Has finally arrived.
Except, judging from my reactions today, you'd never know.
I have this terrible habit of getting overly excitable about EVERYTHING. I always tip my hand and I don't know how to chill out when something big is happening. Actually, scratch that. Even with stupid little nothing events, I still get way too antsy.
So imagine my surprise when I got that letter in the mail yesterday saying I could retrieve my carte de séjour and during the walk to the Police Municipale today, my heart was not thudding in my chest. Normally, I'd be getting increasingly nervous, palms sweaty with anticipation accompanied by quick, shallow breaths. And usually things go horribly wrong.
So maybe that's the key, eh? Don't get over-excited and you won't get let down.
Either way, I went into the office and presented my letter, in addition to the receipt saying my card was on its way. I also took a thousand extra precautions and brought my passport, California identification, a copy of verification of my residence (in case they had my address wrong on the card) and my work contract. Of course, I was insanely over-prepared, but a few extra papers in my backpack really didn't weigh me down any more than usual.
The woman at the counter greeted me quite friendly, something I've never come across in French administration up until this point. That's the kind of person you should have working for your company, someone who genuinely gets excited about every person's ascent to *legal* residency in the country. She must have know what I've gone through to get to this step, because when she finally handed me the card -- less than one minute later seeing as how I was the only person in the building, another shocker in French bureaucracy -- a ridiculous smile overtook her entire face and I get the feeling that she actually meant it.
A little suspicious, I took the card and waited to see if I needed to do anything else, because really that couldn't be it. But it was and I hurried out of there before anything could go wrong.
Then during my walk back, I realized that today was a really gloomy and ugly day. Pretty rare for the week we've been having here in the South of France. And I couldn't help but think, I should be ecstatic despite the glum weather.
But I never once did the proverbial heel click, not even mentally. You know that feeling when you've accomplished something so great, a pat on the back just won't cut it? Yeah, I never even got that sensation.
Peu importe. All that matters is that I officially have a French identification card, even if it only is good for seven more months.... Perhaps I'll post a picture of it later. Or maybe, I'll post a picture of me flipping it off, giving you a sense for how I feel about French administrative hurdles.
So how did I actually celebrate such a feat?! I kept it pretty low-key and cooked myself a really good, healthy meal after a few hours at the gym. (Oh yeah, and I let myself have a candy bar!)
Tonight I chopped up some endives and cabbage for the base of a salad, then threw on some raw onions and radishes. In a lightly-buttered pan, I tossed in some of the onions with balsamic vinegar, honey, walnuts, golden raisins and pears for a sweet dressing. And the main course was easy -- I already had frozen, prepped Alaskan halibut in the papillote style tossed in a bag with veggies and herbs. All I had to do was pop that in the oven for a few minutes and voilà.
What a day.
...12 DAYS UNTIL CALIFORNIA!!
Except, judging from my reactions today, you'd never know.
I have this terrible habit of getting overly excitable about EVERYTHING. I always tip my hand and I don't know how to chill out when something big is happening. Actually, scratch that. Even with stupid little nothing events, I still get way too antsy.
So imagine my surprise when I got that letter in the mail yesterday saying I could retrieve my carte de séjour and during the walk to the Police Municipale today, my heart was not thudding in my chest. Normally, I'd be getting increasingly nervous, palms sweaty with anticipation accompanied by quick, shallow breaths. And usually things go horribly wrong.
So maybe that's the key, eh? Don't get over-excited and you won't get let down.
Either way, I went into the office and presented my letter, in addition to the receipt saying my card was on its way. I also took a thousand extra precautions and brought my passport, California identification, a copy of verification of my residence (in case they had my address wrong on the card) and my work contract. Of course, I was insanely over-prepared, but a few extra papers in my backpack really didn't weigh me down any more than usual.
The woman at the counter greeted me quite friendly, something I've never come across in French administration up until this point. That's the kind of person you should have working for your company, someone who genuinely gets excited about every person's ascent to *legal* residency in the country. She must have know what I've gone through to get to this step, because when she finally handed me the card -- less than one minute later seeing as how I was the only person in the building, another shocker in French bureaucracy -- a ridiculous smile overtook her entire face and I get the feeling that she actually meant it.
A little suspicious, I took the card and waited to see if I needed to do anything else, because really that couldn't be it. But it was and I hurried out of there before anything could go wrong.
Then during my walk back, I realized that today was a really gloomy and ugly day. Pretty rare for the week we've been having here in the South of France. And I couldn't help but think, I should be ecstatic despite the glum weather.
But I never once did the proverbial heel click, not even mentally. You know that feeling when you've accomplished something so great, a pat on the back just won't cut it? Yeah, I never even got that sensation.
Peu importe. All that matters is that I officially have a French identification card, even if it only is good for seven more months.... Perhaps I'll post a picture of it later. Or maybe, I'll post a picture of me flipping it off, giving you a sense for how I feel about French administrative hurdles.
So how did I actually celebrate such a feat?! I kept it pretty low-key and cooked myself a really good, healthy meal after a few hours at the gym. (Oh yeah, and I let myself have a candy bar!)
Tonight I chopped up some endives and cabbage for the base of a salad, then threw on some raw onions and radishes. In a lightly-buttered pan, I tossed in some of the onions with balsamic vinegar, honey, walnuts, golden raisins and pears for a sweet dressing. And the main course was easy -- I already had frozen, prepped Alaskan halibut in the papillote style tossed in a bag with veggies and herbs. All I had to do was pop that in the oven for a few minutes and voilà.
What a day.
...12 DAYS UNTIL CALIFORNIA!!
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