Post #9: Decisions, Decisions…

Everyone gather ’round, sit down in a circle, cross-legged, and lend me your eyes.  This week’s blog post will be less about entertainment and more about information, but I promise to make up for it next week with a good bout or two of rollicking laughter!

I’ve had a lot of conversations lately from personal Austin Trager Fans (Dear God, PLEASE let there be an Austin Trager Fan Club somewhere. With T-shirts.) that went something like this:

Fan: “Austin, when are you coming back?!?!?! I miss you and want to get married as soon as possible!”

Me: “But I don’t want to come back!!!!! I miss you, though, and you should come visit me!”

Fan: /cry

All undue arrogance aside, it means a lot to me that you guys (and girls, of course, of course) miss me and enjoy reading my blog posts, but I have to tell you all…..

….I’m staying in Australia.

That’s right, I applied to the University of Southern Queensland as a non-exchange student and was accepted! I’ve decided to switch my major from Accounting to Journalism (let’s face it, writing comedy is so much more fun than book keeping) and pursue a Bachelor’s of Communication here.  Now, I know some of you are disappointed (probably the Australians ) but dry your eyes.  I’ll be back to visit before too long, I promise.  I’ll probably stay here for the summer, but I’ll probably be back visiting in the States during the mid-semester break in winter time. (Note: Australian summer and winter, just to be clear)

Side note: it’s starting to get mother fucking hot here.  It’s only spring, summer hasn’t even started, but yesterday was 97 degrees Fahrenheit.  It’s only going to get hotter, god dammit.  I’d cry if I didn’t think my tears would instantly evaporate and steam up my computer screen.

I’ll let you in on a little detail, though, dear reader.  There has been one complication.  You see, because I was only supposed to be here for a semester, my visa runs out on December 1, 2009.  “Not a problem,” I think, “I’ll just get accepted to school and renew my visa.  It only took two days to get accepted last time.”  So I got my Confirmation of Enrollment paperwork and went to apply online to renew my visa.  Plenty of time to spare.

However, apparently you can only apply for and receive a study visa that begins a maximum of three months before the beginning of your class.  According to the paperwork on my Confirmation of Enrollment, my courses begin on March 1, 2010.  Some of you are already counting back, and are beginning to see my predicament.  Three months before classes start would fall on December 1, 2009.

I can only apply for a new visa on the day that my current visa expires.  Assuming that it still only takes two days, I’ll be an illegal immigrant for two days, running from the 5-0!

Whoa. Too far, Austin, too far.

In all reality, I should be able to fix the predicament with a call to the Consulate.  There’s no way I’d get rejected with acceptance to an Australian University, and I doubt they’d make me leave the country with a visa renewal application pending.  Fingers crossed.

Well that’s it, dear readers.  Sorry for the lack of exorbitant sarcasm and hyperbole in this post, I’ll be sure to lay it on thick next Wednesday.  Remember, put this blog in your favorites and check it every week or so, since Facebook’s shit new layout is slaughtering my advertising.   As always, your feedback matters a lot to me (probably now more than ever since I’m making writing my career) and I’d appreciate a link in a status message or something similar.  I’m off to work out on my new Wii Fit (a video game that helps me maintain my girlish figure? Yes, please.)  Be safe!

Austin