Diamond Visa

I've got it.
It's been a while since my last post because quite frankly, I was a getting a little pessemistic about the whole thing.
Since my Last post, just after I sent my deposit to Real Gap, they sent me a copy of the Visa Application Form and some very helpful information, all of which was already in the brochure and on their website. Nice to see my money's being put to good use, then.
It was then up to me to make up my application and take it, by hand, to the Japanese Embassy on Picadilly. It consisted of:

A CV/personal history

A Written Reason for wanting the visa

A proposed Itinery for the first six months

Proof that I had enough money in my account

and, of course, my passport.

I went up there on Feb 21st, a Wednesday, and found the Embassy easily. I didn't have a clue what to expect. I'd been told there was the possibility of being interviewed so I tried to look smart, despite the fact that it was quite humid and I'd just bowled halfway down Picadilly. My back was sopping. I had to step through an airport-style metal detector (incase I was an anti-whaling terrorist I presume), and then through a glass door into a waiting room. And wait I did. For a good few minutes before I realised I was supposed to take a ticket from a machine with two little green fruit-machine buttons. When I finally had my number it wasn't long before it was called.

I stepped into what looked more like the counter at the bank, or the visiting room at a high-security prison and handed my application to the clerk. It was not long before he told me my application was incomplete and that my proof of funds was not acceptable (to be fair I had just given him a slip from the ATM, it could've been anybody's). So he said I could run down to the NatWest down the road and get a more feasable slip, but that he would also require a more detailed statement which I could fax him over the next few days.

A few days passed and I didn't have a fax machine... I also didn't want to send my most recent posted statement, because I didn't feel it was a true representation of my bank account, so I decided to go to Wadhurst and get a printed Statement from the bank. Then I found out that Celia Hammonds Charity Shop in Wadhurst has a fax machine that customers can use at 50p a sheet. So I send the bits along with a copy of my reference code, and bowled it off down the high-street feeling really good about myself.

Then I got back in the car and realised that the bit of paper I'd just faxed off to the Embassy doesn't even have my name on it... again, it could've been anyones.
I was really downbeat after this and was expecting a phonecall saying "You dickhead, you can't even apply for a visa properly how do you expect to use one?" or soemthing like that. But this morning I decided to ring the Embassy and tell them I think I'd made a boo-boo and that if they don't mind I'll send my next officially posted statement when it comes in a fortnights time. The guy however (whose voice I recognised as being the 'Clerk' at the Embassy), told me that my visa had been issued and was ready for collection. I said "Thanks" and "cheers" and "nice one", but not "Arigato" for he was English.

I hung up and punched the air. I haven't felt so happy in a long time. I'm going to Japan and I'm leaving the shop. The visa is valid from the day it's issued and I won't be going until the end of April so I'll only get ten months instead of the full twelve but ten is plenty and I can still call it a year without getting accused of exaggeration.

My only concern now is how long I'll last, but at least I know I'm definately going. I'm so happy. I no longer have to worry about my bank-balance not being heavy enough and I can enjoy booking the flights and looking forward to living in possibly the coolest country in the world.