The big road trip to Milan revealed :D
2011/12/31
Yes, I didn't have the time to do the final update before we left. But... we left :D. And we arrived... alive.
But if you ask me if I will ever do this trip again, I would tell you that I would rather sell my car than return with it from Italy. Ok, kidding, it wasn't so bad. Actually, it wasn't bad at all, but I like to play the little princess and complain.
So to start with the beginning, on Wednesday night we had a nice fare-well moment with some of my best friends gathered at my place around a pot of sarmale, some ciorba, and, of course, wine and champagne. Then we realized we hadn't made the music CDs for the trip. Made the CDs (him, not me). Realized that one very important friend was about to come. Spent some time with her. Finished the CDs. Went to bed at around midnight (now that my mom knows that we arrived alive, I can publicly say that we only slept for 5 hours before departure).
The initial plan was to depart at 06:00 a.m. on Thursday, but, when we made this plan, we didn't realize that loading the car would take us more than one hour. So after making all the luggage fit in (him, not me) like a well thought puzzle, after many double-triple-quadruple checks of documents, keys and stuff, we finally kick-started the engine (me, not him). At 07:30. So more than one hour of delay. The plan was that I drive through most of Romania, and that we will alternate driving through Hungary and Slovenia, and that he will drive in Italy. Wrong. I ended up driving only for the first 4 hours in Romania. Then, after stopping for lunch near Sibiu, the manly man he board in front of the restaurant proudly said “menu of the day = 11 lei”. We get in and sit. We ask for a menu, to choose what to eat. Shock. They only have one thing: “menu of the day”. Chicken ciorba and mashed beans with sausages. Ok, bring’em on, we’re starving.
Then, we hit the road again. Of course, no driving for me ever since. Not to mention that I got to drive in the most difficult, crowded, and breathtakingly landscaped part of the way, and he got all the boring rest.
As we had left Bucharest with a full gas tank, we dind’t expect to have any gas concerns any time soon. Wrong, again. Driving a car that is loaded with 200 kg of luggage, at 130 km/h on a highway, proved to be a not such gas-saving thing. So gas went significantly down on the first portion of the road (which was a highway). Then, it got better as we drove on normal national roads, and we totally forgot the gas issue until close to Arad. It was only there when we realized that we are already on the red light, and started praying for a gas station, which we luckily found just in time.
Crossing the border to Hungary through Nadlac was the easiest thing ever, I was expecting huge lines of cars before us, but fortunately there was only one (car, not line), and 2 very nice custom people controlling our documents which were of course more than was needed J. The best thing was the fact that, before the border, there was a booth where we bought the road vignette for Hungary, and also the one for Slovenia (they also had vignettes for Croatia, Austria, and other neighboring countries, which is pretty cool if you’re on a tour or something like this). Anyway, the cherry on the cake was that there was no border police on the Hungarian side (but there is some, probably, on the opposite way, when you cross from Hungary to Romania).
The whole way until Budapest is a highway. A highway with perfect asphalt, but a totally DARK highway. Then Budapest appears like an oasis of lights. We reached our dear friend’s place at 19:00 (Hungarian time), after 13 hours of driving. After a wonderful dinner, she showed us the entire Budapest in less than an hour, in a fast tour by car. I knew Budapest was amazing, but I hadn’t imagined that it’s THIS amazing. The bridges, the monuments, the statues, the palaces, castles and all the historical buildings, were covered in lights and we saw all that, like in a fairy tale, from the hill going to the Statue of Liberty (that of course has nothing to do with the Statue of Liberty in the States). Then, after all this, we went to bed, to wake up yesterday at 07:00 a.m. Which we did, and, after a delicious breakfast prepared by our friend, we headed again to the city. First to the internet point, to download the Hungarian and Slovenian map on the GPS (this way we didn’t use Internet in roaming which would have cost a lot), then to the gas station to fill the tank, and then off we went to Ljubljana.
