My student visa seems to be sorted out. I'm just waiting to get a letter back from the language school which should be around the first week of September. Then I just take the letter to the Thai Embassy in Chicago to get my visa. It might have been smarter to wait until all my paperwork was taken care of before getting my plane ticket, but I don't think there will be any more problems and I found a really good deal so I wanted to lock it in.
I don't really have much left to take care of other than packing and getting rid of one or two things. It will probably be a mad rush for the last couple days, but up until then I'm just going to relax and enjoy the rest of my time here. My last day at work is September 9th, I will probably tell them August 26th or a few days before. They don't really need to know sooner, two weeks is plenty of notice. I have a few vacation days banked that I'll get paid for, and I'm going to try to use one more sick day which I don't get to compensated for if I leave.
Packing will be pretty light. I'm only bringing summer clothes, maybe one pair of jeans and a hooded sweatshirt. It's pretty much never cold there, but I hear during "cold" season at night it can get a bit nippy. Other than clothes I'm bringing my laptop and a computer monitor. That's really all I need plus maybe a few random items. Most things, aside from electronics, are pretty cheap over there so I don't need to worry much about not bringing something.
So all my major expenses have been paid. I'm just trying to save every penny now so I can worry less once I'm out there. I don't really want to have a going away party, but I think there will probably be one regardless. I'm not big on saying goodbye, but it is nice to see everyone, so I'll let you know if it happens. Let the countdown begin!!!!