And Now
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Re-Entry Shock
Sunday in Paris
We planned to have a nice meal on Sunday night (Easter) before our trip on Monday.
Isn't Easter supposed to be a Springtime holiday?
It was so cold that we both bundled up -- me in a full-length down coat with hood and Terry in his overcoat, scarf, gloves. We took the metro (there are very few busses on holidays and on Sundays, so we figured that Easter would be a double-whammy to the bus schedule).
We had a great dinner in a warm little restaurant. It started to rain while we were eating. It was a freezing rain and it was coming down pretty hard. Because it was our last night, we took a little detour before getting back on the metro.
By the time we got home, we were soaked and had to put all the shoes, coats, umbrellas and gloves in the bathroom so that they would dry.
Monday in California
After a long day chez Air France, we arrived in California. At 5:30 PM it was 70 degrees and sunny. As we drove home in the cab, through rush-hour in Manhattan Beach, (Highland Ave. was bumper-to-bumper), we saw people in shorts, people walking their dogs in t-shirts, people coming up from their day at the beach.
We opened the doors and windows to let the ocean air freshen the house after being closed for so long. It's definitely Spring here.
We planned to have a nice meal on Sunday night (Easter) before our trip on Monday.
Isn't Easter supposed to be a Springtime holiday?
It was so cold that we both bundled up -- me in a full-length down coat with hood and Terry in his overcoat, scarf, gloves. We took the metro (there are very few busses on holidays and on Sundays, so we figured that Easter would be a double-whammy to the bus schedule).
We had a great dinner in a warm little restaurant. It started to rain while we were eating. It was a freezing rain and it was coming down pretty hard. Because it was our last night, we took a little detour before getting back on the metro.
By the time we got home, we were soaked and had to put all the shoes, coats, umbrellas and gloves in the bathroom so that they would dry.
Monday in California
After a long day chez Air France, we arrived in California. At 5:30 PM it was 70 degrees and sunny. As we drove home in the cab, through rush-hour in Manhattan Beach, (Highland Ave. was bumper-to-bumper), we saw people in shorts, people walking their dogs in t-shirts, people coming up from their day at the beach.
We opened the doors and windows to let the ocean air freshen the house after being closed for so long. It's definitely Spring here.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Le Figaro for Easter
Yesterday (Saturday) I went to buy Le Figaro. It is the combined Saturday/Sunday edition and has three magazines. The magazines take me all week to read. They are great.
I went to our local kiosk (Presse) and took a paper from the stack. It was under plastic because of the rain, so I struggled with the paper, the plastic the water that had pooled on top of the plastic.
I took the paper up to pay for it. The guy said, "that's the Friday paper". "No, the Friday paper doesn't come with the magazines," I reply. "This week the magazines are with the Friday paper".
"OK"
"Can I have the Saturday paper with the normal magazines, can we take the magazines from the Friday paper and put them into the Saturday paper and I'll buy that".
"OK"
I guess that with Easter, they moved the magazine date to Friday.
Happy Easter.
I went to our local kiosk (Presse) and took a paper from the stack. It was under plastic because of the rain, so I struggled with the paper, the plastic the water that had pooled on top of the plastic.
I took the paper up to pay for it. The guy said, "that's the Friday paper". "No, the Friday paper doesn't come with the magazines," I reply. "This week the magazines are with the Friday paper".
"OK"
"Can I have the Saturday paper with the normal magazines, can we take the magazines from the Friday paper and put them into the Saturday paper and I'll buy that".
"OK"
I guess that with Easter, they moved the magazine date to Friday.
Happy Easter.
Out and About
Yes, it's still cold here. It hailed yesterday afternoon.
Here we are during a Sunday outing.
I'm on the Pont des Arts and Terry is in the garden at the Delacroix museum.
Here we are during a Sunday outing.
I'm on the Pont des Arts and Terry is in the garden at the Delacroix museum.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
WICE
Our friends in France know what WICE is, and what it means to us. Our friends and family in the US are often curious. They know it has been important to us.
It was the first place that we felt that we were connecting with people in Paris. It feels like home. It feels like school. We've met many of our friends at WICE. Here are a few photos taken recently. These are by no means representative, since every conversation group is a new experience, a new group of people, a new dynamic.
Friday, March 7, 2008
It Must Be Spring
Does it look any warmer today in Paris? If you look back at the Fall photo of the Luxembourg Gardens you can see for yourself. Some of the trees think it's spring, they are starting to bloom, even though it's freezing outside.
I guess they know best.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
On Other Fronts
The Crepes
I tried to make crepes for the first time yesterday. I used Odile's recipe. After a few attempts, I got them to be relatively thin. Not like hers, but good enough for my first attempt. It really messed up the kitchen. It was hot standing over the pan. I now really appreciate a good crepe. Making them is quite an art.
The Carte de Sejour
Today was supposed to be the final appointment for our Carte de Sejour.