Driving to Ljubljana meant another highway and almost 5 hours. With all my sympathy to Hungary, I have to say that the Hungarian part of the road was the most boring ever. Slovenia, though, looks like a little land of fantasy, with picturesque landscapes, little villages with nice houses, mountains, rivers and all. Ljubljana as a city is romantic and nostalgic and… empty J. At least it was like this 2 days before the New Year’s Eve. In Ljubljana we met another friend of mine to have lunch in a traditional restaurant, where I particularly liked the pancakes with Nutella and nuts (ok this was not so traditional but whatever).
After the good time, the laughter, the joy of lunch, we were on the road again. We had some trouble figuring out through where we will exit Slovenia and enter Italy (we knew we will enter Italy through Trieste but we didn’t know the Slovenian correspondent of Trieste, and no, we couldn’t put Trieste on the GPS because we hadn’t downloaded the map of Italy). But the day was saved by all the miraculous indicators all over the highway saying… hmm…. Guess what: TRIESTE!! (lol this is to make fun of my best-ever-hero-prince who is totally ADDICTED to the GPS and wouldn’t look at an indicator on the road not even if you force him).
Of course, we forgot about the gas… again! 40 km before Trieste, we had the red light (…again!) and started looking worriedly for gas stations. At some point, the familiar OMV lights started showing like a sign of salvation. I start saying “OMV, OMV!!!! Come on!” But….nope! We pass. Why? The manly man (who HAD to drive, because I am totally unable, he says) FORGOT about the gas, just like that. He wasn’t even realizing that OMV was a gas station. Then followed some kilometers that we made at 80/h, to save the gas, while praying to see another station soon. Those were the hardest kilometers, as the highway was passing through endless mountains, and, of course, no gas stations. I was already planning for the methods of torture I would use for the manly man in case we run out of gas (including, of course, making him walk to the next station to get a bottle of gas), when, finally, we see the salvation. A Petrol gas station, that we gladly ran into, just in time before using our last 500 ml of gas that we had left in the tank. So, after a well deserved full tank, off we went.
After a little while from this, we entered Italy! So there we were on the A4 highway taking us straight from Trieste to Milan. We made it (ok, HE made it) in almost 4 hours, and before I knew it, I was in bed sleeping, with the car unloaded and sleeping nicely in the parking lot, a well deserved sleep after taking us 4 countries away, straight to the Bel Paese.
Now we’re heading to the New Year’s Eve dinner and then party. The fireworks have already started around, so AUGURI EVERYONE!!! See you next year with more stories.
Love,
La Reina Rana
Day 2: The FINAL countdown!!!!
2011/12/26
So yes... 2 days, as in literally 48 hours, left until the big journey.
I've been quite "lazy" with posting during the last week, but only because I had serious reasons. The crazy rollercoaster called "preparations" started moving faster and faster by the days, and I don't know if last week I spent more than 2 hours in the same place. Except, of course, for the weekend, because it was Christmas.
Of course, the last days meant no less adventure than the previous ones, because it's too simple if it's simple, isn't it? The "best of the best" had to do with my car... AGAIN. Last Tuesday I was happily going to the tax office in Bucharest, carefully holding the precious tax file of my car, freshly brought from Constanta. I was already chirping with joy at the thought of going to register the car the next day and putting an end to the torture. But no.... not so fast, little lady! The tax lady announced me that the file is incomplete. The most important paper in the file was missing, because the stupid employees of the tax office in Constanta had just forgot to put it in. So no car tax transfer, no car registration without that paper. I thought the sky was falling on my head and started to feel that maybe a higher force was not allowing me to have my road trip. Going to Constanta again to get the paper was out of discussion, because the hours were already counted for other things I had to do.
But the day was saved, again, by my PowerPuff Mom, who got the paper herself and sent it to me via courier. So on Wednesday, after having waited for the courier for half a day, I had the precious envelope, and I went to the tax office again. The transfer was made, I paid the tax (again) and the registration fees, and on Thursday morning at 8:30 I was standing in line at the car registration office, proudly holding the complete registration file of my car. The officer at the desk was more than delighted by the completeness of my file, everything was in order, so all I had to do was to wait for 2 hours to get my new registration document and my new number plates. Which I happily did.
