#Destinations Sponsor-letter

[aurumacadicus]

In before I start seeing people bitching about rainbow capitalism MY favorite rainbow capitalism story is about Subaru. Yes the Japanese car company.

In the nineties, they were struggling. They were competing with a dozen other companies targeting the main demographic at the time: white men ages 18-35, especially after a failed luxury car launch with a new ad agency. “What we need is to focus on niche demographics,” they decided, and then focused on people who enjoyed the outdoors. The Subaru was excellent at driving on dirt roads that many other vehicles couldn’t at the time, so it was perfect for all those off-road campers; they started making all-wheel drive standard in all their cars to help with that. And the people who wanted cars to go do outdoor stuff? Lesbians.

Okay. Of course it wasn’t only lesbians buying Subarus. They’re on the list with educators, health-care professionals, and IT people. But the point is, this Japanese car company interviewed this strange demographic (single, female head of household) and realized one important factor: They were lesbians. They liked to be able to use the cars to go do outdoorsy stuff, and they liked that they could use the cars to haul stuff rather than a big truck or van. Subaru had a choice to make then. They had four other demographics they could market to, after all--the educators, the health-care professionals, IT professionals, and straight outdoorsy couples. Their company didn’t hinge on this one “problematic” demographic.

And they decided “fuck it,” and marketed to lesbians anyway. This included offering benefits to American gay and lesbian employees for their domestic partners, so it didn’t look like a cash grab. (This was not a problem. They already offered those in Canada.)

Yes, there was some backlash. They got letters from a grassroots group accusing them of promoting homosexuality, and every letter said they’d no longer be buying from Subaru. “You didn’t buy from us before, either,” Subaru realized, and ignored them. It helped that the team really cared about the plan, and that they had many straight allies to back them up. There was also some initial backlash when Subaru hired women to play a lesbian couple in the commercial, but they quickly found that lesbians preferred more subtlety; “XENA LVR” on a license plate, or bumper stickers with the names of popular LGBTQ+ destinations, or taglines of “Get out. Stay out.” that could be used for the outdoors--or the closet.

Subaru said “We see you. We support you.” They sponsored Pride parades and partnered with Rainbow Card and hired Martina Navratilova as spokeswoman. They put their money where their mouth is and went into it whole hog. In a time where companies did not want to take our money, Subaru said, “Why not? They’re people who drive.” And that was groundbreaking.

[carcarcraziiv2]

HEARTSTEEL FIRST MEETING HCs (PART TWO)

Dis for daddy Yone and my love Aphelios. 💗

~*-If you enjoyed, feel free to send me asks (however that works) with prompts. I also enjoy writing about other league characters as well if you're into that!-*~

Aphelios:

Art classes were never really your thing. You were more into writing, and when your best friend invited you to a creative writing workshop you couldn't help but take the opportunity.

You two got to the class early and were shocked to find out that it was being sponsored by one of your favorite band's lyricists, Aphelios from Heartsteel. The excitement you felt at being able to spend your time at a place that someone in the band even thought about had you more inspired than you were previously.

During the workshop, you wrote a nice little series of poems while you daydreamed about the band. The entire time you kept getting nudges from your best friend because you found yourself mindlessly humming their songs.

At the end, you were surprised to find out that they were hosting a contest to meet the band based on the works submitted if you so wished at the end of the night. You did, and you were even more shocked when a few weeks later you got an email stating that you had won!

The email read as follows-

Dear Y/N,

We would like to begin by thanking you for your submission to the Heartsteel: Meet the Band! competition hosted by Aphelios. Based on the band's review of your work, they would like to designate you as the winner! With our sincerest congratulations, please see the information below with the destination, date, and time!

The rest of the letter contained as it stated, and you were ecstatic. The days passed quickly and before you knew it, you were driving to the location of the meet and greet.

Walking into the small very secure building, you were greeted by a pleasant young woman who led you to a small room with a couch and a few plush chairs. You took a seat, and she left letting you know it would be a few minutes.

You were antsy as you sat there but giddy none the less. Soon enough, the door opened, and you stood in excitement as the members of Heartsteel walked in. Sett, Kayn, Ezreal, Yone, K'Sante, and finally Aphelios.

They all greeted you happily, and finally Aphelios gave you his hand in greeting, a sweet smiling gracing his face. You all discussed things, you got photos, and by the end you were feeling so happy that they were all as cool and nice (Kayn was kinda sus but...) as you had hoped!

It seemed like during the whole time, Aphelios kept writing to you that you had genuinely impressed him.

I really liked your work. It spoke to me. Did you write them based on each of us?

"I did! I thought since you were sponsoring the event I may as well make it Heartsteel inspired," you laugh nervously, running a hand over your head. "I'm glad you like it."

I was wondering if you would like to get together for some writing sessions? I know it's kind of off the wall here but... I wouldn't mind learning more about the way you think.

"I would love to!" You smile, and he gives you his phone to type your number into, and you couldn't help but add a cheeky smiley face next to your name.

I look forward to seeing you again soon! He wrote, and you all said your goodbyes.

You were smiling your whole drive home, and as you got ready to go to bed you heard your phone vibrate on your side table.

Your heart fluttered as you read the message:

Hey, it's Aphelios. Is this Y/N?

YONE:

You always liked going out to a coffee shop to do your work in the mornings. It made you feel more businesslike, for some reason, when you got to go work in a place where everyone is in suits and also on laptops.

The day started like any other. Gathering your things, you headed to a new-to-you coffee shop downtown. When you arrived, you headed inside and sat down after you ordered your drink and a little breakfast sandwich.

Opening your laptop, you got right to work moving files and typing away at emails. You had your headphones in listening to some soft indie pop and you bobbed your head along to it as you wrote.

After about thirty minutes, you took a little break to stretch your fingers and glance around at the other people sitting at tables around you. Turning your attention toward the window, you saw him.

A tall looking man with long white hair with red streaks in a ponytail sat with his head face first into a little MacBook. You couldn't help but gawk at his overall attractive features, as he has focused green eyes and neat but chiseled features. You wondered what his voice sounded like.

You nearly fall out of your seat the way you turn away when his gaze shifts to look at you. He must have felt someone staring at him, and you could feel the heat rising in your cheeks. Okay, that's awkward.

Trying to quickly forget that you just got caught staring, you get back to work. You had only planned on staying at the coffee shop for a few hours while you got through your morning emails, but this man was a revelation you weren't willing to leave just yet.

Over the next few minutes, you kept stealing peaks at him, and to your surprise he kept looking back at you. At one point, he smiled politely at you as if to say, "Need something?"

Finally, after getting multiple messages from your boss that you hadn't noticed due to your wandering thoughts you decided to brush it all off and dive back into your work. Before you knew it, an hour had gone by and you looked quickly toward the direction of where the man had been sitting. Disappointed, you realize that he was no longer there. You shrug to yourself and start packing up your things, pulling out your headphones and shoving them in your bag.

Just as you are about to stand up, you feel a tap on your shoulder that causes you to jump slightly.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," You hear as you turn to face the person who tapped you. To your dismay, it was the man who you had been caught staring at.

"It's okay!" you laugh nervously. "Um... What's up?"

"I just noticed you kept looking at me and well, I couldn't help but keep looking at you... and I was wondering if you would like to meet here again for coffee in the morning while you do whatever it is you're doing?" You can see the man blushing, and you wonder inwardly if he was as nervous talking to you as you were about talking with him. "Oh, and I'm Yone. Sorry, I forgot to mention that."

"I'm Y/N," You say in response. "And that would be cool, I usually go get coffee in the morning anyway. Sorry for staring at you earlier, I got kind of carried away I guess." Oh. My. God. Why am I word vomiting on this poor man?

"Don't worry, I kind of liked catching you off guard a few times. It was cute." He says, and you can't help but to blush again. "I'll see you in the morning then, Y/N." He smiles, turns away and leaves you flabbergasted and blushing in the coffee shop.

[januever]

this is slightly inspired by the 2010’s movie letters to juliet by gary winick. mainly names, places and events but still inspired. enjoy! :)

💌 — januever presents :

LETTERS TO JULIET. ﹙ charles leclerc x reader ﹚

SOMEWHERE, BEFORE JULIET :

everything was perfect in the beginning. your relationship with your fiancé, victor, was like paradise and you thought that nothing could ruin it. he was definitely the one.

he was extremely romantic, passionate and caring. he always made sure to pay attention to you and tried his best to make you feel wanted and loved.

until that dreadful day came by.

« my love, i am home! » you shouted as you entered your shared apartment, taking off your shoes by the door. you looked up and with no response from him, you decided to quietly enter the house, looking around in hopes to find your lover.

to no avail, you almost give up thinking that he might be caught up with work.

victor was an amazing chef and for the past few months, he had been working on the preparations for his first ever restaurant’s grand opening. you were more than thrilled for him, seeing how exciting it was for victor to finally make his dream come true.

truth be told that this phase of his life made your relationship more troubled than usual. he was now more focused on his work which made your alone time the perfect occasion for fighting, his phone constantly ringing from sponsors eager to talk to him, inviting him to all kinds of wine-tasting events at the most luxurious places that separated you two for weeks. that somewhat made your relationship colder as the time went by, leaving you with a sad heart.

finally leaving your apartment entrance behind, you hear whispered mumbles coming from your shared bedroom as soon as you enter the main corridor.

« well, that’s weird .. » you whisper to yourself, believing that you were home alone. was someone in your bedroom? or better yet, was your fiancé with someone in your bedroom? .. that couldn’t be. he didn’t reply to you just now so he obviously wasn’t home. right?

scared and confused, expecting the worst, your hands were shaking as they reached to the door’s knob, turning it slowly.

the worst had happened.

your heart dropped to the sight of your fiancé ( or better yet, ex-fiancé ) laying in bed with another woman. he tried his best to hide her under the duvet but with little to no success. you had already seen her.

all those moments, memories, fights, kisses … everything came to an end and how hurtful your freedom was. as soon as he looks up at you with the eyes of regret and tears start falling slowly down your cheeks, you run off the apartment and decide that you are leaving his life for good.

VERONA, DURING JULIET :

a year since you found out.

you left everything behind without a second thought, calling off the engagement, with much shock from victor’s family. they didn’t know the full story, and as much as you hated victor, you didn’t want to ruin everything for him. at least, not right now.

still, not wanting all the wedding preparations to fully go to waste, you took the honeymoon tickets and departed to your destination, verona, with much encouragement from your family and ex-fiancé.

« maybe some time away from each other was the best for us. it was time to call it quits. »

his text message was right. he was right. it was time for a brand-new start.

this time, in italy.

wandering through the streets of verona, your legs were taking you somewhere : la casa di giulietta, the famous balcony where juliet was wooed by her sweet romeo, or at least, that’s what shakespeare wrote.

it was one of the places on your enormous sigh-seeing wishlist for you 2 week stay at the city. you knew that if you were here with victor, he would be too busy to enjoy this moment with you, and with that, your mind travelled back to your unfortunate love life.

maybe juliet’s love magic was all that you needed for you to find your very own romeo, after all that had happened. one last bit of hope from you to love.

a big rustic brown sign with the words " La Casa de Giulietta “ engraved onto it signaled you that you had arrived to your destination.

passing the big entrance gate, you could see : so many romantically-hopeless women, some crying, some laughing, with all kinds of struggles and passions, doing the exact same thing. writing, hoping, confiding to their last resort, juliet, in hopes for a better love.

in front of them, a big brick wall stood firmly with a bunch of different papers and letters, of all colors and shapes stuck to it. all of them with the same loving intent.

the sight made your heart soften, and inspired you to do the same as the other women as you quietly sat down on a wooden-bench laying in the middle of the area. it was now your turn to ask for juliet’s help.

you sat there, not knowing exactly for how long. your mind wandering to all kinds of things you could say to juliet, begging for her to help you, to give you your perfect romance.

the sun light gradually being less and less strong signaled you that maybe it was time to return to your hotel and so, you decided to do exactly that. however, with an empty letter, which made you loose a little bit of hope.

packing all your belongings back into your bag with an heavy heart as you prepare yourself to leave, you hear heavy footsteps sounding from the entrance.

looking up out of pure curiosity, you see a figure emerging from the shadows and walking towards you. the dark pair of sunglasses sitting on their face, the dark cap on top of their head and the dimmed sun light made it harder for you to decipher who it was, making it a bit creepy looking, which startled you.

suddenly feeling uncomfortable, you decided to leave as fast as you could before the maybe-dangerous stranger could even think of doing something to you.

« i’m sorry if i startled you! don’t worry, it’s not what you’re thinking. » the somewhat intruder rapidly apologized as he noticed how uncomfortably you stood up and with a quick smile, he turned his back onto you, before stopping to face the brick wall. you noticed how his voice had a nice accent to it, definitely foreign.

his hands reached to the top of his head, taking his cap and sunglasses off and quickly messing with his hair. you admired how fluffy his hair appeared to be, colored with a nice hue of chocolate brown.

still watching him, you saw his hand reaching to one of the pockets of his jacket, before taking out a neatly folded yellow-colored post-it and placing it on a crack in the wall.

« are you also writing to juliet? » you questioned softly now moving besides him. the stranger, thinking that you had already left, jumped while one of his hands reached his chest, trying to calm his heart. « oh, i’m sorry! i didn’t mean to startle you! » you quickly apologized, frantically waving your hands in front of him.

« no no, it’s okay! i guess that’s my karma for scaring you earlier. » he chuckled softly to your antics, throwing a quick smile at you. his wide eyes had now relaxed and he seemed more at ease. you could finally see his face properly, noticing his green eyes watching you attentively. he’s quite pretty, you thought. « and to answer your question, yes, i am writing to juliet. » he replied, a hint of proudness in his tone.

« oh, i didn’t know men could also write to her .. » you mumbled to yourself, making him laugh sweetly.

« yeah, i’m not sure if i can do it either but hopefully she will help me either way. » he quickly shrugged, now facing the wall in front of both of you, reading some of the little cards with a soft smile on his lips.

« i didn’t meant it like that, i’m sorry! i’m just genuinely surprised. » you nervously said, now also looking at the wall, slightly embarrassed. why are you suddenly so nervous around this stranger? is it his eyes? you thought to yourself.

« it’s okay, i didn’t take it like that. » the man reassured, looking back at you briefly with the smile still plastered on his face. he seemed to stop for a while, thinking about something. a smirk appeared on his face, which made you look at him with a frown while softly asking what? « we should really stop apologizing to each other, you know. »

your frown slowly disappears as you both fall into soft giggles while you shake your head, nodding in agreement.

« yeah, we really should. »

« i’m charles, by the way. » he greeted warmly, throwing a sweet smile at you.

« nice to meet you, charles. i’m Y/N. » you replied now looking at him, locking both of your gazes.