This would allow us to stay in France legally beyond the 90 days allowed to tourists. Of course, there are ways to get around the 90 days (like leave the country) but we want to follow the rules.
We have had four or five appointments already to get to this point. We brought about ten pounds of paperwork with us, including three copies of nearly every legal document we own. They gave us a list of what they needed.
When we got to the prefecture, the receptionist handed us each a folder and told us to put all our paperwork into this folder. Then she gave us each a number: 003 and 004 (we were early). So, we had to pull all our files apart to take out the paperwork they wanted in the folders. We were madly going through our files, re-filing when they must have called our number. We didn't hear it, we were so focused on re-filing the paperwork according to the new set of demands.
Finally, the receptionist caught our attention, telling us that they had called our number. So, we grabbed everything, half done (re-done) and went to our station (a small cubicle). The woman proceeded to yell at us and tell us that she had already voided 003 because she called the number three times and no one came. We finally got past that one.
But, the tone of the meeting had been set (negative). She proceeds to go through our folders, asks a few questions. We provide her with what she wants. Then, she tells us to go back and sit in the waiting room until she calls us again.
A long time goes by. No call.
I move closer to where she should be calling us, to make sure we don't miss the call. Other people know the drill, too. Everyone is gathered around the entrance to the cubicles. Finally, she calls us in a small, high voice, we barely hear her.
We go back in. She tells us to sign some forms that she has put together that have all our vital info and our photos (within a black box, in black ink only on both sides of the form) and we should hear from the Prefecture de Police regarding their decision (whether to give us the "carte" or not) within two months.
To make a long story short, it seems that we will probably be turned down on a technicality (that we left the country before getting the carte). If that is the case, we have to completely re-apply for the original Visa at the French Consulate in LA. Before we do this, we need to renew our passports, since they expire in 2009 and the Visa is affixed to the passport. AARGH!
I tried to make crepes for the first time yesterday. I used Odile's recipe. After a few attempts, I got them to be relatively thin. Not like hers, but good enough for my first attempt. It really messed up the kitchen. It was hot standing over the pan. I now really appreciate a good crepe. Making them is quite an art.
The Carte de Sejour
Today was supposed to be the final appointment for our Carte de Sejour.
This would allow us to stay in France legally beyond the 90 days allowed to tourists. Of course, there are ways to get around the 90 days (like leave the country) but we want to follow the rules.
We have had four or five appointments already to get to this point. We brought about ten pounds of paperwork with us, including three copies of nearly every legal document we own. They gave us a list of what they needed.
When we got to the prefecture, the receptionist handed us each a folder and told us to put all our paperwork into this folder. Then she gave us each a number: 003 and 004 (we were early). So, we had to pull all our files apart to take out the paperwork they wanted in the folders. We were madly going through our files, re-filing when they must have called our number. We didn't hear it, we were so focused on re-filing the paperwork according to the new set of demands.
Finally, the receptionist caught our attention, telling us that they had called our number. So, we grabbed everything, half done (re-done) and went to our station (a small cubicle). The woman proceeded to yell at us and tell us that she had already voided 003 because she called the number three times and no one came. We finally got past that one.
But, the tone of the meeting had been set (negative). She proceeds to go through our folders, asks a few questions. We provide her with what she wants. Then, she tells us to go back and sit in the waiting room until she calls us again.
A long time goes by. No call.
I move closer to where she should be calling us, to make sure we don't miss the call. Other people know the drill, too. Everyone is gathered around the entrance to the cubicles. Finally, she calls us in a small, high voice, we barely hear her.
We go back in. She tells us to sign some forms that she has put together that have all our vital info and our photos (within a black box, in black ink only on both sides of the form) and we should hear from the Prefecture de Police regarding their decision (whether to give us the "carte" or not) within two months.
To make a long story short, it seems that we will probably be turned down on a technicality (that we left the country before getting the carte). If that is the case, we have to completely re-apply for the original Visa at the French Consulate in LA. Before we do this, we need to renew our passports, since they expire in 2009 and the Visa is affixed to the passport. AARGH!
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
This is the rhythm of the week.
We are trying not to be frustrated, but we are used to completing a chore once and knowing that it is resolved.
One Step Forward
We deposited a check in our french bank account, were given a good exchange rate and immediate credit. We felt so happy.
Our dryer was broken. We called Darty "Service Apres Vente", a guy came out, worked on it, told us he fixed it, we paid him and he left.
Two Steps Back
Why Do Bad Things Always Happen On A Day When You Can't Fix It?
On Saturday, I looked at our bank account and the check that had been deposited on Thursday had been deducted from our account. The reason: the check was not dated! Why the teller didn't say anything when we were there is a mystery, isn't that part of her job?
On Sunday, I did my first load of laundry since the repair and the exact same problem happened. I thought he said it was fixed!
But, We Bounce Back, Again and Again
Today, we returned to the bank, deposited a new check, got a worse exchange rate, oh well. We then came home, stopped payment on the first check, which is now somewhere between the bank's processing center and the bank (they have told us for two days, "it should arrive this morning"). It still has not arrived.