Later that day, I rushed to the store to get cookies and champagne, then to my office for a last sweet moment to say goodbye to my colleagues at work. After doing this at my office, I went to the main office, to do the same thing. Sweets, pictures, farewells, "good luck"s, but still... I have the feeling I'm on vacation and returning some time soon. The only difference is that I don't have the Blackberry ringing or blipping because of work emails. Which is weird... not to mention that I'm so curious to know what's been happening.
Thursday ended with a farewell coffee with one of my best friends, and then, with a bit of useful shopping for my car. I bought winter chains, an emergency kit (electric cables, towing cable, work gloves, anti-frost spray, screwdrivers, reflective vest), a reflective triangle, a medical kit, and car scents. So I'm a very well equipped girl now. You can't have the trip of your lifetime without all these, right?
Another round of running around happened on Friday, when I went to the Trade Registry to require a paper that I needed for registering myself at the National Health Insurance House and be able to pay my monthly contribution considering that now I am no longer an employee. If I didn't do this, my European Health Insurance Card would not be valid. Then, I rushed to the insurance company to make an optional insurance for my car, and then, to the mall, for another (very short, too short) coffee with another dear friend, and for the last Christmas gifts shopping for my mom and my brother. And, finally, after all these, I rushed to my aunt's to get my cooling bags (yes, my luggage involves food) and for a well deserved dinner.
On Saturday morning, me and my brother went home to Constanta to spend Christmas with my mom, which really meant 3 magic days filled with joy, warmth, good food, gifts and love. Short, too short, as we came back last night, only to start a new rush of preparations. Before going to bed, I spent some hours copying all my files from the external hard disk to my new laptop, and putting all the files and folders in order. I still don't have Microsoft Office, which will be vital for my work, but except this, my computer now has some sort of a logic.
So today... more running around to do:
- to the Financial Administration and Trade Registry to get my papers
- to the National Health Insurance House to file the above mentioned papers
- to the office to gather my things, and to complete my last expense report, and to bring some pork jelly to my dear colleague and friend
And tonight... PACKING!! Which I hope I will finish in time because there are SO many things to pack and I still have no idea what to take and what to leave for the next time I come home. And I will hopefully have some little time to become a Beautiful Frog Queen, as my Fishy Prince will arrive tomorrow.
Tomorrow morning I will wake up early to cook some sarmale for my Fishy Prince, and, at 11:40, I will be at the airport to pick him up. We haven't seen each other in FIVE WEEKS. So... maybe this explains why now I feel like a little kid waiting for Santa!!!!
I hope I will have time for a final little update before we leave, because there are so many things left to do :D
Love,
La Reina Rana
I've been quite "lazy" with posting during the last week, but only because I had serious reasons. The crazy rollercoaster called "preparations" started moving faster and faster by the days, and I don't know if last week I spent more than 2 hours in the same place. Except, of course, for the weekend, because it was Christmas.
Of course, the last days meant no less adventure than the previous ones, because it's too simple if it's simple, isn't it? The "best of the best" had to do with my car... AGAIN. Last Tuesday I was happily going to the tax office in Bucharest, carefully holding the precious tax file of my car, freshly brought from Constanta. I was already chirping with joy at the thought of going to register the car the next day and putting an end to the torture. But no.... not so fast, little lady! The tax lady announced me that the file is incomplete. The most important paper in the file was missing, because the stupid employees of the tax office in Constanta had just forgot to put it in. So no car tax transfer, no car registration without that paper. I thought the sky was falling on my head and started to feel that maybe a higher force was not allowing me to have my road trip. Going to Constanta again to get the paper was out of discussion, because the hours were already counted for other things I had to do.
