Singing the Blues

byLisaFranks

907 followers

8 years ago

Without becoming too long winded - hopefully - I have been feeling a bit of the blues lately. It's nothing major though my patience seems to be at rock bottom.

As you may know, my husband has MS - again, not a major issue as he can still walk - albeit, short distances before he needs to sit down.

Six years ago this year, we met on a game online. We hit it off really well and soon fell in love.

Fast forward two years later when we were married. Since he was already disabled, there was no way he could afford to live with me in the USA so I applied for and got a visa to join him in the UK 4 months later.

First problem: Because Ian had a Motability car and insurance, I wasn't allowed to drive his car because American licences are not recognised in the UK. It didn't matter that I had a licence for 35 years at the time.

Not being able to drive didn't bother me too much at first because, frankly, I was scared of the narrow lanes and those many roundabouts. Driving on the wrong side of the road and in the wrong side of the car, for me, was also scary. I also had to wait until Ian was ready to take me to get a provisional licence, which I did by the end of 2012.

Second problem: I couldn't afford the lessons I needed to learn to drive in the UK. When I finally could take lessons it was 2015. We already bought our home in Spain and would be here by the end of that year. While I aced my theory test, I failed the driving test twice. I couldn't take another test because we were heading out of the UK the following week.

Third problem: SPAIN! I now need to take lessons in Spain. There is no provisional licence or permit to drive while you learn. Oh no! Here, I have to take lessons in order to drive at all.

Fourth problem: I am not fluent in Spanish and live in a very Spanish speaking area. So, for now, that is one bit of my identity out the window.

Fifth problem: In Spain, all foreigners need an NIE (Numero Identificacion de Extranjero) to do almost anything. Because I am American, I don't have an automatic right to this number as someone from the UK has. So, in order for me to get an NIE, I have to get our marriage licence translated into Spanish. I cannot get through to Florida Dept of Health to get any information on how to do this through them. No-one here has got back to me about whether or not I can have it translated here. I also have to wait until my husband gets residency here.

Sixth problem: Because I have no NIE and I am American, I cannot be named on our bank account here either. Also, I was able to get medical care for the first 6 months I was here without an NIE (EHIC card was enough for that time) but am not able to renew my medical registration again without this NIE. So, no licence, no bank account, no money, no medical care, no identity for me.

I realise that we each have our own problems to deal with. I also know that it will all work out eventually, but where do I refill my patience? Is there a shop for that? Well, I try not to think about it but lately it's always on my mind. I am told I have to be patient but I am plumb out of patience.

I have decided to bury myself in my website. Right now, this is the only form of identity I have left so I really cannot afford to give up. I also would never want to disappoint any animals by giving up. My business (even though I only have a small amount of visitors) makes me happy. I am doing something for the World's animal kingdom. Maybe no-one is listening at the moment, but I know that they will have to eventually. When my site grows, I WILL get people there that are able to do something for animals and hopefully will.

If you love animals, please check out my website on my profile.