Holidays

Spent a week in Latvia. Had 2 reasons - get a new visa and work on my university. Also got a lucky chance to participate in an exchange evaluation seminar from National Agency of Latvia. Got an impression that Latvia still has small experience in youth exchanges and Non-formal Education. Can't wait to return for good and get to work...

All in all my visa was ready in a day. Looks like a letter from Minsk City Executive Committee cancels all kinds of bureaucracy and stalls. Now I have 90 days during a year to get a temporary living permission. My EVS still counts 9 months.

My university didn't work out that well. I finished the theoretical part of my thesis, but I'll have to write the practical part in Belarus. Didn't write an application to reinstate also. If I don't get it till end of May... There's always next year. :)

It's interesting that in a week I got more calls from friends than in previous half a year. Turns out I've got a lot of them.

Experienced mentors advise not to stall home if the project is not over. So I got some summer clothes, 2 cans of home-made pickles and I'm going back.

Visa

On Monday I got my Belarus republic visa.
I needed:

• Invitation from the organisation
• Insurance (I didn't have AXA at the moment, so I bought one local, around 20 Ls)
• Visa questionnaire (available in the embassy, needs a passport photo)
• 42 Lats
  

My visa is for 3 months, so I'll need to prolong it at a certain moment.

The Belarus embassy is doing their work somewhat fast and sure. It took 20 minutes to hand in the documents. I got my passport a week later in 5 minutes.