But the day was saved, again, by my PowerPuff Mom, who got the paper herself and sent it to me via courier. So on Wednesday, after having waited for the courier for half a day, I had the precious envelope, and I went to the tax office again. The transfer was made, I paid the tax (again) and the registration fees, and on Thursday morning at 8:30 I was standing in line at the car registration office, proudly holding the complete registration file of my car. The officer at the desk was more than delighted by the completeness of my file, everything was in order, so all I had to do was to wait for 2 hours to get my new registration document and my new number plates. Which I happily did.
Later that day, I rushed to the store to get cookies and champagne, then to my office for a last sweet moment to say goodbye to my colleagues at work. After doing this at my office, I went to the main office, to do the same thing. Sweets, pictures, farewells, "good luck"s, but still... I have the feeling I'm on vacation and returning some time soon. The only difference is that I don't have the Blackberry ringing or blipping because of work emails. Which is weird... not to mention that I'm so curious to know what's been happening.
Thursday ended with a farewell coffee with one of my best friends, and then, with a bit of useful shopping for my car. I bought winter chains, an emergency kit (electric cables, towing cable, work gloves, anti-frost spray, screwdrivers, reflective vest), a reflective triangle, a medical kit, and car scents. So I'm a very well equipped girl now. You can't have the trip of your lifetime without all these, right?
Another round of running around happened on Friday, when I went to the Trade Registry to require a paper that I needed for registering myself at the National Health Insurance House and be able to pay my monthly contribution considering that now I am no longer an employee. If I didn't do this, my European Health Insurance Card would not be valid. Then, I rushed to the insurance company to make an optional insurance for my car, and then, to the mall, for another (very short, too short) coffee with another dear friend, and for the last Christmas gifts shopping for my mom and my brother. And, finally, after all these, I rushed to my aunt's to get my cooling bags (yes, my luggage involves food) and for a well deserved dinner.
On Saturday morning, me and my brother went home to Constanta to spend Christmas with my mom, which really meant 3 magic days filled with joy, warmth, good food, gifts and love. Short, too short, as we came back last night, only to start a new rush of preparations. Before going to bed, I spent some hours copying all my files from the external hard disk to my new laptop, and putting all the files and folders in order. I still don't have Microsoft Office, which will be vital for my work, but except this, my computer now has some sort of a logic.
So today... more running around to do:
- to the Financial Administration and Trade Registry to get my papers
- to the National Health Insurance House to file the above mentioned papers
- to the office to gather my things, and to complete my last expense report, and to bring some pork jelly to my dear colleague and friend
And tonight... PACKING!! Which I hope I will finish in time because there are SO many things to pack and I still have no idea what to take and what to leave for the next time I come home. And I will hopefully have some little time to become a Beautiful Frog Queen, as my Fishy Prince will arrive tomorrow.
Tomorrow morning I will wake up early to cook some sarmale for my Fishy Prince, and, at 11:40, I will be at the airport to pick him up. We haven't seen each other in FIVE WEEKS. So... maybe this explains why now I feel like a little kid waiting for Santa!!!!
I hope I will have time for a final little update before we leave, because there are so many things left to do :D
Love,
La Reina Rana
Day 10 - the BIG countdown has started!!!!
2011/12/19
I honestly hardly realize how the last week has gone by so fast. Things started moving with a continuously increasing speed and here we are now, just a few days away from Christmas. I don't dare to think of Christmas yet, I mean not until I complete the final steps of the preparations for the big journey.
So what's been going on these days?
Last Wednesday was a new milestone in my never-ending car story. After a few phone-calls, I discovered, in shock, that the tax file of my car had actually RETURNED to the tax office in Constanta, because the person who had sent it to the tax office in Bucharest had actually put the wrong address on the envelope. And the guy I spoke to on the phone even had the guts to say "it's not my duty to know the correct address!" and also that they would NOT give the file to me personally, and they will send it again, with no receipt, no tracking number, and nothing. Useless to say how my fury reached unimaginable levels. But, once again, the day was saved by my PowerPuff Mom, who announced me after 1 hour that the file was in her hands. All I had to do next was to go to Constanta and take it.
