get rully, rully, rully excited" welcome packs. I suspect it will work.

For now, I'm doing my best to entertain myself in Ottawa so that I don't go crazy while I'm waiting for the adventure to begin. Gotta remember that Ottawa is an awesome city too. And spring is finally starting to show up, so it should be a reasonably pleasant month before my adventure gets underway. Patio season is at our doorstep.

Tonight I'm off to a play: Drama at Inish. It's a little Irish comedy do, and if there are two things I like, it's comedy and the Irish! If there are three things I like, it's comedy, the Irish and some sangria on a sunny patio, but the third will come with time.

44 days till I'm on a plane!!!