« now, that’s a beautiful name. »

IN LOVE, AFTER JULIET :

it was now afternoon as your “ honeymoon ” came to an end.

the past month had been nothing but magical. and if you said that to charles, he would happily say that it was all because of him.

you got to know him a lot better during your vacation, easily getting along after your first encounter at juliet’s house. he took you on all kinds of adventures around the city and you found out he was quite familiar with the town, as well as some other provinces in italy.

he later told you about his job in formula one with ferrari, about his life in monaco, all kinds of funny stories from his childhood, all the crazy challenges with his teammate carlos … and all about his past.

you hugged, you cried, you laughed.

you bonded.

bonded over some ice cream, booping each other’s nose with the sweet icy treat as soft giggles came out of your mouths. the thought of that memory alone made you smile as you softly touched your nose with the tip of your fingers.

bonded during those late night-walks outside your hotel, to which he would walk to every late afternoon just to offer you dinner. the thought of those memories made charles’ feet hurt but it was all worth it.

bonded while watching the stars, laying on the grass from your hotel’s park. hands resting against each other, both of you blushing as they brushed a bit closer.

all those special moments, connecting like dots in your mind to give you the clarification that you needed: you were falling in love again. and this time, charles was the lucky guy.

you quickly got out of your thoughts as you heard knocking on your door. a smile spread through your face, knowing exactly who it was.

preparing yourself to greet charles goodnight as you opened your room’s door, you quickly got interrupted by an enthusiastic giggle.

« i got a letter back! » he excitedly exclaimed, holding up a white envelope for you to see. you could clearly read the word “juliet��� on the front of the envelope, and the sight made your heart warm.

« from juliet, i suppose? » you asked with a soft laugh as you saw the happy man entering your room, while doing some kind of weird dance.

« oui. and i want you to read it! » he said, as he extended his arm in front of you. you frowned, taking the letter from his hand while glancing at him.

« are you sure? after all, this is your letter. » he only nodded in agreement as he gave you a warm smile. you gave in, mumbling a small okay as you opened the envelope.

“ dear Y/N,

this is charles. i’m sorry for disappointing you, as i’m sure that you were expecting a letter from juliet.

the truth is, this past month that we spent together was beautiful and i believe that juliet meant for us to meet. all those moments and all these feelings bottling up, waiting for the right time to tell you everything.

with you leaving so soon, i couldn’t have let you go without trying.

please, be the juliet to this pleading romeo. (with less drama and more love, of course.)

— charles. ”

reading the letter over and over again, you couldn’t help but feel confused. all those words echoing in your head, making your heart beat faster. did charles really mean all of it? maybe juliet could help you.

charles looked at you with an hesitant expression, slowly feeling more and more scared of your rejection. maybe he took the signs too far. maybe juliet couldn’t help him.

with each second ticking, you finally made your decision.

quickly mumbling a fuck it under your breath, you cup charles’ face with your hands and pull him into a kiss.

all of those unsaid words, everything being as clear as a confirmation for both of you that the love there was real.

charles’s “ grazie, giulietta. ” made you smile against his lips.

he was right.

thank you, juliet.

hellooo everyone! nana here :)

just wanted to say thank you for reading my first ever work all the way until the end. this was a true hustle to finish writing but i managed to do it nonetheless … TT

this is not the best thing ever written but i tried my absolute best and i hope u love it either way ♡

this was proofread buy a veeeery eepy nana so please excuse any grammar / sentence mistakes okay love !!!

remember to take care of yourselves & that u are very much loved!

much love,

— nana 💐

[hraeth-ethile]

The Set of Composite Elements of the Soul (Persian: مجموعه عناصر مرکب روح) is a collected work of religious and theological materials and literature that, at first, explains the various experiences and adventures of pagan heroes, myths, and legends, going on to list a total collection of each sapient species' chief cultural deities and a thorough description of them all.

The volume was written and compiled by Lady Mehr Darzi in 1899 before being brought to Western readers in 1908 by noted travelling English historian Nigel Howe. A tremendous, lifelong effort by a disgraced former Islamic mystic priestess, her final work received, at first, little notoriety until it was examined in greater detail in Isfahan by a cultural museum's high curator - who became obsessed with it and even offered to pay her for a visit to the museum in exchange for an interview.

Lady Darzi accepts the offer, but perishes, along with many others, in a catastrophic train derailing within the Abr Forest. Her death is a tremendous blow to the city of Isfahan, which had, up to that point, begun to attract a cult following thanks to her high curator admirer, Ben Alam, spending a great deal of his own time and money advertising her work. He exhibited her personal history, as well as her personality, from things he'd learned about her in the series of letters they exchanged with each other before her departure from Mashhad.

She is brought to Isfahan and given a very small but lavish and formal funeral, where a great feast and candle-lit dance begins a lasting city tradition so popular with its attendees that word of her work and its influence eventually reaches the ears of nomadic Englishman Nigel Howe in the autumn of 1904 after he'd been staying there since the start of the year. Fascinated by conversations about a 'ghostly, white-clad feline woman' who had managed to study and explore so much of mortal spirituality, he eventually meets with the high curator of Isfahan's Imperial Museum of Culture and the Lost Histories and Sciences of the Earth - who he learns had been the source of the city's own fascination with her.

After weeks of deliberation and intimate discussion, Nigel Howe is gifted the original copy of Lady Darzi's The Set of Composite Elements of the Soul to study, alongside the Persian language, to then translate into English so that future copies can be made for English-speaking readers. After four years of dedicated research, Nigel Howe, now fluent in Persian and successful in his task, takes his translated copies with him on his return to London, where the first edition release of the English version of Lady Darzi's life work is brought to the West.

The initial response was tepid, but soon drew fanatical interest from the Temporae Calendarium Project - a civilian London collective who were united towards researching and cataloguing the various cultural differences of sapient species. They promised to sponsor and support the translated works of Lady Darzi, namely through advertising and gimmicks, in exchange for 30% of all sales in perpetuity. Howe agrees, and from 1908 until the beginning of the Great War, the Temporae Calendarium and its supporters made The Set of Composite Elements of the Soul their sole focus.

It is only in 1920 when the book becomes a popular interest in the city of London, but when it does, its popularity then explodes across the entire West - though especially in Paris, which begins translating the volume into French.

As of 2020, The Set of Composite Elements of the Soul has been translated into 52 languages, and the Tomb of Lady Mehr Darzi of the River Fronds in Isfahan has become a popular tourist destination. A permanent exhibit of her, her literature, and their influence remains in the former Imperial Museum of Culture and the Lost Histories and Sciences of the Earth - which has since been renamed to the Mohammad Mosaddegh Museum of World Culture.

While the first half of the book postulates and explains the complexities, similarities, and histories of many cultural and non-cultural pagan faiths in the world, it goes on to list and describe, in fairly substantial depth, each deity to each species' cultures, which Lady Darzi was able to express after many years of travel and hundreds of interviews with many different kinds of pagan priests and leaders - all of whom were credited in the glossary section.

This comprehensive list features such articles as the HosÌgɜganÌ, and begins thusly with:

• Apea, or just Cest, is described as the very sky itself, but much more than this, too. It is all things, it is everywhere, and, yet, it is also something real and physical. It is said to be too blinding to see, too hot to touch, and too beautiful to describe. It is both heaven and saviour, god and friend, teacher and companion.

In the earliest zerda sapiens litanies, the fennec foxes of extremely ancient Libya and Algeria once describes Cest as being an oddly-shaped 'ovaloid' - an oval-shaped being, with oval-shaped appendages - that, in its very centre, shined an incredibly bright star-like light. Its arms were large and rounded, and when things were touched by Cest, they would turn to pure crystals known in the fennec language as Afezeria oz Apea, or 'blessed by the most-blessed' - as Cest Apea itself means 'blessed reality'. These crystals would only last for thirty minutes before disappearing in the literal blink of an eye.

It is widely believed by Apeaen fennecs that Lot's wife, in the biblical accounting of Sodom and Gomorrah, was actually blessed by Cest in this way.

Cest has no singular purpose or celestial need other than for life to persist. Threats to existence are seen as the only sin to it, as it is existence, and, thus, threats to existence are threats to itself. It rewards those fennecs who provide for the land and sky most fondly, making many Apeaen fennecs environmentally careful if not very proactive in the preservation of the earth and its elements. As of this year, 1899, an Apeaen priest in upper India has been trying especially hard at purifying a lake that he believes is a mirror into the 'beauty of Cest Apea', owing to the current fennec name for the lake: Celetille der du Dje, or 'clear and beautiful to the body [of Cest]'. The Persian translation for this would be 'mirror lake'.

Because Cest has no want or fear, beyond the protection of reality, the Apeaen fennec believes that to lead a pleasured and happy life is how one may please Cest most and, on the day of that fennec's death, they may become part of Cest. In this way, a fennec who perishes in life is absorbed into the body and consciousness of all things, which, to that fennec, means that they will become a god in death. Instead of this enticing Apeaen fennec foxes to become a cult of death, they tend to live extremely sexual or flamboyant lives, where the pleasures of the flesh and mind are seen as holy exaltations. This has led many Apeaens to imbibe of alcohol and drugs, and to often partake in sex rituals, or to have sex gladly, easily, and often with each other and those willing but not of their faith.

• Doólelasholan and Emethá are the chief deities of pagan cervidae sapiens, or The Háalemamid.

Doólelasholan, which comes from their language, and means 'alone at last after a tiresome experience', is described by ancient deer peoples in China and Europe as a very large and naked white buck with red stripes on his antlers who hunts his many evil offspring in the day before resting in caves at night.

The sun, an invention of their primordial mother Rumi-Loláad Lhohoth, was poisoned in secret by Doólelasholan's sinister sister-wife Emethá. Eternally cursed by this poison, it would fall from the sky at night to let her and her wicked children know that Doólelasholan is asleep and, thus, that they were safe to commit terrible crimes upon the earth and its people.

Emethá, which means 'clown', was resentful of her fate and existence. She is deeply spiteful of her godly and all-powerful family, which she believes forced her to wed her own brother, to whom she has always despised from the beginning of time. She betrayed her brother-husband Doólelasholan, severing their relationship and, thus, casting her down from divinity. Moments before her fall, she stabs him with a white oak stake that she had whittled in private. The wood is derived from the first tree of the earth, which is also the most sacred object of all sacred objects and the source of all antlers on every mortal deer. This was a sacrilegious act, perhaps the most sacrilegious act in the Háalemamid faith.

Now mortal and forever weakened from the attack, Doólelasholan is tasked by his mother to find and destroy Emethá. But they did not know her to be pregnant at the time of her exile to the mortal realm, and, so, through strange and dark sorcery, Emethá turned her future offspring into terrifying mockeries of deer that she planned to take the realm over with; to turn all living things against their creators by assaulting and destroying heaven and ending mortal reliance on gods and divinity.

Many culturally pagan deer worship and revere Emethá, who is described as having a white skull-painted face, whose entire body is covered in a gruesome crimson red paint except for her pelvis, forearms, wrists, and hands. They see her as the custodian and protector of mortality, a warrior and protector worthy of being worshipped as both god and equal.

To honour her, these deer, who call themselves lhebehizh, or 'her shamed', will paint or tattoo their bodies, which they will wear every day for the rest of their lives. In addition, they will partake in evening rituals where much smoke is produced and many fires are made. They will also have ritualistic orgies, and readily partake in the common or copious use of drugs and alcohol, as most earthly pleasures are seen as connecting with the most meaningful and true of all divine things, which, according to the lhebehizh, is wohothulewoth wíi, or 'living for/through the wisdom of the mother'.

Along with these things, the lhebehizh are ancestor worshipers and greatly venerate the recently deceased, who they assemble and commit to very large and extravagant funerals, for, in the month of December, they act out a kind of 'social fasting' where many will isolate themselves from their friends, their family, and/or their communities; their attempt to strengthen their understanding of Emethá by putting themselves in similar conditions, or search for familiar feelings, for what she, as a banished once-god, has experienced.

Most culturally pagan deer, of a significant living portion, even, worship and revere, instead, Doólelasholan, his mother Rumi-Loláad Lhohoth, his many fathers, and the various animistic spirits and incarnations of divinity that are assembled in their heavenly, infinite halls. These are the Háalemamid, or: 'the children'. They live lives almost a complete opposite of the lhebehizh, where they revile all forms of body art; they will never wear body paint of any kind, or brandish tattoos. Instead, they paint, adorn, or otherwise decorate their antlers and foreheads in beautiful arrangements of geometric patterns, crystal displays, wood charms, or cloth ribbons.

Instead of the veneration of familial ancestors, past heroes, and the recent dead, the Háalemamid honour greatly the living best of their order, who they uplift to great status within their communities or societies.

Instead of honouring divinity through the flesh and with mortal needs, they abstain from any and all intoxicants, and live exceedingly sober lives.

Instead of ritual isolation, they tend to congregate in large communities, where many have come to stay, and where some have long been even for several, or dozens, of generations.

The Háalemamid vehemently oppose lhebehizh. Most believe them to be no worse than the twisted abominations which have come from Emethá's evil womb, and these two religious factions have, throughout history and into the present day, fought, battled, and murdered one-another in a unceasing holy war that neither side believes will win without the complete and total destruction of the other. Even as far west as the United States, and as far south as Australia, there are Háalemamid leaders and speakers who, if they do not at least publicly spurn the lhebehizh, will actively promote harmful actions to come to them.

In the reverse of this, there are lhebehizh warriors and spiritualists who, like the dervishes and the janissary of the past, commit themselves to tasks of careful sabotage and intelligencing against the businesses and political efforts of the Háalemamid in cities so wide and towns so small.

• nYbi-kEos rU-nUm Ub sYbU Yt-as, or, in Persian, Wise Raven of a Lack of Mortal Thought or Origin. It can also be translated much more literally as Wise-Qualified Big Black Bird of Thing-without-Concept From-Place. This is the highest deity, above a pantheon of many much weaker deities, worshipped by the Ôzvom - which, in their very unusual and difficult language, simply means 'feline'.

The Ôzvom are distinctly, and quietly, the culturally pagan felines of the world. While they number in what is understood to be merely the thousands, there is at least one Ôzvom feline in every nation in the world, and each of them are unusually powerful and wise priests of their order. Their power does not lie in mysticism, or magical roots, but rather in what they seem to always be aware of. This almost unheard-of ability to predict harm and distress from agencies, governments, and most people has preserved what little remains of an extremely ancient and virtually unknown unified religious body that seems to always be in contact with each other despite extreme distance from each other.

nYbi-kEos rU-nUm Ub sYbU Yt-as is known much more commonly by their simplified name Tap-Daivru, which means 'leads well', but is also known, especially by Lepee rabbits and the West, as Leads Well. Leads Well's earliest description is well-explained and documented by a Hellenized sapient Persian white tabby cat from this very nation, who resided in what was once known as Hekatompylos, near the current city of Šahr-e Qumis. This cat, a religious scholar not unlike myself, calls the city of his birth to be that of the ancient city of Magnesia on the Maeander, in what is now known as the Turkish village of Tekin. His description, which he obtained through many conversations with many ancient Ôzvom, who were also widely Hellenized like himself, explains that Leads Well is a sapient raven. There are no sapient birds; there have never been any sapient avians. This makes Leads Well a very peculiar religious mystery that, if any living Ôzvom have the ability to solve, have long-since refused to do so and very likely never will.