Also last Wednesday, we had the last IMAX gala of this year, which was also my last IMAX gala, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. Then, the next morning at 7:35, we flew to Targu Mures for the last cinema opening gala, which for me would also be the last one. For me, the event was filled with lots of nostalgic moments, and saying goodbye to a lot of colleagues and partners, taking pictures and being part of the surprise they had prepared me on the stage, were the things that made me realize that OMG I am NOT going on a vacation, I am actually LEAVING...
On Friday evening, I flew back to Bucharest and went straight to the service to get my car that finally had its door fixed so it actually looks like an almost new car now, and I don't have to worry about police stopping me in foreign countries to ask me what happened to my door :).
On Saturday morning, I boarded the early train to Constanta to spend the weekend with my mom and to take my car tax file, which I will personally deliver tomorrow to the tax office in Bucharest. This means that the day after tomorrow I will FINALLY REGISTER MY CAR!!!
The weekend was nice and calm but filled with wonderful surprises by my PowerPuff Mom, such as Saturday afternoon at the beauty salon, for a well deserved facial treatment, hairdo, and nails :D, or such as Sunday lunch at our relatives' place, filled with joy, jokes and good food. Or such as the whole apartment that my Mom had decorated in such a wonderful way with hundreds of lights and a nice Christmas tree :D.
And today, I went to change my birth certificate and then to a gift-shopping-session (and this is when I realized that yes, Christmas IS at the end of this week!!)
So now, I'm finally at home again, after taking the train to Bucharest, and ready for a new session of running around, but this time the last one, for the above mentioned registering of my car. Today, tomorrow, Wednesday and Friday I am practically on vacation so on Thursday I will go to the office one more time, to give the laptop and phone to my new colleague taking over my job, and to say goodbye to everyone near a piece of cake and a glass of champagne.
I know that it already sounds like a cliche, but the more days pass, the more I realize that it's finally happening. I was used to talk about this move as a far away project, but now when I look back I see that the day I found out that I would leave was somewhere in the first half of October, which is more than 2 months ago, and I can't believe how fast time has gone by.
Sometimes I can't believe that it's actually ME that I'm talking about, that it's actually ME who will get in the car next week and drive for 2 days to reach Milan (ok, I'm cheating a bit, we will BOTH drive, but hey, I will BE in that car all the time so it counts).
But yes, it's me, it's actually MY life that is totally changing, and no, I'm not watching a movie or reading a book or anything alike. I have to get used to it, as unbelievable as it seems.
And my heart is beating so hard that it's going to get out of my chest soon.
Love,
La Reina Rana
So what's been going on these days?
Last Wednesday was a new milestone in my never-ending car story. After a few phone-calls, I discovered, in shock, that the tax file of my car had actually RETURNED to the tax office in Constanta, because the person who had sent it to the tax office in Bucharest had actually put the wrong address on the envelope. And the guy I spoke to on the phone even had the guts to say "it's not my duty to know the correct address!" and also that they would NOT give the file to me personally, and they will send it again, with no receipt, no tracking number, and nothing. Useless to say how my fury reached unimaginable levels. But, once again, the day was saved by my PowerPuff Mom, who announced me after 1 hour that the file was in her hands. All I had to do next was to go to Constanta and take it.
Also last Wednesday, we had the last IMAX gala of this year, which was also my last IMAX gala, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. Then, the next morning at 7:35, we flew to Targu Mures for the last cinema opening gala, which for me would also be the last one. For me, the event was filled with lots of nostalgic moments, and saying goodbye to a lot of colleagues and partners, taking pictures and being part of the surprise they had prepared me on the stage, were the things that made me realize that OMG I am NOT going on a vacation, I am actually LEAVING...
On Friday evening, I flew back to Bucharest and went straight to the service to get my car that finally had its door fixed so it actually looks like an almost new car now, and I don't have to worry about police stopping me in foreign countries to ask me what happened to my door :).
On Saturday morning, I boarded the early train to Constanta to spend the weekend with my mom and to take my car tax file, which I will personally deliver tomorrow to the tax office in Bucharest. This means that the day after tomorrow I will FINALLY REGISTER MY CAR!!!
