We're finally going to California!

Oh. My. Word. We're going to America!
It's so unbelievable, after the endless wait, the setbacks at every step of the process, the painfully slow pace of everything.

For the past 18 months, since we came back from our recon trip, all we've been doing is dreaming and fantasizing about our new life there, and putting our life here on hold - no big purchases, no unnecessary spending, no long-term plans. Finally we can exhale and start living.

We went to get our visas stamped on Friday at the US Embassy. There was a problem with my police clearance (abusive cops led to wrongful arrest, charges withdrawn in court... slack lawyer didn't ensure charges were withdrawn properly, recorded as "conviction" on my file) and I was pretty sure our visa would be denied because of it. I was just one tightly wound spring on Friday morning - I have never been so close to puking for purely emotional reasons. When the interview was over and we were told the visas were granted, I couldn't help dissolving into tears. And then I had to walk past the entire waiting area to get to the bathroom and compose myself...

The rest of the day was spent getting flights, handing in my resignation at work, and phoning family and friends to tell them we were leaving in less than 2 weeks.

My sister has planned a farewell party for us. It's going to be hard saying goodbye to everyone, but I think the hardest thing will be watching Nikhil saying goodbye to Brad's father. They have an unnaturally close relationship, it will be a heartbreaking farewell between the two of them.

And then we'll be off! If the kids keep behaving the way they have been over the past few days, we're in for one difficult journey. Maybe they sense our tension and nervousness, because they've been niggly and crabby and restless for days - they both wake up often at night, screaming and inconsolable. We really need to sort that out before we leave.

We have a 12-hour stopover in Atlanta on our way to Sacramento. We're hiring a car and going out to the Atlanta Zoo. I'm quite looking forward to that. Then we arrive at 10pm in Sacramento, and our good friends will fetch us from the airport. We'll stay with them for the weekend before booking into our long stay hotel a few minutes' drive away.

Our house is slowly being emptied out. Our bedroom furniture is gone already - we're living out of suitcases. Soon Nikhil's bed will be gone, and we'll all be cuddling up on one bed... it's all part of the adventure. We'd better get used to it - it'll be like this for the next 2-3 months.