Resolved Stress

Thank God, every bit of the stress I faced in the past few days have been resolved. It's all started when my social visit pass (svp) [ a pass needed for a foreigner to stay in Singapore longer than is given at the point of entry ] expired on 26th July. So on 24th July, I asked my guardian to extend the svp longer so that I can matriculate and then process my student's pass. However, the ICA only extend the svp for another two weeks (till 7th Aug), and in addition they chopped on my passport: To renew passport (well, my passport expiring on 12 Dec 2006, so it has less than 6 months validity). And so, the next day, 25th July, I made my way down to Indonesian embassy to renew my passport. BUT, the lady there said since I do not have a student's pass, I cannot renew my passport in Singapore and have to return to my hometown to renew it. So well, I thought on 1st Aug, I will matriculate and then process my student's pass then renew passport. Out of curiosity, I enquired NUS International Students Affair whether I could be matriculated earlier. The reply came and it made me can't sleep. It said that I need 6 months validity in my passport to process my student's pass as it is the international requirement. And they suggested requesting the embassy to renew my passport with the In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter produced by ICA which I will get when I matriculate. So the ICA wanted me to renew passport first while the embassy wanted me to get the student's pass first. Why I can't sleep that night after the reply was this: In the event the embassy agree to renew my passport with the IPA letter given, they would need 5 working days to process. Yet, I matriculate on 1st Aug 11.15am and the embassy opening hours for request of passport is only till 12pm. So I can only make my way down to the embassy on the 2nd which is a Wed. So my passport will only be ready on Tues, 8th Aug. But my svp expired on 7th Aug.
So, I consulted my mother and she said if the embassy could not help me to renew my passport within the duration of time, then I would get an immediate flight to Jakarta, and then to Ambon.

So on 1st Aug, I went to matriculate and collect the IPA letter. On 2nd Aug, I went to the embassy and the IPA letter is enough to make them agree to renew my passport. I told them about my svp expiring, and they help by promising me I can collect my passport on 7th Aug itself. The collection time is from 3pm - 5pm, but I request early morning collection so that I can go down to ICA and immediately process my student's pass. And they agreed.

And because of this problem, I withdraw from the Science Orientation Week. Then when I realise, I can actually take part since everything is sort of settled, the orientation committee said that the application is already closed. So here I am starting university without having ANY orientation. Hope I found friends later on.

But well, *a deep sigh of relief* the stress is resolved.