The weekend was nice and calm but filled with wonderful surprises by my PowerPuff Mom, such as Saturday afternoon at the beauty salon, for a well deserved facial treatment, hairdo, and nails :D, or such as Sunday lunch at our relatives' place, filled with joy, jokes and good food. Or such as the whole apartment that my Mom had decorated in such a wonderful way with hundreds of lights and a nice Christmas tree :D.
And today, I went to change my birth certificate and then to a gift-shopping-session (and this is when I realized that yes, Christmas IS at the end of this week!!)
So now, I'm finally at home again, after taking the train to Bucharest, and ready for a new session of running around, but this time the last one, for the above mentioned registering of my car. Today, tomorrow, Wednesday and Friday I am practically on vacation so on Thursday I will go to the office one more time, to give the laptop and phone to my new colleague taking over my job, and to say goodbye to everyone near a piece of cake and a glass of champagne.
I know that it already sounds like a cliche, but the more days pass, the more I realize that it's finally happening. I was used to talk about this move as a far away project, but now when I look back I see that the day I found out that I would leave was somewhere in the first half of October, which is more than 2 months ago, and I can't believe how fast time has gone by.
Sometimes I can't believe that it's actually ME that I'm talking about, that it's actually ME who will get in the car next week and drive for 2 days to reach Milan (ok, I'm cheating a bit, we will BOTH drive, but hey, I will BE in that car all the time so it counts).
But yes, it's me, it's actually MY life that is totally changing, and no, I'm not watching a movie or reading a book or anything alike. I have to get used to it, as unbelievable as it seems.
And my heart is beating so hard that it's going to get out of my chest soon.
Love,
La Reina Rana
Day 15 - Dear Santa...
2011/12/12
... I know that I haven't been the best girl around this year. But I haven't been too bad either. I guess somewhere in the middle. But you are so kind and forgiving and I hope you will have a bit of understanding for La Reina Rana. I wish a lot of things for Christmas this year but hey, I have some good news for you, Santa! The things I wish will not damage your budget AT ALL (ok, ALMOST at all). Because they don't cost a thing. You'll just need a few seconds to cast your magic Santa spells and puffff! my things will be real.
So look what I wish:
1. A lot of health for my mother because she is working a lot and I'm worried about her. And make sure flights stay cheap so that she can visit me in Milan as often as possible. She has never been on a trip outside the country and she deserves it A LOT.
2. A lot of peace for my father and for my grandma who are now in Heaven. Both of them left us this year to go to a nicer place. Please make sure that this place is indeed nice for them and please show them a bit of what I accomplished, because I really wish they can see it and be proud of me.
3. A lot of work power and wisdom to be able to accomplish my research and to do a good job with my PhD.
4. The tax file of my car to appear FAST in Bucharest. Please Santa, do something, because I am in danger of not registering my car. And no car means no road trip (and a lot of luggage to carry by plane, and a lot of mess afterwards).
5. A lot of luck to accomplish my last work tasks well
6. The car registrations office to work between Christmas and the New Year. Again, for registering my car.
7. A lot of good weather between 27th and 31st of December, in Romania, Hungary, Slovenia and Italy. So that we can have a safe road trip. I don't care about sun, you can bring clouds if you feel like, but please, Santa, stop the snow and dry the roads, just for a few days. I know I'm selfish now and that all the kids want the snow for the holidays, but I just want us to stay alive and arrive safely in Milan.
8. A sweater.
In case you feel that all I asked is too much, you can forget about the sweater. Or get it from discounts.
Love,
La Reina Rana
So look what I wish:
1. A lot of health for my mother because she is working a lot and I'm worried about her. And make sure flights stay cheap so that she can visit me in Milan as often as possible. She has never been on a trip outside the country and she deserves it A LOT.
2. A lot of peace for my father and for my grandma who are now in Heaven. Both of them left us this year to go to a nicer place. Please make sure that this place is indeed nice for them and please show them a bit of what I accomplished, because I really wish they can see it and be proud of me.