Leads Well is described as an obsidian-black raven that lives genderless, and responds only to they and them. They wear a large and flowing white shawl, which drapes in two long tassels, and covers entirely their broad shoulders. Their wings are attached to their arms, which are said to be bizarrely long, just as their legs are also held to be unusually long. They have five talons, which act as their fingers, and have three talons which act as the toes on their feet. Their long arms and legs are adorned in white gold loops, chains, trinkets, charms, and chains, which all shift into each other to create a very noticeable sound wherever they move. Their well-established physical description exists because they are believed to have once been a god whose divine plane was the same as the mortal one, and that many descriptions of them come from their personal experiences in meeting them. They believe that Leads Well thrived with all Ôzvom felines on what would eventually become the mortal realm - until they suddenly went into hiding, deep beneath an ancient temple that is deep within the world. This location, which can somehow be accessed by mortals, was nonetheless made nigh-impossible to find except by only those with the purest of hearts and intentions.

Ôzvom today believe that, if any one such Ôzvom feline is able to find and enter the cave which leads to this deep and far-away temple, and then successfully enter the temple themselves, that they become part of Leads Well's personal secret pantheon, who then shares with them all their great knowledge and power.

Remarkably little else is known about Leads Well, except that, in the long-ago religious lore of the Ôzvom, it is told that Leads Well created existence by a spark that came from them clashing their white gold staff with a sword after battling some unknown dark power or force, and that, when wounded in this battle, their blood fell to temper the heat of the new stars, which then came to bring and create life on the worlds that surrounded these stars. Thus, all life is divine and has the potential to become gods and creators.

• Catmh is the only deity, or, rather, the only deity left, in the culturally pagan sapient marsupial's pantheon. The meaning of its name is a mystery, like many words and names from their mostly-dead language. This culturally pagan religion was known as Cioth, with each individual known as an Usarh, and has long since gone extinct. Sapient pagan marsupials, when they have been pagan, have overwhelmingly supported and become pagans of already existing religious orders like Graeco-Romanism, Semitic paganism, Celtic mythology, and etc. By the time of the Pope Pelagius II, there were only a few hundred Usarh marsupials left, with most living in the then-undiscovered United States, Canada, and Alaska. Today, the only thing left that remains of their faith is the description of their great god Catmh and how it came to become the only god out of what was supposedly a very large pantheon. None of the names or descriptions of these other gods remain now, having been entirely lost to history.

Catmh only appears, now, in intricate bas reliefs found in cave walls, and in the catalogued testimonies and traditions of the very few surviving Usarh marsupials. It is physically described as being a large floating brain with tendril-like appendages that transmits and absorbs thoughts through touch. Its limbs are said to glow when it touches living things, which seems to include trees and flowers. While its depiction may be extremely frightening, Catmh, whose wisdom and power were so beyond mortal comprehension as to defy any attempt to give a name or title to it, had no clear desire whatsoever to either destroy or create.

Instead, Catmh, after becoming the only remaining god to the Cioth, wandered the earth for thousands of years, collecting mortal knowledge and experiences, and observing mortal beings in secret, before mysteriously vanishing from the world to return to the empty palace from which it first came, where it is believed by the last of the living Usarh that Catmh ascends beyond godhood to become something too great to even begin to safely fathom.

• Wawa Ma Mama Mije Mi, or just Mama, is the enigmatic and all-powerful deity of the culturally pagan rodent. These pagan rodents, known collectively as the Kulupu Ona and individually as Mi, worship, still, this divine creature who, depending on the time of day, the very day, the month of the year, the season in these months, and the actual year itself, could become a king or queen, mouse or rat or other kind of rodent, change personalities, change sizes, become particularly more powerful or substantially weaker, or even die - only to be reborn again at the start of the new year. This single but ever-changing godly being, who sits atop a throne of golden rat skulls and wields a rod made of pure flaming pink energy, is said to have given orders to the first of the European and Asian rodents to assemble into covens, and, with their rod, blessed the first feral rodents with becoming sapient.

Mama is never given a specific description, because they are always changing their shape, their fur, or even their species, and their personality, too, is elusive, for even this changes always and seemingly so at random that only the very devout Kulupu Ona would truly know.

• Maya Sempra is the only remaining deity to whom the sapient lupines of western Europe once worshipped before unanimously absorbing into Graeco-Romanism. Like the sapient marsupials of Europe, wolves preferred to become part of other paganhoods in their region, at least in theory. The rise of the Roman pantheon is seen to be synonymous with the rise of lupine paganism, for it is the wolf who fostered the Roman gods into the lives of non-wolves. Today, lupine pagans are overwhelmingly Graeco-Romans, just as almost all European wolves - which have been the most numerous species in Europe for many centuries - were, too, in the times of the SPQR.

This absorption was so complete that it's postulated whether it ever happened to begin with. There are theories, in the time of this writing even, that Graeco-Romanism is tied to the sapience of all wolves, with some believing that Jupiter blessed the wolf with sapience before any and all other species because Jupiter and all the gods were wolves themselves.

But there is evidence, though scarce and rare, and in the lost-but-not-forgotten Proto-Romance language of Fenestro, that ancient wolves, far removed from the era of Tarquinius Superbus, once worshipped a wide pantheon. Their origins and the cause of their being cast away in favour of Saturn and Jupiter are completely unknown and will likely stay this way for all time, but it is known, even now, and mostly thanks to one surviving statue in a lost Croatian cave, that Maya Sempra once held great sway once with the sapiens lupini species.

Maya Sempra, Fenestro for 'never always'. According to cave writings found in the Cave of Prometheus in East Croatia and on a statue of her likeness in the very same cave, she is thoroughly depicted to be an extremely tall wolf. Said to be three meters standing, with very long arms, very long fingers, and a very long snout, she strode the world hunting, killing, and eating the evil and the weak - which to many ancient wolves was one-and-the-same. Her appearance was said to only frighten villages who knew she would cause harm to them and, thus, would be deserving of harm and death.

Only the greatest and strongest of lupine towns and villages would be gifted three boons from her. The first boon was a tooth. She has many teeth, because her snout is so long, and her teeth are very long and sharp because of how tall she is. It is said that the chief of these honoured wolves would hone and shape the great wolf's tooth offering into a sacrificial dagger. The second boon would be a child. The strongest of the tribe's men would be chosen by her and they would mate together in the open while this chosen wolf would be praised and honoured by his entire tribe until his eventual orgasm. Afterwards, his spilled seed would be used to bless the bodies of three women and one man of his own choosing. These women would become his wives, and the man would become his lifelong bodyguard. The third boon would be that this chosen man would be made chief of the tribe of his birth, which means that the active chief would be killed. Those chiefs who would run from Maya Sempra would doom their village to slaughter, so the honoured tribe would watch as Maya Sempra tears the chief, who becomes an unsteady but willing sacrifice, apart. The blood-soaked bones of the tribe's former chief would then be fashioned into a crown which the new, blessed chief would wear for the rest of his life and pass down to his children, which he would be guaranteed to have many of with his three wives.

Then Maya Sempra, the great white wolf, departs, to kill and eat the unworthy wolves of the world, and to bless the tribes and people most worthy of her boons, which was said to shape the fate of the people's futures as being blessed by her was widely considered to be the ultimate of all possible divine honours.

• Mari, Tari, and nInlé are three extremely powerful creator-gods worshipped by the ever-devout and dedicated Lepee rabbits. A dualist faith with an outlier, Lapia, which praises and uplifts Mari above nearly anything and everything, nonetheless has those among them who greatly revere Tari - but who all live to be terrified of nInlé.

Mari, who created the earth and willed herself into existence, willed, too, her teacher and companion Tari in a frantic cry of loneliness. Later on, centuries or more, a third all-powerful being reveals itself to these two sorcerous creatures of space, who Mari herself names as nInlé.

Mari, after taking a rabbit form, leaves the earth to Tari to nourish and observe while she pursues nInlé to the edges of reality. All the while, she is creating and seeding more worlds to bring them to equal or greater levels of greatness to that of the earth - though it's stressed with intent by the culturally pagan rabbits, who call themselves Lepee, that the earth, or Hraeth Ethile, has, is, and will always be her magnum opus; her most-favoured, most-cherished creation in all creation.

Mari, Tari, and nInlé are each explained in great detail, in large part due to legendary Lepee rabbit bookkeeping and archive work, work which has always been widely respected and renowned for being some of the best, most thorough, and widely unbiased in the world and in all history. Even the most insignificant details of sapient rabbit past and present have been recorded and kept, with copies made to ensure a permanent place in the world. This has made this part of my work the easiest, and, in that way, I thank the Lepee rabbits with all my heart.

Mari is known to be a kind of celestial shapeshifter who has two forms, the first of which she only shows in formal encounters. This form, which is regarded as her 'true form', is a metallic or smooth stone-like and highly-reflective obsidian-black triangle structure that floats upside-down. Her mortal form, which she took for herself in honour of her 'most-honoured creation', that of the sapiens leporidii species, is one where she looks like "a young and naked freckled white-furred adult rabbit woman" who is often wielding a very strange spear and "has a black cloth blindfold over her eyes and tied to the back of her head where two very long ribbon trails are always shifting to a wind that is not there". What makes her spear strange has been left up to debate, but most believe it is because of the material of the spear itself, which is, in some descriptions, "as white as the sun's light", or "as dark as the deepest evening".

Mari has had only a few personal experiences with the species to whom she has both created and gifted the earth to, and in each of these experiences, she has given kindness, counsel, food, wisdom, or protection. In not one of these experiences has she ever shown any emotion more negative than sheer, weeping disappointment. This has earned her a reputation for being a loving and perfect being, on the same level of unconditional adoration towards her mortal subjects as the Christian god. Unlike the Christian god, however, there are no sins in Lapia whatsoever, but there is no understanding of what heaven is, either. The Lepee afterlife is one that has been debated as long as the faith has existed, which, if it is as true as it is believed to be, is older than history itself.

Tari's description is less prophetic and poetic and more blunt and obvious. He is the sun. He has always looked like the sun, he has always been the sun, and he will remain the sun. A silent, constant observer and steward, whose light and base power is so utterly incredible that all mortal life is overwhelmingly dependent on it. But even this, as it has been implied, is only there until mortals devise a way to no longer be dependent on it. It is then, according to the Lepee bible, that rabbits can begin to finally seek after the mother who birthed them. To get the answers they've long sought after all these passing aeons.

Finally, it is nInlé who defies and exhausts understanding and description. First noted to be the literal void of space, it is in the tale of the Legend of Unknown Son where she took the shape of a crimson-eyed black rabbit with large angelic wings as dark black as her fur. Her ability to perform miracles and sorcery is so great as to be considered instantaneous and easy. She has killed mortals without any regard for their suffering, but seems to always have a specific, singular goal in mind. Without hesitation, she will torture and destroy anyone who stands between her and her goals - whatever they could possibly be. She does not seem to care about bystanders, however, unless it is in cases where they have directly or indirectly wronged someone she has been searching for or was needing something from.

Despite her seemingly unlimited power, in the only legend, and in all the rumoured mythical encounters with her, she always seems to be relying on one or more mortal rabbits on giving her something specific, or helping her understand or explore something unknown to even her. In this way, she is anathematic to Mari. Mari, who seems to have no need for mortals at all, to the point of leaving earth forever, and nInlé, who seems confused and fascinated by mortals, and requires at least one's aid at any given time. From having intercourse, to acquiring a kind of rare item, or just simply having very long and compounded conversations, the supposed infinite void of space and time and mystery given mortal form appears to be much more interested in Mari's creations than Mari herself, though is certainly quick to kill any who believe that this complacency of hers is something equal to weakness.

• HosÌgɜganÌ is a council of five divine beings whose name in the cultural language of sapiens mustelidae means 'experimenters.' Unlike most cultural pagan deities, except for perhaps the incredible literary and artistic popularity of the Lepee goddesses Mari and nInlé, HosÌgɜganÌ, and their powers and experiences, are featured in plays and novels because of the violence and mystery that is part of their existence.

The mustelid cultural religion is alive and well, though perhaps just as stagnant in growth as Lapia, and, just like the Lepee rabbit, the culturally pagan mustelid - known in their language of Fáre as MṓjÌ, or 'village' - holds their council of five gods to be supreme, to be highly intelligent, and to be profoundly dangerous.

While the individual names of HosÌgɜganÌ have never been disclosed - which has always been a purposeful decision, for only the role of the MṓjÌ's religious 'banker' in the Canadian town of Tofino is allowed to know their true identities - their individual descriptions are indeed rich, as is the throne room from which they rule over their many cruelly-taken realms.

HosÌgɜganÌ are killers and galactic conquerors, save, perhaps, for the badger among them. They each hail from a different, taken world, none of which have a name in Fáre, and were risen to the 'rank of god' through a unanimous and diplomatic process between the existing council members. It is believed by most MṓjÌ that the first member brought into divinity was a robed weasel, who then uplifted an otter and made her the second-oldest member of HosÌgɜganÌ. Some argue, however, that a badger was first to inducted into the council. Whatever the truth is, their exploits are many, and were covered in greater detail earlier on in this book.

Suffice it to say, these divine beings are very real to the MṓjÌ, who also believe that they continue to conquer world after world. All mustelids are supposedly the descendants of teenagers and young adults that were brought to Earth as trophies, or perhaps just as proof, of HosÌgɜganÌ's conquests across the stars.

HosÌgɜganÌ share their profound power and influence between their five members (in no particular order):

The first member is a feminine weasel who wears a starry black-cobalt robe where dozens of jewels hang from all corners of. She is seen by many to be the most powerful and important member of HosÌgɜganÌ, perhaps the leader and founder of the divine council.

The second member is a masculine badger who wears a bright orange shawl or poncho with striking white stripes. He wields a long wooden staff with a slanted top where stars hang from tethers of pure light. He is said to be the wisest being, and the only member of his council who is pacifistic by nature. This has supposedly put him at odds with them.

The third member is a feminine marten wearing long-sleeved white gloves and very long white leggings, with equally very long red ribbons tied near the ends. At the end of these ribbons are attached many white gold chains that drag along the ground along with the ribbons themselves. She wields a large wand, with a tip made of prismatic crystal, where a red ribbon is tied between the crystal and the wooden handle to bond them both together.

