Not Fair?

I wonder if anyone reads this blog anymore, since I went for months without posting.

Anyway, this gather of evidence for the fiance visa is getting difficult. I was up really late last night very upset and then I couldn't sleep. The whole process is nerve-racking, and its just the beginning! Having our relationship picked apart by government officers, who are trained to believe that 30% of the applications that come across their desks are foney. Having to disclose private and personal information is creepy. We don't have pictures of us kissing because public-displays-of-affection are definitely not cool in this culture, and we're private people.

I don't understand how ex-cons can mail order a Russian bride, and I have to go through this horrendous process with someone I've been LIVING WITH for nearly 2 years! There's even a provision in the fiance visa law that ALLOWS arranged marriages between two people who have never met, based on cultural restrictions! At what point does this just equal NOT FAIR?

Women "off the record"

Tonight I've been translating Alaattin's birth record into English, and I came across a *discovery*. Background: I'm certifying myself as a translator from English to Turkish documents (yes, I can do that).

In Turkey, the birth record lists all immediate family members: parents & siblings. He has 3 sisters and 2 brothers.

As I'm translating this document, something stand out to me as SHOCKING.
When it comes to the SISTERS, who are married, under the Death Date, it says: "Closed Registration"

They are ON RECORD, but transferred to their HUSBAND'S immediate family, their status will no longer be listed on their brother's record. No more recording will happen on the records of their brothers.

What is strange to me, is that Turkey is a SECULAR country (although not as secular as the USA). Women were given the right to vote in 1926, long before it happened in many Western countries.

YET THIS???? It is truly appalling.

Next time I light a candle, I WILL REMEMBER THOSE WHO ARE ALIVE. I used to light candles and remember all who have died. Maybe I light the candle for the dead because of my sorrow. But I think I will from now on trade in on the dead for the alive. What do I mean?
I do think its important to remember those who came before us and fought some battles so we didn't have to fight them, to bring us to where we are. But that's so fucking selfish.

I need to remember those WHO ARE STILL SUFFERING. Because I am not. To cry for those who are dead, well that's just me. To feel and cry for those still fighting a battle, maybe my energy will be sent to constructively aid them in their battles.And during the battle, some just can't fight. They are just "there" so others can fight. Those are people I have to remember and light a candle for.

Be grateful for what you have.

Immigration-The Process Begins!

I've found an immigration lawyer to assist in bringing my fiance to the US. I've spent a few days going through everything-we have to PROVE we've been in an ongoing relationship.
As if 9 Turkish tourist visas in my passport aren't enough. Erg, no, they're not. I didn't save all of our emails. We live together for chrissakes! I've printed out all of the my emails to him, his emails to me (I deleted most of them) for the past 2 years. I dug through and found a few letters he wrote me when I was still living in London. Luckily I saved the envelopes, which are postmarked.

And now he sees WHY I never throw anything away!

I printed out blog entries about him. I have to take the digital photos of us to a printer and print them out and write a story about each one. The deal is though, since there's only 2 OF US, for most of our memories, there wasn't a 3rd person to hold the camera.

He suggests making a porn video and submitting it to the government for evidence. Uh, yeah, no.

So I'm scrambling around trying to find the documentation our our life together. Luckily we have a rental contract with both of our names on it. But we don't have a joint bank account, etc.

Hopefully we'll have the submission package to the lawyer by the middle of next week.
Wish us luck. Once the US government approves that we have indeed been in a relationship, the package goes to someplace else in the USA, then it goes to the American Embassy in Ankara, Turkey. Then he goes for the visa appointment (after a thorough medical check). The Consular Official decides if it is all kosher. Then he can come to the US, where he has to successfully pass through the Immigration Official.

And the time frame before he can come to the US? 9 MONTHS!!!!

But our chins are up, we're gonna do this. We may have to be apart for most of it, which is retarded. We've been LIVING together for 18 months, and now that we start the immigration process we may have to be APART for 9 months?!

Plus the bastards will steal the love letters written and post-marked envelopes, you know, the sappy mementos you keep forever.

Whatever. A fiance visa is still easier than a spousal visa, go figure.

Any love you can send our way is much appreciated. Wheels turn slow in developing countries.
I don't need elegance. I'll buy a dress from Wal-Mart. We'll eat hot dogs on paper plates. I just wanna marry this dude! We're gonna have a big, fat celebratory wedding once he's in the US. It will probably be a bit hokey, but everyone will be invited.

I SAW THE OLYMPIC TORCH!!!!

Yes I did, Yes I did! I just saw it!!!!

The torch is starting from Istanbul today and will be carried to China, it will take 4-5 months to reach China.I wanted to go to Sultanahmet and see the torch today, but I’m working. :-(

But from the office window, I saw the procession!!!! I heard some loudspeakers shouting something or other, and went to the window. The street was shut down, except for the procession. Some buses, police cars, a Coca-Cola bus, all that kind of thing.

THEN, a group of runners carrying the OLYMPIC TORCH!!!!

OK, so really it wasn’t all that exciting, but I got to see it! A once in a lifetime thing, and no one else in the office thought it was cool. Neither did the people on the street, they just stood there waiting for it to end so they could catch their bus or cross the street.

What to do with these Turkish people???