3. A lot of work power and wisdom to be able to accomplish my research and to do a good job with my PhD.
4. The tax file of my car to appear FAST in Bucharest. Please Santa, do something, because I am in danger of not registering my car. And no car means no road trip (and a lot of luggage to carry by plane, and a lot of mess afterwards).
5. A lot of luck to accomplish my last work tasks well
6. The car registrations office to work between Christmas and the New Year. Again, for registering my car.
7. A lot of good weather between 27th and 31st of December, in Romania, Hungary, Slovenia and Italy. So that we can have a safe road trip. I don't care about sun, you can bring clouds if you feel like, but please, Santa, stop the snow and dry the roads, just for a few days. I know I'm selfish now and that all the kids want the snow for the holidays, but I just want us to stay alive and arrive safely in Milan.
8. A sweater.
In case you feel that all I asked is too much, you can forget about the sweater. Or get it from discounts.
Love,
La Reina Rana
Day 23 - The never ending car story and more updates
2011/12/06
More than a week has passed since my previous post and things are getting crazy here in the Kingdom of the Frog. Mostly because of the car related issues that put our road-trip more and more in danger. Sometimes I wonder if this road trip will actually take place, or I will end up using my plane ticket that I have for 28th of December. At least this ticket gives me a feeling of safety, as I know that I will get to Italy at the end of December, no matter what.
So, what has been done since my last post?
- my European Health Insurance Card arrived on 30th of November
- my car number plates and registration expired on 30th of November
- in order to drive legally, I went to the leasing company on the 2nd of December to take my red plates and my temporary registration which are valid for 1 month (this should be enough for making my definitive registration)
- I checked the status of the tax transfer of my car from the tax office in Constanta to the tax office in Bucharest. On 2nd of December the transfer had not been done yet. I will check again every week.
- I discovered a nice thing: I paid the annual tax of my house in time, so now I only have to pay a small amount for 2011 yey :)
- This morning I finally went to the insurance company to submit the report on my door damage
- And then I went to the service that the insurance company works with, for a re-check of the report. It seems that my door cannot be fixed, it must be changed. The right-side mirror must be changed as well. This means that after they receive the final approval of payment from the insurance company, the service people will order the parts (door + mirror), and then when the parts arrive, they will call me to schedule the replacement and the repairing.
- The service people repeatedly assured me that I WILL hit the road in my fixed car on December 29th at 7:00 a.m. and that I should not worry. But... I DO worry. At this point, anything could go wrong and I am stressed as hell. After all, it's Christmas in 19 days...
- Today I paid this year's insurance of my house. At least one more thing off the "to do" list before I go.
- Today I talked with the scholarship office to check if my annex to the studies contract is signed... I will need my copy for the residence in Italy, to prove that I am a student and that I have a monthly income. Of course... it's not signed yet. A little more to wait...
- Today I went to my PhD professor at the university, for the monthly report. It seems I did a good job with the bibliographies... now I need to also finish a paper before the holidays. Will do it, La Reina Rana can do it all.
What I'll have fun with during the next days:
- Tomorrow: I'll submit my monthly PhD report to the secretary
- Tomorrow: go to the library and start gathering some of the books I need for finishing my paper
- Tomorrow: apply for a debit card in euro. I will definitely need it in Italy.
- On Thursday: go to the leasing company to get a stamp on a paper that needs to be given back to the service when I take the car for repairing
- on the weekend: THE BIG CLOSET CLEANUP!!!
I do have to confess that the big closet cleanup is the thing that excites me the most out of all the preparations. My huge closet is literally packed with tons of clothes, some of them completely useless, that I will either donate or chop to pieces to use the fabric later, or either store for re-constructing them at some point. And, of course, this will also be the point where I decide what exactly I will pack to take with me to Italy. In front of my closet, I feel like a kid in front of the Christmas tree with gift packs underneath. I know that there are a lot of clothes that I forgot I even have, as well as I also know that I will find some of my favorite clothes that I actually LOST in my own closet. And, of course, there will be plenty of things to throw away. This is also valid for shoes, coats, bags, etc. etc. But anyway, more on this after it's done. I will dedicate a whole post to this incredibly pleasant activity :).