The fourth member is a feminine otter wearing a full suit of exceptionally regal gold-black armour that is adorned and tied with orange, white, and red sash and ribbon cloths. She wields a single sword, which is tied to her hip with a sash made of all three of these colours. This sword is a kind of battle sabre, or perhaps a broadsword, with a bright red handle, a prismatic crystal pommel, and a dark black blade that sparkles at all times. This sword is legendary to the MṓjÌ, and is featured prominently in MṓjÌ history. It is said that the sword is able to cleave holes in space, and is so sharp and blessed by such deep and divine power that it is considered the only thing in the universe able to kill gods. This includes her fellow HosÌgɜganÌ council members.

The fifth and final member is a masculine ermine, who wears black cloth and leather armour, and wields a ceremonial dagger that has powers known only to him. Even the others of his council are not privy to what it - or he - is truly capable of. He is seen as the most violent and bloodthirsty of his fellows, always the first to help plan a campaign of war and conquest. A tactical genius and martial warrior without equal, except perhaps the otter in the council, he is and has been favoured by many MṓjÌ generals and soldiers throughout history - as well as by MṓjÌ murderers and assassins.

• ɳʊt̪aɲa Raɭʊ, or 'bloody ghost' in the cultural language of the lemurs, remains, today, the highest and most powerful god in the spirit-focused pantheon of the culturally pagan lemur. Lemurs, or The Highest Three, are the only primates to have been gifted sapience in all the whole history of the world. Sapient true lemurs, ring-tailed lemurs, and lepilemurs are all unified by two things: their highly sophisticated and successful communal societies, and their faith.

The culturally pagan lemur religion is an anomaly, even to other pagan faiths, for they worship dead gods instead of living ones. These gods, which are, in truth, not gods but rather many divine spirits, act as batteries and avatars that sometimes inhabit trees and ferals. Sometimes, too, they will even go as far as to possess lemurs and other sapient species of mortal person. Possession in this religion, unlike in Catholicism, is an extremely positive thing, and when someone is suspected of being possessed by one of these undead beings, celebrations are made and gifts are given.

This and more has turned the culturally pagan lemurs into a death-worshipping peoples who decorate themselves with eerie white paints and powders to appear skeletal. Only the leaders of these communities will wear face paint, however, and often in the style of a skeletal face plate, but sometimes will shave the fur from their heads to reveal a complete skull tattoo. The recently deceased are seen as mortals ascending to a kind of godhood, where their spirit will be weighed by none other than ɳʊt̪aɲa Raɭʊ itself - to either be granted a position of divine and eternal prominence, or to be destroyed for all time by the glowing 'redder-than-red' spirit-god.

ɳʊt̪aɲa Raɭʊ is described by past and present culturally pagan lemurs, in texts, art, and dramatic tribal plays. They are are the bright, illuminated, 'redder-than-red' being which has the features of all three lemurs raised to to sapience. They are unique in many ways, to these lemurs and to the outside observer, but most notably because they are the only spirit in their pantheon to be called a creature - despite their name partially translating to 'ghost' or 'living spirit'.

ɳʊt̪aɲa Raɭʊ is an odd entity, one who has never possessed anyone or anything, who reveals themselves only very rarely and often for unknown reasons, and has never spoken a single word to, or demanded a single thing from, any mortal. Regardless, it is explained in several myths in legends, many of which even come from other pagans and non-pagans of various sapient species, that they are so horrifying to behold and so chilling to encounter that it is said the very air becomes hard to breathe - as if to exist in their presence causes the body to seize and cower.

In the Lepee Legend of Whiskers and Teeth, the Lepee rabbit Whiskers and Teeth supposedly meets some kind of red, bloodied, glowing spirit entity that lemurs believe to be their powerful and most-important dead god. Part of this Lepee legend states that Whiskers and Teeth witnesses them floating across a stagnant lake deep, deep beneath the earth, where, after being seen by them, flees and is chased for upwards of an hour. While Whiskers and Teeth felt as though his life was in danger, the lemurs of today seek the explanation that their god merely wished to speak to him, or even to bless him.

But in some cases, being blessed by ɳʊt̪aɲa Raɭʊ, at least to these specific culturalist lemur pagans, was to be killed. Nothing is certain, especially in the case of Whiskers and Teeth, for it is said that he lived in a time long before true recorded history.

• The last divine being that is still widely worshipped by any known culturally pagan sapient species belongs to that of the European fox. This is a misnomer, however, as many foxes, from all over the world, have worshipped this being before - if they do not still already do.

This being, in their uniquely vulpine romance language, is known as Maiz Bizarmol Kalizinz, or Mother of the Ash Tree of the Evening Prayer. She is a skeleton who wears a special kind of ceremonial dress or ritual shawl, also uniquely vulpine, called a scilia lizo or 'dancer's cowl.' The scilia lizo is three wide and very long drapes. Two of these drapes come down at the back, on either side of the spine, while the third drape covers the chest, stomach, and pelvis. Each of these drapes can have patterns or emblems on them, but in the case of the culturally pagan vulpines' skeletal goddess, hers is said to be all-white and radiant.

Although vulpine peoples have been part of what is the 'predator caste' in many societies all o'er the world, they are, at their very core, tree and nature-worshippers, and the only known deity being a complete skeleton makes little outside sense. Regardless, though, many culturally pagan vulpines still worship and adore her, as they have since pre-historical times - at least according to them, and the Lepee, as sapient rabbits and foxes vie and compete to be regarded as the oldest sapient culture.

Maiz Bizarmol Kalizinz, simplified to be called Maiz or Mother Maiz (which is technically nonsense, as Maiz is the vulpine word for 'mother' to begin with), has never touched the earth. Instead, her avatar is chosen seemingly at random to speak for her. Sometimes this is a spiritual leader, old and wise. Other times, it can even be a small and very young child. To prove that this is their matron goddess speaking to them, a specific word is uttered. What this word is, it is a well-kept secret, to prevent other sapient foxes - or even other sapient species - from abusing something that could potentially bring great ruin or unnecessary change.

Mother Maiz is regarded as being incredibly gentle, kind, and wise, who seems to prefer being there for specific individuals and groups. So intimate is her relationship with mortals that it is considered rude or even obscene to give offerings to her, as doing so would make that fox look self-serving and overly ambitious. Instead, these pagan foxes will simply wait for her to give them signs of love or approval in ways which are both small and large, and can be anything from their favourite flower being left on their bed one day, to the community in which they live being granted sudden but complete safety from a natural disaster moments before total demise, and much more else.

Many foxes have said to have been visited by her in the past through a friend or family member, have explained their experience with being chosen as her avatar, or have told of their encounters with things she has done or left for them or someone else in their life. Each time, she has been motherly and affectionate, or wise and sincere, but never violent, or interested in mortal affairs beyond the personal concerns of someone or the safety of a person or group.

This has ironically led to a detached kind of worship, where she has become a beloved figurehead more than someone to aspire for, pray to, or act in favour of, and because she has never had any demands, sin has been handled in a case-by-case basis, where each culturally pagan vulpine community handles both sin and punishment according to that community and their elders rather than what might be considered wrong or evil by their skeletal goddess or by the faith in whole.

[detectivehole]

Port Royal

Port Royal is a town located at the end of the Palisadoes, at the mouth of Kingston Harbour, in southeastern Jamaica. Founded in 1494 by the Spanish, it was once the largest city in the Caribbean, functioning as the centre of shipping and commerce in the Caribbean Sea by the latter half of the 17th century.[1] It was destroyed by an earthquake on 7 June 1692, which had an accompanying tsunami, leading to the establishment of Kingston, which is now the largest city in Jamaica. Severe hurricanes have regularly damaged the area. Another severe earthquake occurred in 1907.

Port Royal was once home to privateers who were encouraged to attack Spanish vessels, at a time when smaller European nations were reluctant to attack Spain directly. As a port city, it was notorious for its gaudy displays of wealth and loose morals. It was a popular homeport for the English and Dutch-sponsored privateers to spend their treasure during the 17th century. When those governments abandoned the practice of issuing letters of marque to privateers against the Spanish treasure fleets and possessions in the later 16th century, many of the crews turned pirate. They continued to use the city as their main base during the 17th century. Pirates from around the world congregated at Port Royal, coming from waters as far away as Madagascar.

After the 1692 disaster, Port Royal's commercial role was steadily taken over by the nearby town (and later, city) of Kingston. Plans were developed in 1999 to redevelop the small fishing town as a heritage tourism destination to serve cruise ships. The plan was to capitalize on Port Royal's unique heritage, with archaeological findings from pre-colonial and privateering years as the basis of possible attractions.[1]

CLIMATE

Port Royal has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw) with a short dry season from January to April and a lengthy wet season from May to October. Temperatures remain steady throughout the year with the dry season being slightly cooler and range from 25.5 °C (77.9 °F) in January to 27.7 °C (81.9 °F) in May. The average annual precipitation is 1,345 millimetres (53 in).[2]

HISTORY

The Taino historic indigenous people of the Caribbean occupied this area for centuries before European settlement. They used the area, which they called Caguay or Caguaya,[3] during their fishing expeditions. Although it is not known whether they ever settled at the spot, they did inhabit other parts of Jamaica.[4]

Colonisation

The Spanish first landed in Jamaica in 1494 under the leadership of Christopher Columbus, leading to the destruction of the Taino population. Permanent settlement occurred when Juan de Esquivel brought a group of settlers in 1509. They came in search of new lands and valuable resources, like gold and silver. Instead they began to cultivate and process the sugar cane. Much like the Taino before them, the Spanish did not appear to have much use for the Port Royal area. They did, however, retain its Taino name.[3] Spain kept control of Jamaica mostly so that it could prevent other countries from gaining access to the island, which was strategically situated within the trade routes of the Caribbean. Spain maintained control over the island for 146 years, until the English took control following their invasion of 1655.

The town was captured by England in 1655 during the invasion of Jamaica.[4][5] By 1659 two hundred houses, shops and warehouses had been built around the fort; by 1692 five forts defended the port.[6] The English initially called the place Cagway but soon renamed it as Port Royal.[3] For much of the period between the English conquest and the 1692 earthquake, Port Royal served as the unofficial capital of Jamaica, while Spanish Town remained the official capital. In 1872 the government designated Kingston, the largest city, as the capital.[6]

Piracy

Port Royal provided a safe harbour initially for privateers and subsequently for pirates plying the shipping lanes to and from Spain and Panama. Buccaneers found Port Royal appealing for several reasons. Its proximity to trade routes allowed them easy access to prey, but the most important advantage was the port's proximity to several of the only safe passages or straits giving access to the Spanish Main from the Atlantic.[6] The harbour was large enough to accommodate their ships and provided a place to careen and repair these vessels. It was also ideally situated for launching raids on Spanish settlements. From Port Royal, Christopher Myngs sacked Campeche and Henry Morgan attacked Panama, Portobello, and Maracaibo. Additionally, buccaneers Roche Brasiliano, John Davis and Edward Mansvelt used Port Royal as a base of operations. In 1657, as a solution to his defence concerns, Governor Edward D'Oley invited the Brethren of the Coast to come to Port Royal and make it their home port. The Brethren was made up of a group of pirates who were descendants of cattle-hunting boucaniers (later anglicized to buccaneers), who had turned to piracy after being robbed by the Spanish (and subsequently thrown out of Hispaniola).[5] These pirates concentrated their attacks on Spanish shipping, whose interests were considered the major threat to the town.

These pirates later became legal English privateers who were given letters of marque by Jamaica's governor. Around the same time that pirates were invited to Port Royal, England launched a series of attacks against Spanish shipping vessels and coastal towns. By sending the newly appointed privateers after Spanish ships and settlements, England had successfully set up a system of defence for Port Royal. Spain was forced to continually defend their property, and did not have the means with which to retake its land.[5]

Spain could not retake the island and, due to pirates, could no longer regularly provide their colonies in the New World with manufactured goods. The progressive irregularity of annual Spanish fleets, combined with an increasing demand by colonies for manufactured goods, stimulated the growth of Port Royal. Merchants and privateers worked together in what is now referred to as "forced trade." Merchants would sponsor trading endeavors with the Spanish, while also sponsoring privateers to attack Spanish ships and rob Spanish coastal towns.[5] While the merchants most certainly had the upper hand, the privateers were an integral part of the operation.

Nuala Zahedieh, a lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, wrote,

"Both opponents and advocates of so-called 'forced trade' declared the town's fortune had the dubious distinction of being founded entirely on the servicing of the privateers' needs and highly lucrative trade in prize commodities."[7] . . . "A report that the 300 men who accompanied Henry Morgan to Portobello in 1668 returned to the town with a prize to spend of at least £60 each (two or three times the usual annual plantation wage) leaves little doubt that they were right".[7]

The forced trade became almost a way of life in Port Royal. Michael Pawson and David Busseret wrote "...one way or the other nearly all the propertied inhabitants of Port Royal seem to have an interest in privateering."[8] Forced trade was rapidly making Port Royal one of the wealthiest communities in the English territories of North America, far surpassing any profit made from the production of sugar cane. Zahedieh wrote, "The Portobello raid [in 1668] alone produced plunder worth £75,000, more than seven times the annual value of the island’s sugar exports, which at Port Royal prices did not exceed £10,000 at this time."[7]

Since the English lacked sufficient troops to prevent either the Spanish or French from seizing it, the Jamaican governors eventually turned to the pirates to defend the city.[9] By the 1660s the city had, for some, become a pirate utopia and had gained a reputation as the "Sodom of the New World", where most residents were pirates, cutthroats, or prostitutes. When Charles Leslie wrote his history of Jamaica, he included a description of the pirates of Port Royal:

Wine and women drained their wealth to such a degree that [...] some of them became reduced to beggary. They have been known to spend 2 or 3,000 pieces of eight in one night; and one gave a strumpet 500 to see her naked. They used to buy a pipe of wine, place it in the street, and oblige everyone that passed to drink.

The taverns of Port Royal were known for their excessive consumption of alcohol such that records even exist of the wild animals of the area partaking in the debauchery. During a passing visit, famous Dutch explorer Jan van Riebeeck is said to have described the scenes:

The parrots of Port Royal gather to drink from the large stocks of ale with just as much alacrity as the drunks that frequent the taverns that serve it.

There is even speculation in pirate folklore that the infamous Blackbeard (Edward Teach) met a howler monkey, while at leisure in a Port Royal alehouse, whom he named Jefferson and formed a strong bond with during the expedition to the island of New Providence.[citation needed] Recent genealogical research indicates that Blackbeard and his family moved to Jamaica where Edward Thatch, Jr. is listed as being a mariner in the Royal Navy aboard HMS Windsor in 1706.[10] Port Royal benefited from this lively, glamorous infamy and grew to be one of the two largest towns and the most economically important port in the English colonies. At the height of its popularity, the city had one drinking house for every 10 residents. In July 1661 alone, 40 new licenses were granted to taverns. During a 20-year period that ended in 1692, nearly 10,000 people lived in Port Royal. In addition to prostitutes and buccaneers, there were four goldsmiths, 44 tavern keepers, and a variety of artisans and merchants who lived in 2,000 buildings crammed into 51 acres (21 ha) of real estate. 213 ships visited the seaport in 1688. The city's wealth was so great that coins were preferred for payment over the more common system of bartering goods for services.