A new repairman came out today from Darty. The new bill for the dryer is Euro 322. We are considering our options at this point and I will probably run to Monoprix and buy a clothes dryer that I use to hang my clothes to dry. It's more economical and more ecological.
We are trying not to be frustrated, but we are used to completing a chore once and knowing that it is resolved.
One Step Forward
We deposited a check in our french bank account, were given a good exchange rate and immediate credit. We felt so happy.
Our dryer was broken. We called Darty "Service Apres Vente", a guy came out, worked on it, told us he fixed it, we paid him and he left.
Two Steps Back
Why Do Bad Things Always Happen On A Day When You Can't Fix It?
On Saturday, I looked at our bank account and the check that had been deposited on Thursday had been deducted from our account. The reason: the check was not dated! Why the teller didn't say anything when we were there is a mystery, isn't that part of her job?
On Sunday, I did my first load of laundry since the repair and the exact same problem happened. I thought he said it was fixed!
But, We Bounce Back, Again and Again
Today, we returned to the bank, deposited a new check, got a worse exchange rate, oh well. We then came home, stopped payment on the first check, which is now somewhere between the bank's processing center and the bank (they have told us for two days, "it should arrive this morning"). It still has not arrived.
A new repairman came out today from Darty. The new bill for the dryer is Euro 322. We are considering our options at this point and I will probably run to Monoprix and buy a clothes dryer that I use to hang my clothes to dry. It's more economical and more ecological.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
"This isn't a blanchisserie..."
Beware of the French laundry!
I like to have our sheets done at a blanchisserie (French laundry). They come out starched, white and beautiful.
I normally go to a place on rue Notre Dames des Champs, where the woman is always nice to me.
But, I decided to try a new place because it was on the way to my other errands. Big mistake!
The minute I walked in the door, the trouble began. As I started to to take the sheets out of my chariot, the woman yelled at me from across the shop that the sheets must be in a plastic bag.
But, I don’t have a plastic bag!
Considering the problems the earth has with too many plastic bags right now, I made a conscious decision to bring the sheets in the chariot that I use for groceries, trying to save one plastic bag from becoming landfill.
Next, she threw a large paper bag at me and instructed me (still from across the room) to put the sheets in the bag. I follow her instructions.
Now it’s time for business. She asks all the details and fills out the form, handing it to me.
One detail is not filled out, so I ask. What day will the sheets be ready? She answers Friday. Then I ask her why not tomorrow? She yells at me, “This isn’t a blanchisserie”.
I pause. What? I could have sworn there was a sign on the front window saying “blanchisserie” and noting all the prices for laundry. My life passes before my eyes as I choose to argue this point. I mention the sign. She repeats, “this isn’t a blanchisseie” “Vendredi”…
OK, I will come back on Friday.
Now I am worried. My sheets will become landfill, or maybe they are going to the "Black Hole" where all people's sheets go who talk back to this woman. I can hardly wait for Friday.
Update to this story -- To my surprise, when I went to the store on Friday, there was a new woman, very nice, who gave me my sheets (in plastic!!!) and sent me on my way. Another small victory.
But, I will go back to the nice woman on Notre Dames des Champs to avoid the stress.
I like to have our sheets done at a blanchisserie (French laundry). They come out starched, white and beautiful.
I normally go to a place on rue Notre Dames des Champs, where the woman is always nice to me.
But, I decided to try a new place because it was on the way to my other errands. Big mistake!
The minute I walked in the door, the trouble began. As I started to to take the sheets out of my chariot, the woman yelled at me from across the shop that the sheets must be in a plastic bag.
But, I don’t have a plastic bag!
Considering the problems the earth has with too many plastic bags right now, I made a conscious decision to bring the sheets in the chariot that I use for groceries, trying to save one plastic bag from becoming landfill.
Next, she threw a large paper bag at me and instructed me (still from across the room) to put the sheets in the bag. I follow her instructions.
Now it’s time for business. She asks all the details and fills out the form, handing it to me.
One detail is not filled out, so I ask. What day will the sheets be ready? She answers Friday. Then I ask her why not tomorrow? She yells at me, “This isn’t a blanchisserie”.
I pause. What? I could have sworn there was a sign on the front window saying “blanchisserie” and noting all the prices for laundry. My life passes before my eyes as I choose to argue this point. I mention the sign. She repeats, “this isn’t a blanchisseie” “Vendredi”…
OK, I will come back on Friday.
Now I am worried. My sheets will become landfill, or maybe they are going to the "Black Hole" where all people's sheets go who talk back to this woman. I can hardly wait for Friday.
Update to this story -- To my surprise, when I went to the store on Friday, there was a new woman, very nice, who gave me my sheets (in plastic!!!) and sent me on my way. Another small victory.
But, I will go back to the nice woman on Notre Dames des Champs to avoid the stress.
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