Life in France, Part 2.

It’s pretty much 24 hours since I wrote my last post, and I am happy to say that I am less blue tonight.  But lest you think I managed to just pull my socks up and ordered myself into happiness, stop right there; I think it has more to do with the fact that today I did have bread.  Some of it with butter.  And a sable (small sort of butter cookie, famous on the coast.  It seems every region of this beautiful country has something to eat or drink that it is famous for.  Or at least famous within the country.)  And a small piece of fruit tart for dessert tonight as Emily and Co came for dinner and brought this with them.  Now normally we don’t even have dessert, unless it is a cheese course, but this tart was bought for my birthday Friday and has been largely left uneaten, so Em was trying to make the never-ending tart disappear.  For my part I managed this by sending it back home with them tonight. 

So what topics…… okay, let’s talk banking.  I did have my appointment almost two weeks ago with the local bank that Emily & Francois and the Winery deal with and indeed the meeting did take over an hour and I still left without my account being set up let alone in possession of a bank card.  Since then, I have received an email saying that the card was ready to be picked up, but Francois also got an email saying they couldn’t finish it all off until they had proof of my SIN #.  It is one of those numbers I have committed to memory, so I was able to provide it when asked but turns out I have nothing with me in France that actually has my SIN # on it.  I sent them, via Francois, a picture of my card (which is still in Canada) so let’s see if that works.  I am going to pop in tomorrow solo (insert grimace emoji here) to see if I can collect my card and have it activated.  I suspect that will in itself be another process.  And probably will require me to make another appointment.

The bank btw does not look like a Canadian bank.  There are two ATM’s in the foyer as you might expect but that’s where the familiarity ends.  There are no tellers but rather one receptionist who either answers your questions, gives you whatever you have been told you can pick up (like say, a new bank card!), book appointments or notify your advisor that you have arrived for your meeting.  It is all very formal and deliberate.  And there is nothing bank like looking inside in any way, shape or form.  Everything is just SO different here.  One has to erase all of their preconceived notions of what to expect and really just go with it and embrace the ways it is not like the place you came from.  Or at least that’s how I try to see it.  The magic of a whole new world. 

I am keen to get my account set up so I can pay my rent and utilities online.  Just so much easier.  And too because it means I can online shop here without using Em’s card.  Nine times, or more, out of ten when I have tried to buy something online my bank, and I get that security is a priority, sends me a text to authorize the payment.  But because when I am here, I have a French phone #, and neither Canadian bank I deal with will let one put in a European phone number in their profile, I don’t get the text and therefore can’t make the purchase.  I feel like I am the child and Emily the parent when she knows what I am shopping for and has to provide a means of paying for the coveted item.    Bring on a bank card for a French bank account and let the online browsing begin in earnest!

It’s closing in on 11pm so I will finish for now with the promise of more posts to come as I disclose more and more what life, particularly my life, is like here.  And if it doesn’t motivate someone else to take the plunge at least maybe reading about it is interesting enough to make you want to follow along. 

A bientot! 

PS: The Visa saga is not done!  I happened to find out quite by chance that for the visa to stay in effect for a year one has to file paperwork within 90 days of arriving.  Can you imagine if I hadn’t stumbled across that information??  And after all that work and frustration it reverted to a 90-day visa??  Anyway, the paperwork doesn’t seem too complex, so I intend to get it done this week.  Then I will wait to hear for a response and directions on where to go for my medical.  Yes, as it turns out, I will need to have a medical exam including a chest x-ray and test for diabetes.  I have no expectation that I won’t pass but it is still a little nerve-wracking.  Another hurdle to overcome.  And I have no idea what happens if you don’t pass.  Does your one-year visa get revoked?  I can’t see this happening as it is firmly attached now, by the French Consulate in Montreal who approved the visa, to a page of my passport.  Maybe it means you can’t get it renewed.  Let’s hope that isn’t something I have to worry about.  In any case, the only controllable I have at this point is to get the paperwork done so at the top of my to do list it remains!  xo