Following Henry Morgan's appointment as lieutenant governor, Port Royal began to change. Pirates were no longer needed to defend the city. The selling of slaves took on greater importance. Upstanding citizens disliked the reputation the city had acquired. In 1687, Jamaica passed anti-piracy laws. Consequently, instead of being a safe haven for pirates, Port Royal became noted as their place of execution. Gallows Point welcomed many to their death, including Charles Vane and Calico Jack, who were hanged in 1720. About five months later, the famous woman pirate Mary Read died in the Jamaican prison in Port Royal. Two years later, 41 pirates met their death in one month.[11]

The Royal Navy

Under British rule the Royal Navy made use of a careening wharf at Port Royal and rented a building on the foreshore to serve as a storehouse. From 1675, a resident Naval Officer was appointed to oversee these facilities;[12] however, development was cut short by the 1692 earthquake. After the earthquake, an attempt was made to establish a naval base at Port Antonio instead, but the climate there proved disagreeable. From 1735, Port Royal once more became the focus of the Admiralty's attention. New wharves and storehouses were built at this time, as well as housing for the officers of the Yard. Over the next thirty years, more facilities were added: cooperages, workshops, sawpits, and accommodation (including a canteen) for the crews of ships being careened there.[13] A Royal Naval Hospital was also established on land a little to the west of the Naval Yard; and by the end of the 18th century a small Victualling Yard had been added to the east (prior to this ships had had to go to Kingston and other settlements to take on supplies).[13]

At the start of the 19th century, a significant amount of rebuilding took place in what was by now a substantial Royal Navy Dockyard serving the fleet in the Caribbean. A sizeable storehouse with a clocktower formed the centrepiece, with a covered way leading from it to the careening wharves. The adjacent Port Admiral's (later Commodore's) House included a watch tower, to counter the threat of privateers. The Yard continued to expand to meet the new requirements of steam-powered vessels: the victualling wharf became a coaling depot in the 1840s, and twenty years later a small engineering complex was built.[13] The Yard continued to expand through to the beginning of the 20th century, but then (with the Admiralty focusing more and more on the situation in Europe) the Navy withdrew from its station in Jamaica and the Dockyard closed in 1905.

Many of the Dockyard buildings (most of which were of timber construction) were subsequently demolished or destroyed (some in the 1907 Kingston earthquake, others by Hurricane Charlie in 1951).[14] A few remain in place, however, including the Naval Hospital complex, some of the steam engineering buildings and a set of officers' houses.[15] There is also a slipway, completed as late as 1904, which (with its accompanying sheds) was designed for housing and launching torpedo boats, stationed there for the Yard's protection. In 2014, it was announced that some of the Historic Naval Hospital buildings would be restored to house a museum as part of a broader Port Royal Heritage Tourism Project.[16]

Earthquake of 1692

The town grew rapidly, reaching a population of around 6,500 people and approximately 2,000 dwellings, by 1692. As land on which to build diminished, it became common practice to either fill in areas of water and build new infrastructure on top of it, or simply build buildings taller. Buildings gradually became heavier as the residents adopted the brick style homes of their native England. Some[who?] urged the population to adopt the low, wooden building style of the previous Spanish inhabitants, but many refused. In the end, all of these separate factors contributed to the impending disaster.

On 7 June 1692, a devastating earthquake hit the city causing most of its northern section to be lost – and with it many of the town's houses and other buildings. Many of the forts were destroyed, as well; Fort Charles survived, but Forts James and Carlisle sank into the sea, Fort Rupert became a large region of water, and great damage was done to an area known as Morgan's Line.[4]

Although the earthquake hit the entire island of Jamaica, the citizens of Port Royal were at a greater risk of death due to the perilous sand, falling buildings, and the tsunami that followed. Though the local authorities tried to remove or sink all of the corpses from the water, they were unsuccessful; some simply got away from them, while others were trapped in places that were inaccessible. Improper housing, a lack of medicine or clean water, and the fact that most of the survivors were homeless led to many people dying of malignant fevers.[17] The earthquake and tsunami killed between 1,000 and 3,000 people combined, nearly half the city's population.[citation needed] Disease ran rampant in the next several months, claiming an estimated 2,000 additional lives.[18]

The historical Jamaica earthquake of 7 June 1692 can be dated closely not only by date, but by time of day as well. This is documented by recovery from the sea floor in the 1960s of a pocket watch stopped at 11:43 a.m., recording the time of the devastating earthquake.[19][20]

The earthquake caused the sand under Port Royal to liquefy and flow out into Kingston Harbour. The water table was generally only two feet down before the impact, and the town was built on a layer of some 65 feet (20 m) of water-saturated sand. This type of area did not provide a solid foundation on which to build an entire town. Unlike the Spanish before them, the English had decided to settle and develop the small area of land, even while acknowledging that the area was nothing but "hot loose sand".[21]

According to Mulcahy, "[Modern] scientists and underwater archaeologists now believe that the earthquake was a powerful one and that much of the damage at Port Royal resulted from a process known as liquefaction."[21] Liquefaction occurs when earthquakes strike ground that is loose, sandy, and water-saturated, increasing the water pressure and causing the particles to separate from one another and form a sludge resembling quicksand. Eyewitness accounts attested to buildings sliding into the water, but it is likely[clarification needed] some simply sank straight down into the now unstable layer.[21]

Underwater archeology, some of which can be seen in the National Geographic Channel show Wicked Pirate City, reveals the foundations of building underwater, showing there was subsidence, as do comparisons of post-earthquake maps and pre-earthquake maps.

Some attempts were made to rebuild the city, starting with the one third that was not submerged, but these met with mixed success and numerous disasters.[citation needed] An initial attempt at rebuilding was again destroyed in 1703 by fire. Subsequent rebuilding was hampered by several hurricanes in the first half of the 18th century, including flooding from the sea in 1722, a further fire in 1750, and a major hurricane in 1774, and soon Kingston eclipsed Port Royal in importance. In 1815, what repairs were being undertaken were destroyed in another major fire, while the whole island was severely affected by an epidemic of cholera in 1850.[clarification needed]

1907 earthquake and recent history

A devastating earthquake on 14 January 1907 liquefied the sand spit, destroying nearly all of the rebuilt city, submerging additional portions, and tilting The Giddy House, an artillery storage room built c. 1880 that is today a minor tourist attraction.[22]

Today, the area is a shadow of its former self with a population of less than 2,000 that has little to no commercial or political importance. The area is frequented by tourists, but is in a state of disrepair. The Jamaican government has recently resolved to further develop the area for its historic and tourist value. This is in part a result of abandonment of plans begun in the early 1960s to develop the town as a cruise ship port and destination.[23] The plans stimulated the archaeological explorations on the site which, in turn, led to the suspension of development solely as a port but now included archaeological and other attractions.[6]

In 1981, the Nautical Archaeology Program at Texas A&M University began a 10-year underwater archaeological investigation of the portion of Port Royal that sank underwater during the 17th century. The program focused on an area that had sunk directly into the sea and suffered very little damage. Due to very low oxygen levels, a large amount of organic material could be recovered. The efforts made by the program have allowed everyday life in the English colonial port city to be reconstructed in great detail.[24]

In 1998, the Port Royal Development Company commissioned architectural firm The Jerde Partnership to create a master plan for the redevelopment of Port Royal, which was completed in 2000.[25] The focus of the plan is a 17th-century-themed attraction that reflects the city's heritage. It has two anchor areas: Old Port Royal and the King's Royal Naval Dockyard. Old Port Royal features a cruise ship pier extending from a reconstructed Chocolata Hole harbour and Fisher's Row, a group of cafes and shops on the waterfront. The King's Royal Naval Dockyard features a combination shipbuilding-museum and underwater aquarium with dioramas for views of the native tropical sealife.[25] The Royal Naval Dockyard also includes the headquarters for the Admiral of the Royal Navy. The redevelopment plan also includes a five-star hotel.[26]

Today, Port Royal is known to post-medieval archaeologists as the "City that Sank".[27] Robert Marx considers it the most important underwater archaeological site in the western hemisphere,[citation needed] yielding 16th–and-17th-century artifacts and many important treasures from indigenous peoples predating its 1518 founding, some from as far away as Guatemala. Several 17th and early 18th century pirate ships sank within Kingston Harbour and are being carefully harvested, under controlled conditions, by various teams of archaeologists. Other "digs" are staked out along various quarters and streets by different teams.[citation needed]

By 2019, a floating pier where a cruise ship could dock had been built; the first ship arrived on 20 January 2020. Tourists from a few ships (after the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have ended) might be beneficial to the town, but "there’s still much work to be done if the town will become the 'world-class heritage, environmental and cultural attraction'" according to a BBC Travel report published in September 2020.[28] Another report that month discussed the well-funded Living Heritage Programme which was seeking "to transform the town into a SMART, safe and secure community with a vibrant local economy, preserved cultural heritage and protected natural environment".[29]

IN POPULAR CULTURE

Film

1934: Port Royal is the one of the settings for the film Captain Blood, starring Errol Flynn.[30]

1942: Port Royal is the main setting for the film The Black Swan, starring Tyrone Power and George Sanders.

1953: Port Royal is the "City Beneath the Sea" in the film of that name.

2003: Port Royal has been featured as a location within Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean film series, though much of the location work for Port Royal was actually done on the island of Saint Vincent, not in Jamaica.[31]

Literature

1987: Tim Powers's historical fantasy novel On Stranger Tides describes the earthquake that nearly destroyed Port Royal in 1692 and several scenes are set in the city.

1989: James Michener's historical novel Caribbean details the history, atmosphere, and geography of Port Royal.

2009: Extensive scenes in Michael Crichton's posthumous novel Pirate Latitudes take place in Port Royal in the mid-1660s.

[saudievisa]

 Understanding Saudi Arabia Visa Requirements in 2025: Everything You Need to Know

Everything You Need to Know About Saudi Arabia Visa Requirements in 2025

Saudi Arabia is one of the foremost tourist, business, expatriate, and religious destination points today. It boasts rich cultural heritage, rapid modernization, and many more landmarks that attract several million visitors every year. However, this is not it, as knowing the Saudi Arabia visa requirements straight and planning your trip accordingly will help you save from the hassles ahead.

This guide will look into the different types of visas for application, documentation needed, and tips to make the process easy.

Why is important to understand Saudi Arabia visa requirements?

Saudi arabia visa requirement and documentation for each type of visa are different, depending on the purpose one wishes to travel to Saudi Arabia. Having these documents ready in advance will streamline the process, so that there are no unwarranted delays or rejections. Work permits and tourist visas have been provided by Saudi Arabian government for diverse purposes.

Saudi Arabia Visa Requirements for their types:

1. Tourist Visa

With the introduction of the tourist visa in 2019, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia set in motion a new era of tourism promotion. It allows qualified visitors to visit all the attractions in the Kingdom through the eVisa program.

Eligibility Requirements for a Tourist Visa:

Valid Passport that will remain valid for at least six months

Filled-up online application form

Recent photograph taken with a passport-sized height.

Amount to pay for the visa fee, approximately $120 and must cover health insurance.

Air ticket arrangements or other itinerary proof such as hotel reservation or tour plan.

General Points:

Applicants from 49 eligible countries can get an eVisa.

The tourist visa will have multiple entries to the country with the potential to stay for up to 90 days while the overall visa is valid for a year.

2. Business Visa

Saudi Arabia is pretty soon going to be great international business hub. And business visa will help in visits that happen to come along with conferences, meetings, and corporate ventures.

Requirements for Acquiring a Business Visa

Let me gather information on the requirements needed to acquire a business visa.

A letter from a Saudi company or a local chamber of commerce inviting you to the company.

A passport that has validity for at least six months.

An application form with all details.

Photographs as recent as possible and are one size of your passport.

A proof showing your professional or business affiliation.

Important Notes:

Processing times are also different from each other, so make sure to apply way before your visit.

Single or multiple entry business visa issued with a period that usually stays between 30 to 90 days.

3. Work Visa

A work visa is one of the most important papers required for someone who wants to work in Saudi Arabia. The facility of a work visa is available almost entirely subject to being sponsored by a Saudi employer.

Applicant's Requirements for Getting a Work Visa: 

Offer letter from a Saudi employer 

Certificate from the sponsor of the employer 

Photocopies of certificates of qualifications and professional certification 

Medical report containing a report that is HIV test negative 

Police clearance certificate 

Passport valid and recent photographs 

Important Notes: 

A work visa holder, once in Saudi Arabia, must apply for an iqama. 

The visa is valid according to the specified duration of the employment contract.

4. Family Visit Visa

Saudi citizens and residents can bring their close family members to the Kingdom using a family visit visa.

Requirements for a Family Visit Visa:

A letter of invitation from the sponsor (Saudi resident or citizen).

Proof of the relationship, such as birth or marriage certificates.

Valid passport and completed application form.

Passport-sized photographs.

Key Notes:

This visa is normally granted for a term not exceeding 90 days but may be extended.

Only close relatives are considered, such as spouses, parents, and children.

5. Hajj and Umrah Visa

Saudi Arabia is one of the most sacred sites in the world for Muslims. There exist special visas designed for pilgrims who are venturing for Hajj or Umrah.

Requirements for Hajj and Umrah Visa Application

Proof of being a Muslim.

Valid passport and application form.

Recent photographs.

Confirmed reservation with an authorized Hajj or Umrah agent.

Women under 45 years old will require the presence of a Mahram (man) unless in an organized group.

Important Considerations:

The Hajj visa is then offered in the Hajj season, while the Umrah visa is issued all through the year.

The visa stays valid for the entire duration of the pilgrimage and imposes very strict traveling restrictions outside religious premises.

General Application List

All visa applications, whether one is applied for a single one or more, are tantamount to the following:

Passport having six months validity.

Photographs. According to the Saudi requirements

Formal application of visa. To be completely filled

Evidence or documents of visiting intent. Invitation letter or travel itinerary.

The applicant has to pay the visa fees.

Apply for Saudi Arabia Visa

The process of apply saudi visa online application varies based on the visa kind:

Tourist eVisa

Access the government Saudi website

Fill the application form, upload documents, and pay the charge

Get your electronic visa in minutes to days

Apply through an Embassy for other Visas

Collect all necessary documents.

Visit a Saudi embassy or consulate and submit your application.

