Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
My finances were still looking scarce, even with the money that I was saving
from work. I had discovered that while it wasn't too difficult to convince compan-
ies to sponsor us with products, procuring cash was almost impossible.
I decided to call John and Alison Kearney, distant relatives who lived on the
Gold Coast in Queensland. They had been following my progress since the course
in Finland and had already backed me with generous support. I was bowled over
when they agreed to support me with some much-needed funds.
One week before I was due to leave Finland, I finally received our Russian
twelve-month visas. It had been a long process that included, among other things,
getting HIV tests.
The evening after receiving the visas, I was sifting through my things when I
came across a letter from Australian National University in Canberra. It read: 'If
you have not re-enrolled or applied for further deferral by 1 June then it is assumed
that you have abandoned the course.'
Although I had not intended to return to study Law immediately, the security
had suddenly vanished. Officially, for the first time, I was technically not 'in-
between' anything. A rush of emotion flushed my system. It felt so reassuring that
I had now irretrievably committed to my dreams.
The last few days were a whirlwind of tying up loose ends. With first aid in
mind, I visited the local doctor who was more than happy to give me free advice,
a bundle of bandages and sterile syringes, tubes and even stitching needles. One
of my fears was running into health problems or sustaining an injury in the middle
of Russia. Fortunately, my parents funded my basic travel insurance for twelve
months.
On the sixth of September, three days before I departed Finland, the bike finally
arrived. All that was left to do was pack up and leave. On the eighth, I loaded up my
gear into a friend's hatchback and drove to the train station. From there I headed
towards the border.
———
The phone rang and I raced to pick up the handset. I had been in Petrozavodsk for
a week, waiting for the visa to turn up in Bucharest.
'Tim, did you get my e-mail?' Chris shouted down the line.
'No.'
'I got the visa! I've been looking in the wrong post office all along!'
