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Ready to go back

Well a long time has passed since I last updated the blog, it's been a pretty busy Christmas for me! It has been an enjoyable time seeing friends and family again, a little surreal since I didn't expect to be seeing everyone again so soon after going! But it has been a blessing all the same.
Because of my visa issues, I needed to leave Ethiopia, and decided the best place to go to was home, so I arrived home on 23rd December, just in time for Christmas. It was strange watching family open gifts that I had sent home, along with a card apologising for my absence. Anyway!
My visa trouble has been quite stressful at times. About a week before I was due to leave again for Ethiopia, I got an email from SIM letting me know that they wouldn't be able to apply for a visa on my behalf, and that I'd need to do it myself from the embassy in the UK. Unfortunately, that is in London, which obviously isn't the easiest place for me to get to. After further back and forth between the embassy, myself and the immigration office in Addis, I finally worked out what was needed and I sent my passport off. Unfortunately, by this stage there was not enough time to have it delivered back to me before my original departure date, so I had to extend my flight by a couple of days. Thankfully, my visa arrived back in the post in good time in order to make this new flight, leaving this Sunday 11th Jan. I am very thankful to God that everything has been finished, and trust and pray that that is the end of my visa related troubles! Language school does not start back until the 12th January, so I'll just make it back in time. I am very thankful that I have not missed any of the language school during my time at home!
I've enjoyed a bit of extra time again with friends, and been able to do some of the things that I'd hoped to fit in before I left, but just didn't manage to. I've been Ice skating, mountain biking, and even had a quick trip to Aberdeen to see my good friend Mark. Unexpected time with friends and family has definitely been a real blessing. At the same time, since the new year, everyone has started back to work again, and got back into routine. So I've been at a bit of a loose end, since then, especially as I had to extend my stay in Ireland. I am definitely keen to get back out to Ethiopia, and settle into my routine again out there.

Mountain Biking

Beautiful sky in Aberdeen
Do remember me as I travel on Sunday, that I'll get there safely, all luggage in tow! And that I will settle back into life in Addis Ababa and language school quickly. I've updated my contact page with my phone no and address. Keep in touch!
Hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas break. Happy new year!
Niall

Posted at 8 January, 2015, 1:13pm

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