The further process usually takes several days to weeks, based on the type of visa.

Tips for a Smooth Application Process

Apply Early: The time to process a visa differs for different countries, so it is best to apply as early as possible before your intended date of travel.

Double-check the documents - The most common reasons for delay or rejection include non-present documents.

Be up to date with changing visa requirements: , so check the official portal for Saudi visas or the embassy for their latest information.

Respect Cultural Norms: This consists of being aware of the Saudi culture and regulations so that one can make an appropriate and compliant visit.

Receive your Saudi Visa: Saudi visa in 2-3 Working Days via Email or WhatsApp. You can track your Saudi Visa Status here. 

Saudi Arabia Visa Requirements Fees 

Depending on whether one goes for the regular or express service, adding other services to the Saudi Arabia Visa Requirements cost for 90 days will incur fees. The fees are structured, and all other services affect the cost positively as they are designed for quick approval. 

Conclusion

The first important step to an unforgettable experience in the Kingdom is knowing Saudi Arabia visa requirements. Preparing well for your visit, be it leisure, business, or religious, can cushion the blow of a poor application procedure. With the right documents and familiarity with the visa process, you shall be prepared to journey into discovering the wonders of Saudi Arabia with confidence.

Prepare well, follow the guidelines, and off you go to one of the world's most beautiful destination spots. Happy travels!

[familyhistoryblog101]

Melina's Interview

I interviewed my mom, Priscila Schmid. She grew up in Monterey, Mexico after she was born in 1971, and moved here to California when she was about 30 in the early 2000s. She is now 53 still happily living in southern California.

 From ages five to her early teens, my mom attended a bilingual school of Spanish and English. Her parents believed it would serve her great benefits in her future (educationally and professionally) to know English. It improved her chances of getting a job and schooling would be more accessible. My great-grandmother was half Lebanese and half Mexican. She grew up in Texas so English was her first language. My mom and her grandmother would exchange written letters in English. This was another way my mom would practice her languages outside of school, but with family instead. As said in Culture is Ordinary, “To grow up in the family was to see the shaping of minds: the learning of new skills, the shifting of relationships, the emergence of difference language and ideas” (Williams, 92). Priscila was always familiar with the United States. She visited California every summer since she was twelve, attending summer camps until she graduated college when she became a counselor at the same destination. In 1988, my mom studied abroad for one semester at St. Mary’s College in the Bay Area, near Walnut Creek. She also practiced her English there, since she was constantly surrounded by Americans, including her roommate. Through her classes at this Californian school, she learned a myriad of ideas about American and college culture as a young adult in the 1980s. In 2001 she attended UCSD for school, however, she found a job that sponsored her TN visa. She stayed in San Diego for many years until she moved to Temecula with her now husband, my father. 

The economic status of my mom’s neighborhood in the 70s-90s was upper middle class. My grandfather gained enough experience in his work to open his own factory which opened their financial horizons and opportunities. As my mom said, “things got much better financially for us, he was able to afford the best private high school and eventually college for us”, meaning she and her 2 siblings. When my mom moved to the States, she already experienced a monetary improvement concerning inflation. The inflation in Mexico is very high, so her money held more value in the United States. My mom argues that the Mexican Labor laws were much more favorable as compared to in the US. For example, if you are dismissed from a job in Mexico, the employers are obligated to pay the employee a certain amount depending on how long they worked there. My mom noticed that the credit interest rates were much more reasonable here than in Mexico. However, she noticed the response due to this was different. In America, citizens acquired their items more easily, creating a snowball effect of interest and financial irresponsibility. As said in After the Fact, the growing urban middle class recognized that education was paramount to securing a good job (Davidson and Lytle, 119). My mom believes that if people here were more aware and educated on financial responsibility and credit, the difference wouldn’t be so vast between debt here and in Mexico. The largest contrast she noticed in the economic aspect was the interest rate and its effect on peoples’ financial literacy, commonly spending more than their salaries would allow. She notices that this is due to the department of education in both countries.

My mom has lived here in California for about 20 years now with her husband and 2 children.

[expandmybusiness]

UAE Visit Visa Guide: Everything You Need to Know for a Smooth Application Process

Planning to visit the UAE? Known for its luxurious cities, cultural landmarks, and warm hospitality, the UAE is a top choice for tourists, business professionals, and families alike. To make your journey seamless, understanding the UAE visit visa process is key. Here’s a guide to help you choose the right visa type, understand requirements, and simplify your application.

Why Visit the UAE?

From Dubai’s futuristic skyline to Abu Dhabi’s cultural treasures, the UAE offers a unique blend of luxury, adventure, and tradition. It’s a destination where you can shop in world-renowned malls, tour ancient heritage sites, and enjoy exhilarating desert safaris. With so much to offer, it’s no wonder millions are drawn here each year.

Types of UAE Visit Visas

1. 30-Day Tourist Visa: This single-entry visa is ideal for short trips, allowing a stay of up to 30 days.

2. 90-Day Visit Visa: For extended stays, this option is perfect for family visits or longer business engagements, with a stay period of up to 90 days.

3. Multiple Entry Visa: Best for frequent travelers, this visa allows multiple entries over a set period, perfect for those making repeated business or family visits.

4. Transit Visa (48 or 96 hours): Suited for travelers with layovers in the UAE who wish to explore briefly before moving on to their final destination.

How to Apply for a UAE Visit Visa

Applying for a UAE visa is straightforward when you follow these steps:

Select Your Visa Type: Determine the visa type that best suits your purpose and duration of stay.

Gather Necessary Documents: Typically, you’ll need:

A passport copy valid for at least six months.

Passport-sized photos.

Completed visa application form.

Additional documentation like flight bookings, hotel reservations, or a local sponsor if required.

Submit Your Application: You can apply online or through a reputable travel agency.

Processing Time: Most applications are processed within 2 to 5 business days.

Receive Your Visa: Upon approval, you’ll receive your visa electronically, ready for travel.

Essential Documents Required for UAE Visit Visa

While specific documents can vary, here’s a general checklist:

Passport Copy: A clear, full-color scan of your passport (valid for at least six months).

Passport Photos: Recent, passport-sized photos.

Visa Application Form: Properly completed and signed.

Other Supporting Documents: Could include travel itineraries, proof of accommodation, or a sponsorship letter (if applicable).

Benefits of Applying with Peak Tourism’s UAE Visa Services

When applying for your UAE visit visa, working with a trusted provider ensures a hassle-free experience. Here’s why Peak Tourism is your ideal partner:

Personalized Guidance: Our experts help you select the right visa type, organize your documents, and stay updated on the status of your application.

Swift Processing: With our fast and efficient process, your visa is processed in minimal time, so you can start planning your journey.

Transparent Pricing: No hidden fees—just straightforward pricing, ensuring you know exactly what you’re paying for.

Dedicated Support: Our team is available to address any queries and provide updates on your application’s progress.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I extend my UAE visit visa? Yes, most UAE visit visas are extendable for a fee, allowing you to stay longer without leaving the country.

2. How long does visa processing usually take? Processing typically takes between 2 to 5 business days, but times may vary depending on specific requirements.

3. Is travel insurance required for a UAE visit visa? While not mandatory for all travelers, it’s recommended to have travel insurance for coverage of any unexpected medical expenses.

4. Can I apply for a UAE visit visa online? Yes, most visa applications can be completed online, especially when you work with a reliable travel agency.

Final Thoughts

Obtaining a UAE visit visa is your first step toward an unforgettable experience. From vibrant cityscapes to serene desert landscapes, the UAE has something for everyone. Start your journey with Peak Tourism’s UAE Visit Visa Services for an efficient, reliable, and stress-free visa application process.

[fikri-46]

Everything You Need to Know About Switzerland Travel Visa Application

Switzerland, renowned for its stunning alpine scenery, rich history, and vibrant cities, is a dream destination for many travelers. However, before you can enjoy the breathtaking landscapes and cultural experiences, obtaining a travel visa is essential. Understanding the Switzerland visa application process can be overwhelming, but knowing the requirements and steps involved can make your journey much smoother.

This guide aims to provide comprehensive information about applying for a Switzerland travel visa, detailing the necessary documents, financial proofs, and other important criteria. Familiarizing yourself with these requirements streamlines your application process and enhances your chances of approval, ensuring you’re well-prepared for your unforgettable Swiss adventure. With the right preparation, you’ll be on your way to exploring the picturesque villages, iconic landmarks, and delicious cuisine that Switzerland has to offer.

Here is Everything You Need to Know About Switzerland Travel Visa Application

1. Valid Passport

The first step in applying for a Switzerland travel visa is ensuring that your passport meets specific requirements. Your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond the planned departure date from Switzerland. Additionally, the passport must be issued within the last ten years and contain at least two blank pages for the visa stamp. The visa will typically get stamped or glued into your passport, so having enough space is essential. Failure to meet these passport requirements could lead to a delay or rejection of your visa application.

2. Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is another critical requirement for obtaining a Switzerland visa. You must have comprehensive travel insurance that covers not only Switzerland but also the entire Schengen Area. The minimum coverage required is €30,000, which should include medical emergencies, hospitalization, and repatriation. It’s essential to ensure that your travel insurance policy is valid for the entire duration of your stay in Switzerland. When applying, you will need to provide a copy of your insurance policy as proof. This requirement protects you in case of unforeseen medical situations while traveling.

3. Proof of Accommodation

When applying for a visa, you must provide proof of accommodation for your stay in Switzerland. This could include hotel reservations, a rental agreement, or an invitation from a host if staying with family or friends. Ensure that your proof of accommodation includes the address, contact details, and duration of your stay. If you are staying with a sponsor, they may need to provide additional documents, including identification and proof of residence.

4. Proof of Funds

You must demonstrate that you have sufficient financial means to cover your travel expenses and stay in Switzerland. This typically involves providing bank statements for the last three to six months, showing regular income and sufficient balance. Include payslips, proof of employment, or any other documents that demonstrate your financial stability. If someone sponsors your trip, attach a sponsorship letter from them along with their financial documents.

5. Passport-Sized Photos

You need to submit two recent passport-sized photos for your Switzerland visa application. These photos must meet specific specifications set by the Swiss embassy or visa application center, including size, background color, and facial expression. Check the official guidelines to ensure your photos comply with the requirements. Providing unacceptable photos can delay the processing of your application.

6. Proof of Income Tax Returns

Providing your income tax returns can strengthen your visa application by demonstrating your financial stability. These documents help the visa authorities evaluate your ability to support yourself during your stay in Switzerland. You may need to submit copies of your tax returns for the last two to three years, along with any other financial documents that showcase your economic status.

7. Civil Status Proof

As part of your visa application, provide documents that prove your civil status. Include a marriage certificate if you are married, birth certificates for any children traveling with you, or other legal documents that demonstrate your personal circumstances. These documents clarify your situation and help the visa authorities assess your application.

8. Travel Itinerary

A well-structured travel itinerary is essential when applying for a Switzerland visa. Provide a detailed plan of your activities during your stay, including places you intend to visit, dates, and accommodations. This itinerary gives the visa authorities insight into your travel plans and helps demonstrate your intention to return home after your visit. While it doesn’t have to be set in stone, having a clear plan can strengthen your application.

9. Cover Letter

A cover letter is a crucial component of your Switzerland visa application. In this letter, you should explain the purpose of your visit, how long you intend to stay, and your planned return date. You may also include details about your travel itinerary, accommodation, and any other relevant information that supports your application. A well-written cover letter can provide additional context and clarity, making it easier for the visa authorities to understand your intentions.

Conclusion

Successfully navigating the Switzerland visa application process requires thorough preparation and attention to detail. By ensuring you have all the necessary documentation—such as a valid passport, travel insurance, proof of accommodation, and sufficient financial resources—you can enhance your chances of a smooth application experience. It’s essential to follow the guidelines carefully and double-check all your documents to avoid any unnecessary delays or complications.

Taking the time to understand the requirements for the Switzerland visa not only helps you meet the expectations of the visa authorities but also allows you to focus on planning your exciting trip. With proper preparation, you can look forward to experiencing the beauty, culture, and hospitality that Switzerland has to offer, making your journey truly unforgettable.

Also Check Out: Ethiopia Visa

[sridevi09]

Scholarship for Indian Students in Germany: Your Guide to Funding Dreams

If you’re dreaming of studying in Germany, you’re not alone! Each year, thousands of Indian students embark on their educational journey in this culturally rich and academically advanced country. Germany is home to some of the world's best universities, and with low to no tuition fees at public universities, it’s an incredibly attractive destination for higher studies. However, managing living expenses in Germany can still be challenging, especially for international students. That’s where scholarships come into play!

If you’re an Indian student looking to secure financial aid, this guide breaks down the key scholarships available, how to apply, and some insider tips to increase your chances of success.

Why Germany? The Draw for Indian Students

Germany’s education system is renowned for its focus on research, innovation, and academic rigor. With a wealth of programs taught in English, affordable living costs compared to other European countries, and a friendly, multicultural environment, it’s no wonder more and more students want to study in Germany. Beyond academics, Germany offers a high quality of life, vibrant culture, and ample opportunities to explore Europe.

However, despite the perks, pursuing an education in Germany comes with financial considerations. For most Indian students, balancing expenses is one of the major concerns. The good news? There are numerous scholarships for Indian students in Germany that make studying in this beautiful country affordable. Let’s dive into some of the best options available.

Types of Scholarships Available

DAAD Scholarships The German Academic Exchange Service, or DAAD, offers a range of scholarships for international students. It’s one of the most popular scholarship programs for Indian students. DAAD scholarships cater to various levels of study, from undergraduate to doctoral programs, and cover both tuition and living expenses.

Eligibility: Indian students with an excellent academic record and relevant professional or research experience.

Coverage: Monthly stipend, health insurance, and travel allowance.

Application Tips: DAAD scholarships are competitive, so ensure your application reflects your academic and research potential. Tailoring your statement of purpose (SOP) to the program’s requirements can significantly boost your chances.

Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarships This scholarship is geared toward students passionate about green politics, environmental sustainability, and social justice. It is particularly suited for students pursuing higher studies in these areas.

Eligibility: Strong academic record, involvement in environmental or social issues, and commitment to sustainability.

Coverage: Monthly allowance, travel, and research grants.

How to Apply: Candidates must submit a motivational letter, academic records, and recommendations. Be ready to demonstrate your commitment to social causes and environmental issues.

Deutschlandstipendium Funded by the German government, the Deutschlandstipendium supports high-achieving students with financial needs. This scholarship is open to both German and international students and is available at most German universities.

Eligibility: Strong academic record and demonstrated financial need.

Coverage: Monthly stipend of €300, which is jointly funded by private sponsors and the German government.

Unique Factor: It not only provides financial support but also connects students with mentors from their fields of study.

