The organizers dedicated most of this month to reviewing intern selections and discussing our plans for the FOSDEM meetup in Febuary 2024.
Acceptance emails were sent to 59 amazing interns on November 21, 2023, and it’s always heartwarming to see new folks join the Outreachy community.
The latter half of the month was spent on research for my visa application to Belgium. I never realized how taxing the entire process could be, as I’ve never had the means to travel before. The hours spent meticulously scouring online forums and reading other people’s experiences about Schengen travel. I did all of this to make sure I had every requirement needed for the visa application and put my best foot forward.
Another surprising revelation was the significant amount of paper involved in submitting a visa application. I had to print two copies of every document submitted, totaling around 10–11 documents, each with several pages. However, I’ve learned that starting next year, Schengen visa applications will be transitioning to a digital format. About time!
Despite the considerable time and effort I invested in this application, my visa application was rejected due to reasons beyond my control. The rejection saddened me, especially considering how much I looked forward to meeting the Outreachy team in person. Nevertheless, there’s always next time.
Throughout this visa application process, I gained valuable insights into travel, and I’m truly grateful for the unwavering support of the entire team while planning my first trip abroad. While the prospect of facing rejection on a future visa application is daunting, it has never stopped me before :).
Tilda's Thoughts 