I believe it's safe to say the book of "Monique's Misadventures in Europe" is finally finished. My story is written and I am now comfortably back home in California.
But let's reflect back, shall we? But before I get into it, I'm really glad I got to experience this entire situation, living and teaching abroad, because I learned a whole lot about myself. And on a much higher level than just moving away from home for the first time and going to college type of education. All I can say, is that it's good to be back.
I'm going to take the easy way out and say that my trip ended just about as horrendously and in the same by-the-seat-of-my-pants fashion with which it began.
Remember my first terrible encounter with French bureaucracy? As in, getting turned away three times from the French consulate in San Francisco before finally getting my visa and deciding on the spot, at the end of August, that I would be moving to France for supposedly the next nine months of my life?
Then when I finally did pack up my life and leave -- isn't this funny -- I came down with some really strange 24-hour stomach flu, slash nerves vomiting spell. On an international flight, in what is my opinion the worst airport in the entire world: Heathrow in London.
Then I had to deal with endless strikes day-in and day-out. Especially the first day on the job: Welcome to France! I was new, confused, and totally foreign to the city. That was a nice introduction to my life abroad.
My next hurdle came when the government said we all had to have a bank account open before October 10th if we wanted to receive our paychecks. That sounds reasonable, but opening a bank account in France is like... I really can't think of any good analogy because it was one of the worst things I've ever experienced. You need document X to open up an account. But you cannot get document X from the government until you have a statement from a bank. I'm amazed at how anyone ever gets anything done in that country...
Luckily I was on top of my stuff and got it done on time.
Since we're on the topic of impossible French bureaucracy and documents, I also had similar issues with my long-stay work permit, insurance, housing, and... other things that have currently slipped my mind. I guess they really left a lasting impression on me, even though at the time it seemed to be the end of the world ;)
Another disaster on the scale of misadventures in France came with my entire roommate situation. Nevermind she lied about her age and not smoking the day I met her. Nevermind she started making me pay for more than my half of the rent, when she was using the same amount, if not more of the utilities and water than I was. But when she stopped cleaning and then got mad at me for one day not doing her week's worth of dishes and when she threatened to kick me out for having guests from California over, even though she said two months in advance that it was cool for them to crash with us... the rollercoaster of love-hate between us came to an abrupt halt.
Nine months became seven because frankly, I don't need to be thousands of miles away from my friends and family and unhappy.
So now here I am, on my last day in Europe.
And what should happen?
More of the same old garbage. My two hour layover in Cincinnati became six. And I was doing all I could to keep my eyes open in the terminal. At least I got a free meal voucher out of it.
And at least I'm home safe! After having picked up so much more French, realizing that I can survive in any city in the world, completely on my own, without my parents' help. After working a career-type job, and for the first time not asking for anyone to pay my rent/insurance/tuition or any other expense that comes with being a dependent.
I went to France, I traveled the world, and I lived to tell about it! And that is worth every souci (worry, in English) I've wasted on my life over the past seven months.
P.S. I bought the A's shirt and shoes, since *drumroll* I got my CAF money for half my rent YESTERDAY!!! That means after being in France for seven months, I've broken even. No more debt for me... that is, until I find a job. And P.P.S., my fantasy baseball team is complete GARBAGE!
But let's reflect back, shall we? But before I get into it, I'm really glad I got to experience this entire situation, living and teaching abroad, because I learned a whole lot about myself. And on a much higher level than just moving away from home for the first time and going to college type of education. All I can say, is that it's good to be back.
I'm going to take the easy way out and say that my trip ended just about as horrendously and in the same by-the-seat-of-my-pants fashion with which it began.
Remember my first terrible encounter with French bureaucracy? As in, getting turned away three times from the French consulate in San Francisco before finally getting my visa and deciding on the spot, at the end of August, that I would be moving to France for supposedly the next nine months of my life?
Then when I finally did pack up my life and leave -- isn't this funny -- I came down with some really strange 24-hour stomach flu, slash nerves vomiting spell. On an international flight, in what is my opinion the worst airport in the entire world: Heathrow in London.
Then I had to deal with endless strikes day-in and day-out. Especially the first day on the job: Welcome to France! I was new, confused, and totally foreign to the city. That was a nice introduction to my life abroad.
My next hurdle came when the government said we all had to have a bank account open before October 10th if we wanted to receive our paychecks. That sounds reasonable, but opening a bank account in France is like... I really can't think of any good analogy because it was one of the worst things I've ever experienced. You need document X to open up an account. But you cannot get document X from the government until you have a statement from a bank. I'm amazed at how anyone ever gets anything done in that country...
Luckily I was on top of my stuff and got it done on time.
Since we're on the topic of impossible French bureaucracy and documents, I also had similar issues with my long-stay work permit, insurance, housing, and... other things that have currently slipped my mind. I guess they really left a lasting impression on me, even though at the time it seemed to be the end of the world ;)
Another disaster on the scale of misadventures in France came with my entire roommate situation. Nevermind she lied about her age and not smoking the day I met her. Nevermind she started making me pay for more than my half of the rent, when she was using the same amount, if not more of the utilities and water than I was. But when she stopped cleaning and then got mad at me for one day not doing her week's worth of dishes and when she threatened to kick me out for having guests from California over, even though she said two months in advance that it was cool for them to crash with us... the rollercoaster of love-hate between us came to an abrupt halt.
Nine months became seven because frankly, I don't need to be thousands of miles away from my friends and family and unhappy.
So now here I am, on my last day in Europe.
And what should happen?
More of the same old garbage. My two hour layover in Cincinnati became six. And I was doing all I could to keep my eyes open in the terminal. At least I got a free meal voucher out of it.
And at least I'm home safe! After having picked up so much more French, realizing that I can survive in any city in the world, completely on my own, without my parents' help. After working a career-type job, and for the first time not asking for anyone to pay my rent/insurance/tuition or any other expense that comes with being a dependent.
I went to France, I traveled the world, and I lived to tell about it! And that is worth every souci (worry, in English) I've wasted on my life over the past seven months.
P.S. I bought the A's shirt and shoes, since *drumroll* I got my CAF money for half my rent YESTERDAY!!! That means after being in France for seven months, I've broken even. No more debt for me... that is, until I find a job. And P.P.S., my fantasy baseball team is complete GARBAGE!
2 comments:
Hey!!! I'm glad you made it back in one piece! That was a beautiful recap of your journey across Europe. I can't wait to see you! Good luck on Monday! I want to hear all about it, ya hear? ;-)
I feel like I'm the only assistant who didn't have any bureaucratic issues. I feel so bad for you guys who did! I'm sure you're happy to be back in the US and minus about 7500 lbs of drama. Enjoy! I don't know how I'm going to drag myself back in a week.
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