Erasmus+ Scholarships Erasmus+ is an EU-funded program that promotes student exchange across Europe. While primarily for European students, several Erasmus+ scholarships are open to non-EU students as well, including Indian students interested in a study in Germany experience.

Eligibility: Admission to a recognized German university, and you may need to demonstrate specific language proficiency.

Coverage: Tuition fees, living expenses, travel, and insurance costs.

Application Process: Erasmus scholarships are usually processed through the university, so check with your chosen German institution to see if you qualify.

Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Scholarships This scholarship is specifically for postgraduate students with a strong interest in politics, journalism, law, or social sciences. The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung program is ideal if you aspire to become a leader in social or political spheres.

Eligibility: Candidates from developing countries (including India), with leadership potential.

Coverage: Monthly stipend, insurance, and support for travel expenses.

Insider Tip: Your application should showcase your leadership qualities and commitment to making a positive impact in society.

Steps to Apply for Scholarships

The process of applying for scholarships for Indian students in Germany can vary depending on the scholarship, but generally includes these steps:

Research and Shortlist: Understand the specific requirements for each scholarship. Some scholarships may prioritize academic merit, while others focus on community involvement or research potential.

Prepare Documentation: You’ll need your academic records, statement of purpose, CV, letters of recommendation, and sometimes proof of language proficiency. Be sure to tailor your SOP to reflect your goals and aspirations as they relate to studying in Germany.

Consult an Expert: An overseas education consultant can be invaluable in navigating the scholarship application process. Consultants can help you identify the scholarships that match your profile, assist in gathering documents, and even prepare for interviews if required.

Meet Deadlines: Scholarship deadlines are strict, so start preparing early. A missed deadline means a missed opportunity, so set reminders and stay organized.

Follow Up: Once you submit your application, keep track of any follow-up communications or interviews. Respond promptly and maintain a professional tone.

How an Overseas Education Consultant Can Help

Applying for scholarships and managing the transition to a new country can be overwhelming. An overseas education consultant can guide you through the process, from identifying the right scholarship options to preparing for your move to Germany. Consultants have in-depth knowledge about the scholarships available, know the nuances of the application process, and often have connections with universities.

Practical Tips to Increase Your Chances

Stand Out with Your SOP: Make your statement of purpose unique by sharing a compelling story about your background and goals. Connect your aspirations with what studying in Germany will help you achieve.

Leverage Your Network: If you know professors, mentors, or alumni with connections to Germany, reach out. Their recommendations can bolster your application.

Polish Your Academic Profile: Academic merit is often crucial, so aim to maintain strong grades. Participate in relevant projects, research, or community activities to demonstrate your dedication.

Research Germany’s Education Culture: Knowing the academic culture in Germany can help you align your goals with what the scholarship committee values, such as self-motivation and analytical thinking.

Final Thoughts

Securing a scholarship for Indian students in Germany isn’t just about financial aid—it’s an opportunity to deepen your academic experience and broaden your horizons. Scholarships can reduce the financial stress of studying abroad, allowing you to focus on academics, gain international exposure, and make valuable connections in your field.

Whether you’re pursuing engineering, social sciences, or arts, Germany has scholarships that can make your study abroad dream a reality. With planning, persistence, and a little help from an overseas education consultant, your journey to study in Germany can begin with a solid financial foundation.

[internshipfinder01]

Internship Visa Requirements: Everything You Need to Know by Country

An internship is one of the best ways to get practical experience by students in their area of specialization, professional networking, and increasing chances of getting some well-paid job after graduation. For those people who would like to intern abroad, the process is not always about finding an opportunity for internship, it could often be heading the visa application process.

Whether you are a student exploring new international countries or a company hosting international interns, it is very important that you are well-versed with the internship visa requirements. In this blog post, we are simplifying and breaking down some of the most popular internship destinations with their corresponding visa requirements. We will also show you how, using an internship service for students like Internship Finder, can make the entire process smoother and easier.

Why Visa Requirements Matter for Internships

For international students pursuing an internship abroad, understanding visa requirements is essential. A proper visa not only permits you to work legally during your internship but also avoids complications that could interrupt your program. With factors like destination country, internship duration, nationality, and whether the position is paid or unpaid, visa requirements vary widely. Let’s explore the most common visa requirements for popular internship destinations, and see how Internship Finder, a dedicated internship service for students, simplifies this journey. Whether you’re headed to London, Berlin, or even looking for a Stage in Amerika, here’s what you need to know.

Visa Requirements by Destination

United States: J-1 Visa for Interns The United States is a top internship destination for business, tech, and engineering. To intern here, the J-1 Visa is the most common option. This visa allows students and recent graduates to work in the U.S. for up to 12 months (or 18 months for certain trainees). The main requirements include a sponsoring organization, securing the internship prior to applying, proof of financial support, and a DS-2019 form, which is part of the application process.

United Kingdom: Tier 5 Temporary Worker – Government Authorized Exchange Visa This visa allows students to intern in the UK for up to 24 months, provided their internship provider is a licensed sponsor. Internship Finder, for instance, assists students in connecting with licensed sponsors, streamlining the visa process and removing much of the administrative hassle.

Canada: International Experience Canada (IEC) Canada’s IEC program is designed for youth from participating countries to work and travel within Canada for up to two years. For an internship, you’ll need a job offer or internship placement and proof of funds and insurance. Another option, the Co-op Work Permit, is available for students enrolled full-time but not covered by IEC.

Australia: Temporary Activity Visa (Subclass 408) Ideal for internships related to tourism, marketing, and business, this visa allows students to work in Australia as part of an approved program. This visa requires a confirmed placement and proof of health insurance, granting students a stay of up to 12 months.

European Union: Schengen Visa and National Visas Students pursuing shorter internships (up to 90 days within a 180-day period) can use the Schengen Visa for most EU countries. Longer internships require a National Visa, such as Germany’s National Visa or France’s Temporary Work Visa, both of which demand an acceptance letter from the employer and compliance with local regulations.

How Internship Finder Simplifies the Visa Process

Navigating the visa application process can be complex, but Internship Finder offers comprehensive support, making it a reliable internship service for students. Here’s how Internship Finder assists:

Visa Consulting: Our team provides step-by-step guidance for students, from document preparation to embassy appointments, to ensure each student fulfills the visa requirements seamlessly.

Support for Employers: We advise companies on sponsoring student visas, ensuring compliance with local laws and regulations, so internships are hassle-free for employers as well.

Accommodation & Logistics: Internship Finder takes care of essential logistics, from arranging accommodations to organizing travel and health insurance, allowing students to focus on their career goals rather than the details of moving abroad.

Conclusion

Securing a visa is a vital part of interning abroad. By partnering with a dedicated internship service for students like Internship Finder, students can reduce the complexity of this process and focus on their goals. With our expert visa consulting and support for accommodation, we make securing internships in international destinations, including Stage in Amerika, accessible and achievable.

Ready to take the next step? Check out our packages, and let Internship Finder guide you to the perfect international internship experience.

[jahnavidesai2001]

How to Get an MBA in Bangalore

A Step-by-Step Guide

Bangalore, known as the "Silicon Valley of India," is one of the most sought-after destinations for pursuing an MBA (Master of Business Administration). With its vibrant corporate environment, proximity to top companies, and excellent educational institutions, the city offers numerous opportunities for aspiring business leaders. If you're planning to pursue an MBA in Bangalore, here's a comprehensive guide to help you get started.

1. Choose the Right Type of MBA Program

There are several types of MBA programs available based on your career goals, time availability, and experience level:

Full-Time MBA (2 years): Ideal for fresh graduates or those with limited work experience.

Executive MBA (EMBA): For working professionals with significant experience, offered part-time or on weekends.

One-Year MBA: Designed for professionals with a few years of work experience looking for a faster track.

Distance/Online MBA: Flexible programs suitable for working professionals or those unable to attend on-campus courses.

2. Research MBA Colleges in Bangalore

Bangalore is home to some top-ranked MBA institutions that offer specialization in areas like marketing, finance, data analytics, entrepreneurship, and more. Here are some prominent ones:

Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM-B)

Xavier Institute of Management & Entrepreneurship (XIME)

Alliance University

Christ University

Presidency University

International Institute of Business Study (IIBS)

3. Meet the Eligibility Criteria

To apply for an MBA in Bangalore, ensure you meet the general eligibility requirements:

Educational Qualification: Bachelor’s degree (in any field) with at least 50% marks.

Work Experience: Some programs (like Executive MBA) may require 2–5 years of work experience.

Entrance Exam Scores: Most colleges require national or state-level entrance exams (discussed below).

4. Prepare for MBA Entrance Exams

Most MBA colleges in Bangalore accept scores from national-level entrance exams. Here are the key exams:

CAT (Common Admission Test): For IIMs and other top-tier institutes.

MAT (Management Aptitude Test): Accepted by many private universities.

XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test): For institutions like XIME.

GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test): Accepted by international and executive programs.

CMAT (Common Management Admission Test): Another popular exam for MBA programs.

5. Application Process

Once you have your entrance exam scores, you can start applying to the MBA programs. Here's what you'll need:

Application Form: Fill out the forms on the college websites or through centralized portals.

Entrance Exam Scorecard: Attach your CAT/MAT/GMAT score as required.

Statement of Purpose (SOP): Write about your goals and why you want to pursue an MBA.

Letters of Recommendation (LOR): Get references from professors or employers.

Resume: Highlight your education, experience, and achievements.

6. Prepare for the Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI)

Most MBA colleges conduct GD and PI rounds as part of the admission process.

Group Discussion (GD): You’ll be given a topic to discuss with a group. This assesses your communication and teamwork skills.

Personal Interview (PI): Interviewers will ask about your background, goals, strengths, and motivation for pursuing an MBA.

7. Consider the Costs and Financial Aid Options

The cost of an MBA in Bangalore can range from ₹4–25 lakhs, depending on the institution. Make sure to explore financial aid options:

Scholarships: Many colleges offer merit-based or need-based scholarships.

Education Loans: Banks provide loans with affordable repayment options.

Company Sponsorships: Some companies sponsor their employees’ education under Executive MBA programs.

8. Student Life and Networking Opportunities in Bangalore

Bangalore offers a rich learning environment with access to startups, tech companies, and corporate headquarters.

Attend guest lectures, industry events, and networking sessions organized by MBA institutions.

Participate in internships to gain hands-on experience.

Engage in student clubs focused on entrepreneurship, finance, or consulting to build your network.

9. Placement and Career Opportunities

Bangalore is home to many multinational companies, startups, and IT firms, making it an excellent place for MBA graduates. Top companies recruit from Bangalore-based institutes, including:

Consulting: Deloitte, KPMG, McKinsey

IT and Technology: Infosys, Wipro, IBM

Finance: Goldman Sachs, HSBC, J.P. Morgan

Startups: Flipkart, Swiggy, Zomato

10. Final Thoughts

Pursuing an MBA in Bangalore is a fantastic opportunity to learn from top institutions and gain access to excellent career opportunities. However, it requires planning, preparation, and hard work. Choose the right program, prepare well for entrance exams, and make the most of the city’s professional network.

Good luck with your MBA journey! 🚀

[rahuljoshi05]

Types of Kuwait Visas for Indian Citizens: Which One Suits You?

Kuwait is a popular destination for Indian citizens, whether for employment, business, tourism, or family visits. Understanding the different types of Kuwait visas for Indians is essential to ensure a smooth application process. Each visa type is designed for specific purposes, and choosing the right one can make your trip hassle-free.

In this guide, we will explore various Kuwait visa options for Indian citizens, providing detailed information on eligibility, requirements, and application processes. Knowing the correct visa type is crucial to avoid any delays or complications during your travel to Kuwait.

If you're planning to visit Kuwait, it's essential to select the visa that matches your purpose of visit. From work visas to tourist visas, the options available under the Kuwait Visa for Indians are diverse, and understanding the differences is key to ensuring a successful application.

1. Kuwait Tourist Visa

A Kuwait tourist visa is ideal for Indians who plan to visit Kuwait for leisure or short-term visits to family and friends. It is a short-term visa that usually allows a stay of up to 30 days.

Key Points:

Eligibility: Indians visiting for tourism, family, or short-term visits.

Duration: Valid for 30 days.

Processing Time: Usually 3-5 working days.

Fee: Around ₹4,000 - ₹5,000.

Requirements: Valid passport, recent passport-sized photographs, hotel bookings, and proof of return flight.

Note: It is always recommended to check the latest fee with the Kuwait Embassy or authorized visa agents as fees may change.

2. Kuwait Work Visa

For Indians seeking employment in Kuwait, the Kuwait work visa is the appropriate category. This visa is issued to those who have secured a job in Kuwait, and it is sponsored by the employer.

Key Points:

Eligibility: Indians with a valid job offer from a Kuwaiti company.

Duration: Usually valid for one year, renewable.

Processing Time: 1-3 months, depending on the company and job type.

Fee: Can range from ₹7,000 - ₹10,000.

Requirements: Valid passport, employment contract, medical clearance, and academic certificates.

Important: Certificate attestation is crucial for the work visa, ensuring that your educational documents are valid in Kuwait.

3. Kuwait Business Visa

A Kuwait business visa is intended for Indian professionals visiting Kuwait for business-related purposes such as attending meetings, conferences, or exploring business opportunities.

Key Points:

Eligibility: Business professionals, traders, or company representatives.

Duration: Usually valid for 30 days.

Processing Time: 1-2 weeks.

Fee: Approximately ₹4,000 - ₹6,000.

Requirements: Invitation letter from a Kuwaiti company, valid passport, and travel itinerary.

Note: If you are planning multiple business trips to Kuwait, a multiple-entry business visa may be a more convenient option.

4. Kuwait Family Visit Visa

For Indians with family members residing in Kuwait, the Kuwait family visit visa allows you to visit your relatives for short-term stays. This visa is commonly used for family reunions or visits.

Key Points:

Eligibility: Indians with immediate family members in Kuwait (e.g., spouse, parents, or children).

Duration: Typically valid for 30 days, extendable.

Processing Time: 5-7 working days.

Fee: ₹4,000 - ₹5,500.

Requirements: Valid passport, invitation from a family member in Kuwait, and proof of family relationship (birth/marriage certificate).

5. Kuwait Transit Visa

A Kuwait transit visa is designed for Indian citizens passing through Kuwait en route to another destination. It is a short-term visa with limited validity.

Key Points:

Eligibility: Indians transiting through Kuwait to another country.

Duration: Valid for 7 days.

Processing Time: 2-3 days.

Fee: Approximately ₹2,500 - ₹3,000.

Requirements: Valid passport, onward flight ticket, and visa for the destination country (if applicable).

Important: This visa is only applicable if you plan to stay in Kuwait for more than 24 hours during your transit.

6. Kuwait Student Visa

For Indian students who wish to pursue higher education in Kuwait, the Kuwait student visa is the appropriate visa type. This visa allows you to stay in Kuwait for the duration of your academic program.