So only 23 days to go, and STILL so many things to do. And who knows what else I will discover on the way. To make things even better, I am still working and having a crazy period at the job, as we have 2 big and long expected events next week. I'm doing my best to stay focused, as I really want them to turn out good.
In the meantime, I wake up and fall asleep with the hope that everything will be fine and that everything will be ready. And these days I wake up and fall asleep with this song of Jovanotti:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSea1YPxK1c
Good night, World. Tomorrow is a new day for running around.
Love,
La Reina Rana
So, what has been done since my last post?
- my European Health Insurance Card arrived on 30th of November
- my car number plates and registration expired on 30th of November
- in order to drive legally, I went to the leasing company on the 2nd of December to take my red plates and my temporary registration which are valid for 1 month (this should be enough for making my definitive registration)
- I checked the status of the tax transfer of my car from the tax office in Constanta to the tax office in Bucharest. On 2nd of December the transfer had not been done yet. I will check again every week.
- I discovered a nice thing: I paid the annual tax of my house in time, so now I only have to pay a small amount for 2011 yey :)
- This morning I finally went to the insurance company to submit the report on my door damage
- And then I went to the service that the insurance company works with, for a re-check of the report. It seems that my door cannot be fixed, it must be changed. The right-side mirror must be changed as well. This means that after they receive the final approval of payment from the insurance company, the service people will order the parts (door + mirror), and then when the parts arrive, they will call me to schedule the replacement and the repairing.
- The service people repeatedly assured me that I WILL hit the road in my fixed car on December 29th at 7:00 a.m. and that I should not worry. But... I DO worry. At this point, anything could go wrong and I am stressed as hell. After all, it's Christmas in 19 days...
- Today I paid this year's insurance of my house. At least one more thing off the "to do" list before I go.
- Today I talked with the scholarship office to check if my annex to the studies contract is signed... I will need my copy for the residence in Italy, to prove that I am a student and that I have a monthly income. Of course... it's not signed yet. A little more to wait...
- Today I went to my PhD professor at the university, for the monthly report. It seems I did a good job with the bibliographies... now I need to also finish a paper before the holidays. Will do it, La Reina Rana can do it all.
What I'll have fun with during the next days:
- Tomorrow: I'll submit my monthly PhD report to the secretary
- Tomorrow: go to the library and start gathering some of the books I need for finishing my paper
- Tomorrow: apply for a debit card in euro. I will definitely need it in Italy.
- On Thursday: go to the leasing company to get a stamp on a paper that needs to be given back to the service when I take the car for repairing
- on the weekend: THE BIG CLOSET CLEANUP!!!
I do have to confess that the big closet cleanup is the thing that excites me the most out of all the preparations. My huge closet is literally packed with tons of clothes, some of them completely useless, that I will either donate or chop to pieces to use the fabric later, or either store for re-constructing them at some point. And, of course, this will also be the point where I decide what exactly I will pack to take with me to Italy. In front of my closet, I feel like a kid in front of the Christmas tree with gift packs underneath. I know that there are a lot of clothes that I forgot I even have, as well as I also know that I will find some of my favorite clothes that I actually LOST in my own closet. And, of course, there will be plenty of things to throw away. This is also valid for shoes, coats, bags, etc. etc. But anyway, more on this after it's done. I will dedicate a whole post to this incredibly pleasant activity :).
So only 23 days to go, and STILL so many things to do. And who knows what else I will discover on the way. To make things even better, I am still working and having a crazy period at the job, as we have 2 big and long expected events next week. I'm doing my best to stay focused, as I really want them to turn out good.
In the meantime, I wake up and fall asleep with the hope that everything will be fine and that everything will be ready. And these days I wake up and fall asleep with this song of Jovanotti:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSea1YPxK1c
Good night, World. Tomorrow is a new day for running around.
Love,
La Reina Rana
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