Key Points:

Eligibility: Indian students enrolled in Kuwaiti educational institutions.

Duration: Depends on the course length.

Processing Time: Varies depending on the university and course.

Fee: Approximately ₹6,000 - ₹8,000.

Requirements: Admission letter from the educational institution, valid passport, proof of financial stability, and medical clearance.

Tip: Before applying, ensure that your educational documents are attested for use in Kuwait.

7. Kuwait Dependent Visa

A Kuwait dependent visa is available for Indian citizens whose spouse or parent works in Kuwait. This visa allows dependents to live with their family members in Kuwait for the duration of the sponsor's visa.

Key Points:

Eligibility: Spouses and children of Indian workers in Kuwait.

Duration: Same as the sponsor’s visa duration.

Processing Time: 1-2 months.

Fee: ₹5,000 - ₹7,000.

Requirements: Valid passport, marriage/birth certificates, and sponsor’s visa.

Important: The sponsor must have a valid work visa to apply for a dependent visa for their family members.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the cost of a Kuwait visa for Indians? The cost varies depending on the visa type. For instance, a tourist visa costs around ₹4,000 - ₹5,000, while a work visa can cost ₹7,000 - ₹10,000.

2. How long does it take to process a Kuwait visa for Indians? Processing times vary by visa type. Tourist visas take 3-5 days, while work visas can take 1-3 months.

3. Can I extend my Kuwait tourist visa? Yes, Kuwait tourist visas can be extended, but you must apply for an extension before your visa expires.

4. Do I need medical clearance for a Kuwait work visa? Yes, medical clearance is mandatory for Kuwait work visas to ensure you meet the health requirements for entry.

5. What documents are required for a Kuwait business visa? You will need an invitation letter from a Kuwaiti company, a valid passport, and a detailed travel itinerary.

By understanding the different Kuwait Visa for Indians types, you can choose the one that best suits your purpose of travel. Whether you’re visiting for business, tourism, or family reunions, selecting the correct visa is key to a smooth experience.

[friendconsultant]

Expert UK Visa Consultancy in Lahore: Your Guide to a Successful Application with Friend Consultant

Navigating the UK visa application process can be overwhelming due to strict requirements and detailed documentation. Whether you're aspiring to study, work, or visit the United Kingdom, you need the guidance of a reliable consultant to ensure a smooth process. Friend Consultant in Lahore offers expert UK visa consultancy, providing comprehensive support to help you achieve your UK immigration goals.

Why Friend Consultant Is the Best UK Visa Consultancy in Lahore

When applying for a UK visa, choosing a knowledgeable and experienced consultant is crucial. Here's why Friend Consultant is your ideal partner for UK visa consultation:

1. In-Depth Expertise in UK Visa Policies

The UK offers a range of visa options based on your travel needs, such as student visas, work visas, family visas, and visitor visas. At Friend Consultant, our team of professionals is highly experienced in all UK visa categories and stays updated on the latest UK immigration policies. We ensure that your application meets the required standards for successful approval.

2. Tailored Consultation for Each Client

No two visa applications are the same, and Friend Consultant understands that every client’s needs are unique. We provide personalized consultations to assess your situation and recommend the most suitable visa options. Whether you are applying as a student, skilled worker, or tourist, we tailor our services to increase your chances of success.

3. Comprehensive Visa Application Support

At Friend Consultant, we offer end-to-end support, from the initial consultation to the final submission of your visa application. Our comprehensive services include:

Eligibility assessments and visa type recommendations

Document preparation and review

Guidance on financial evidence and sponsor letters

Assistance with visa application forms

Interview preparation, including mock interview sessions

Post-application follow-up with the UK Visa Application Centre (UKVAC)

4. Proven Track Record of Success

Friend Consultant has a high success rate for UK visa applications. We’ve helped countless clients from Lahore and across Pakistan achieve their dream of studying, working, or settling in the UK. With a proven track record, you can trust us to handle your visa process efficiently and professionally.

5. Ethical and Transparent Service

At Friend Consultant, we value transparency and ethical business practices. We clearly outline the costs, timelines, and visa requirements to ensure you’re fully informed throughout the process. Our goal is to make the visa application process stress-free, with no hidden fees or surprises.

UK Visa Categories Handled by Friend Consultant

Friend Consultant offers expert support for various UK visa types, ensuring that your application is well-prepared and submitted on time.

1. Student Visas (Tier 4)

The UK is a popular destination for international students. If you're looking to pursue higher education in the UK, you'll need a Tier 4 student visa. Friend Consultant assists you with university selection, document preparation, and securing your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). We also provide visa interview coaching to ensure your success.

2. Work Visas (Tier 2)

If you’ve received a job offer from a UK employer, you’ll need a Tier 2 work visa to start your professional journey. Friend Consultant assists with the visa application, ensuring that all sponsorship and employment details are presented accurately to meet UK immigration standards.

3. Visitor Visas (Standard Visitor Visa)

If you're planning a short-term visit to the UK for business, tourism, or family visits, Friend Consultant can help you secure a Standard Visitor Visa. We guide you through the application process, ensuring all documents are prepared to demonstrate your intent to return to Pakistan after your visit.

4. Family and Dependent Visas

If you're planning to join family members already residing in the UK, you’ll need a family or dependent visa. Friend Consultant specializes in family sponsorship applications, spouse visas, and child-dependent visas, ensuring your application meets the UK immigration requirements.

5. Settlement Visas and ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain)

For those looking to settle in the UK permanently, Friend Consultant provides expert advice on securing Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). We guide you through the eligibility requirements and assist with preparing a strong application for permanent residency.

Success Stories from Friend Consultant

Friend Consultant has helped many clients from Lahore achieve their UK visa goals. Whether it's students attending prestigious UK universities, professionals landing jobs, or families reuniting, we take pride in our clients' successes.

One of our clients, a student from Lahore, shared their experience: “With Friend Consultant’s help, I secured a Tier 4 student visa and got accepted to a top UK university. Their team guided me through every step, from application to interview prep, making the entire process easy and stress-free.”

Another client, a professional seeking a Tier 2 visa, shared: “Friend Consultant provided expert guidance throughout my work visa application. Their attention to detail ensured that my documentation was flawless, and now I’m working in the UK. I couldn’t have done it without their support.”

Start Your UK Visa Journey with Friend Consultant

Are you planning to apply for a UK visa? Whether you're pursuing education, employment, or visiting loved ones, Friend Consultant is here to provide expert guidance every step of the way. With our personalized services, extensive knowledge, and high success rate, we make the visa application process smooth and hassle-free.

Contact Friend Consultant today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward securing your UK visa!

[emiratesvisaonline01]

Navigating the UAE Visa Application Process for Vietnamese Nationals

Traveling to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) can be an exciting adventure, offering a blend of modern sophistication and traditional charm. For Vietnamese nationals, securing an Apply uae visa for vietnamese is a crucial step in making this journey a reality. This comprehensive guide aims to simplify the UAE visa application process, providing detailed insights and practical tips for Vietnamese applicants.

Understanding UAE Visa Types

Before diving into the application process, it's essential to understand the various types of UAE visas available:

Tourist Visa: Typically valid for 30 days or 90 days, this visa is ideal for those visiting the UAE for tourism purposes. It is often sponsored by hotels, travel agencies, or individuals residing in the UAE.

Transit Visa: If you’re passing through the UAE en route to another destination, a transit visa allows you to stay for up to 96 hours. This visa is generally arranged by airlines.

Visit Visa: A visit visa is usually sponsored by a UAE resident or a UAE-based company and can be valid for up to 90 days.

Business Visa: For business travelers, this visa allows for extended stays and multiple entries. It is typically arranged through UAE-based companies.

Student Visa: If you're planning to study in the UAE, this visa is sponsored by the educational institution you’ll be attending.

Eligibility Criteria for Vietnamese Nationals

Vietnamese nationals must meet specific eligibility criteria to apply for a UAE visa:

Valid Passport: Your passport should be valid for at least six months from the date of entry into the UAE.

Sponsorship: Most UAE visas require a sponsor, whether it’s a hotel, travel agency, employer, or a UAE resident.

Proof of Funds: You may need to demonstrate that you have sufficient financial means to cover your stay.

Travel Insurance: While not always mandatory, travel insurance is highly recommended.

Applying for a UAE Visa: Step-by-Step Guide

1. Determine the Type of Visa You Need

Decide which visa type aligns with your purpose of visit. For tourism, a tourist visa is suitable, whereas a visit visa is ideal for family or friends visiting.

2. Choose a Sponsorship Method

Through a Travel Agency: Travel agencies in Vietnam or UAE can assist with visa applications and provide sponsorship.

Hotel Sponsorship: Many hotels offer visa services if you book accommodation through them.

UAE Resident Sponsorship: If you have family or friends in the UAE, they can sponsor your visit visa.

3. Gather Required Documents

The specific documents required may vary depending on the visa type and sponsor. Generally, you will need:

Passport Copy: A clear, colored copy of your passport’s bio page.

Passport-Sized Photos: Recent photographs meeting UAE visa photo requirements.

Visa Application Form: Completed and signed.

Proof of Accommodation: Hotel booking or a letter from your sponsor if staying with them.

Travel Itinerary: Details of your planned trip, including flight bookings.

Financial Proof: Bank statements or other documents showing you can support yourself during your stay.

Travel Insurance: Proof of insurance coverage for the duration of your stay.

4. Submit Your Application

Online Application: The UAE government offers online visa applications through various portals, including the official websites of the UAE Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).

Through a Travel Agency: If using a travel agency, they will handle the submission process on your behalf.

5. Pay the Visa Fee

Visa fees vary depending on the type and duration of the visa. Ensure that you pay the correct fee as specified by your sponsor or the visa processing portal.

6. Track Your Application

Once submitted, you can track the status of your visa application online. Processing times can vary but generally range from 2 to 10 business days.

7. Receive Your Visa

Upon approval, you’ll receive your visa via email or through your sponsor. Ensure you print out a copy to present upon arrival in the UAE.

Tips for a Smooth Application Process

Start Early: Apply for your visa well in advance to account for any potential delays.

Double-Check Documents: Ensure all documents are accurate and up-to-date to avoid rejection or delays.

Follow Instructions: Adhere to the specific requirements of the visa type and sponsor to ensure a smooth process.

Consult Professionals: If unsure, consult with a visa consultant or travel agency to guide you through the application.

Conclusion

Applying for a UAE visa as a Vietnamese national involves understanding the different visa types, meeting eligibility criteria, and meticulously following the application process. By gathering the required documents, choosing the right sponsorship method, and paying attention to details, you can enhance your chances of a successful visa application. Whether you’re visiting for business, tourism, or to see loved ones, a well-prepared application will help pave the way for an enjoyable experience in the UAE. Safe travels!

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Essential Guide to Obtaining a Visa for Dubai: Requirements and Tips

Dubai, with its stunning architecture, luxury shopping, and vibrant culture, is a sought-after destination for travellers worldwide. Before you can explore this dynamic city, securing the appropriate visa is essential. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the visa application process, outlining key requirements and offering practical tips to ensure a smooth application experience.

When planning a trip to Dubai, it's important to understand the different types of visas available. The most common is the tourist visa, valid for either 30 or 90 days, which is suited for short-term leisure visits. If you're merely passing through Dubai on your way to another destination, a transit visa, usually valid for 48 or 96 hours, is appropriate. For business purposes, including meetings or conferences, you would require a business visa, typically valid for 14 to 90 days. Students planning to study in Dubai will need a student visa, which necessitates proof of acceptance from an accredited educational institution. For those looking to live and work in Dubai, a residency visa is essential, often sponsored by an employer,

Regardless of the type of visa you’re applying for, there are some common requirements:

Passport: Must be valid for at least six months beyond your planned stay in Dubai.

Application Form: Completed and signed visa application form. Forms can be obtained from the UAE embassy or consulate, or through approved visa service providers.

Photographs: Recent passport-sized photographs that meet the specified dimensions and requirements.

Proof of Travel: Flight itinerary or travel booking confirmation.

Proof of Accommodation: Hotel reservation or accommodation details.

Financial Proof: Evidence of sufficient funds to cover your stay in Dubai, such as bank statements or credit card statements.

To apply for a visa, certain general requirements must be fulfilled. Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay in Dubai. You’ll need to complete a visa application form, which can be obtained from the UAE embassy or consulate, or through accredited visa service providers. Recent passport-sized photographs meeting specific dimensions are required, along with proof of travel such as a flight itinerary or booking confirmation. You must also provide proof of accommodation, such as a hotel reservation, and evidence of sufficient funds to cover your stay, like bank or credit card statements.

Specific visa types have additional requirements. For a tourist visa, you may need to demonstrate sufficient funds and provide a return ticket. A transit visa requires a valid onward journey ticket and proof of travel plans. Business visas typically require an invitation letter from a Dubai-based company or relevant business documents. Student visas necessitate a letter of acceptance from a UAE educational institution and proof of financial support. For residency visas, you’ll need to undergo a medical fitness test, provide proof of residence, and submit a valid employment or sponsorship contract. Additionally, a cultural visa, designed for those visiting Dubai to engage in cultural activities or events, requires an invitation or endorsement from a recognized cultural organization or event host.

The application process varies based on visa type and location. Many visas, including cultural visas, can be applied for online through official UAE government portals or accredited visa service providers. Some visa types may require you to apply in person at a UAE embassy or consulate. Residency and certain business visas often require a local sponsor in Dubai, such as an employer or family member. Cultural visas specifically may involve additional coordination with cultural institutions in Dubai to verify the purpose of your visit.

Apply Early: Submit your visa application well in advance of your travel date to allow for processing time.

Double-Check Requirements: Ensure you meet all the specific requirements for your visa type and provide accurate and complete documentation.

To ensure a smooth visa application process, apply well in advance of your planned travel date to allow for processing time. Thoroughly review and fulfil all specific requirements for your visa type, and ensure that all documentation is accurate and complete. Using official channels or accredited service providers can help prevent delays and ensure proper handling of your application. Keeping copies of all documents and correspondence related to your visa can also be beneficial.

Conclusion

Navigating the visa application process for Dubai may seem complex, but understanding the requirements and following the outlined steps can simplify the journey. Whether you are applying for a tourist visa, business visa, student visa, or cultural visa, such as a cultural visa Dubai, preparing in advance and ensuring that all necessary documentation is in order can make a significant difference. A cultural visa Dubai, for instance, is tailored for individuals visiting to engage in cultural activities or events and requires special coordination with cultural institutions. By securing the appropriate cultural visa Dubai, you can focus on planning your visit to this extraordinary city. Dubai’s blend of modernity and tradition offers a unique and enriching experience, and with the right cultural visa Dubai in hand, you’ll be well-positioned to explore all that the city has to offer.