Today has been such a step forward in the direction of being a fully functioning, legal and not-homeless young adult in France. I have a place to live AND I got my visa in the mail today.
I will be living in a dormitory that indeed has a bed (that's right mom, I won't have to take inflatable furniture anymore!!!) and possibly other furniture. As far as I know, it's near the center of town and pretty close to my school. If I can read a map correctly, it's about 1 block from the school that I will be teaching in. The best part about not being homeless is that the rent is pretty cheap too so I may just about have enough money to not starve next year!!
After the excitement of the morning (finding out about the room), I stopped by the post office to pick up my visa. I missed the postman when he tried to drop it off at the door. I'm quite surprised by the quick turn around of the French Consulate. My appointment was last Friday!! In their haste though, they tore one of the pages in my passport so tomorrow will be spent with me calling various passport offices/other important people to see if the 2 centimeter tear on an unimportant page of my passport who impede me from getting on the plane in one month.
During my Consulate appointment, at the end, they took my picture and scooted me on my way. Apparently they used the picture that they took and posted it into my passport. While I look like a vampire because of my white skin, more importantly, I appear to look a little bit like someone who lives in Europe. My pursed lips and unamused expression are the perfect jump start to Operation Jen in France.
Exactly one month from today I will be boarding the plane and starting this adventure abroad. I am so excited about it. Everything is falling into place. I couldn't be more thankful or grateful for all of the love, support and plain dumb luck that I have been experiencing recently. Life is good.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Responsibility
Last weekend, KJ and I went on a crazy adventure to Chicago to get my visa. Unfortunately, the French government is a little needy and requires everyone to travel to the nearest Consulate. Luckily, the nearest one from Ohio is only 7.5 hours away in Chicago! (I hope that you could hear the hint of sarcasm there). While it was a lot of fun (we packed a TON into those 30 hours spent in the Windy City), I was so nervous that something was going to go wrong that I couldn't really relax or let my guard down until after my appointment at the Consulate.
When I was an exchange student in 08, I had to do the exact same visa application and travel to the exact same office and sit in the exact same waiting room in order to give them my documents and become legally permitted to live in France. This time was actually easier. There were less documents that I needed and I didn't even have to pay any money for the application. I imagine that it was so easy because I was hired by the French government so I have a bit of street cred in the system. While it's not an automatic thing, the odds are in my favor. All in all, the appointment itself was painless (other than a blister on my toe from the new shoes) and it only lasted about 8 minutes. Now I'm just waiting for my passport to come back in the mail with it's brand new visa inside of it.
One of the biggest differences between this time around and last time is that I, myself, am in charge. I was responsible for acquiring and filling out all of the necessary paperwork. I made the arrangements for the plane ticket and the visa. I showed up to the appointment by myself. It's such an odd sensation being so responsible and grown up. When I get to France, I will need to find myself a place to live (if I don't already have one) and will be pretty much on my own for the first time in my entire life. It's a daunting yet completely exhilarating feeling of helplessness. There is nothing that I can do to change this. It's going to happen whether I'm ready or not. Hopefully, I will be ready and prepared.
When I was an exchange student in 08, I had to do the exact same visa application and travel to the exact same office and sit in the exact same waiting room in order to give them my documents and become legally permitted to live in France. This time was actually easier. There were less documents that I needed and I didn't even have to pay any money for the application. I imagine that it was so easy because I was hired by the French government so I have a bit of street cred in the system. While it's not an automatic thing, the odds are in my favor. All in all, the appointment itself was painless (other than a blister on my toe from the new shoes) and it only lasted about 8 minutes. Now I'm just waiting for my passport to come back in the mail with it's brand new visa inside of it.
One of the biggest differences between this time around and last time is that I, myself, am in charge. I was responsible for acquiring and filling out all of the necessary paperwork. I made the arrangements for the plane ticket and the visa. I showed up to the appointment by myself. It's such an odd sensation being so responsible and grown up. When I get to France, I will need to find myself a place to live (if I don't already have one) and will be pretty much on my own for the first time in my entire life. It's a daunting yet completely exhilarating feeling of helplessness. There is nothing that I can do to change this. It's going to happen whether I'm ready or not. Hopefully, I will be ready and prepared.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
The Life of the Procrastinator
Sometimes, I wish I wasn't a procrastinator. I try so hard to be organized but I know that it isn't in my blood. Even writing this blog is an example of me putting something off.
I am leaving for my visa appointment in Chicago tomorrow with KJ and I have yet to really get anything together other than knowing that we are going to sleep at A's house in the suburbs. I need to pack, get everything together for the appointment, fill out some applications (in blue ink, I've learnt my lesson with the French government before), get my passport pic taken, do a million other bureaucratic things and clean my room.
I wish that I could be more organized. I wish that I was all ready to go to Chicago. I wish that I was all ready to go to France. I wish a lot of things but, wishing in itself is a form of procrastination. I'd better just go and do something.
I am leaving for my visa appointment in Chicago tomorrow with KJ and I have yet to really get anything together other than knowing that we are going to sleep at A's house in the suburbs. I need to pack, get everything together for the appointment, fill out some applications (in blue ink, I've learnt my lesson with the French government before), get my passport pic taken, do a million other bureaucratic things and clean my room.
I wish that I could be more organized. I wish that I was all ready to go to Chicago. I wish that I was all ready to go to France. I wish a lot of things but, wishing in itself is a form of procrastination. I'd better just go and do something.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Bag of Emotions
Today has been a whirlwind of emotions. Alright, who am I kidding, my entire life is a whirlwind of emotions. When God was handing out the different attributes, I think that he slipped and filled my whole trick or treat bag of personality with emotions. I am so excited to go to France and teach little French children but, the logistics are a little overwhelming. I am nervous that even though I have been trying to save every penny, I may run into some money problems when I get over there.
I'm no stranger to being frugal or waiting (sometimes not so) patiently until I can afford something. That wait (usually) makes the fruit sweeter. I'm nervous though that once I am in France and living there, there will be some things that I won't be able to wait to do and I will feel stressed over money there. I guess that I'll just have to suck it up and worry about that when I get over there. Hopefully, everything will work out and things will just fall into place.
The dull ache behind my eyes from the stress tears is a telltale sign that I worried enough today. I need to fall back into my bed and try to float off into the land of dreams where I will hopefully not think about the headache that is France. This is going to be the adventure of a lifetime, I just have to get there. Last week I bought my plane ticket. I am so blessed and lucky that my Dad bought it for me. He is so awesome and I don't know what I would do without him. Later this week, KJ (my sister) and I are travelling to Chicago so that I can get my visa. I'm a bit nervous for that too but I'll get to see my Chica so it'll be worth it.
Days like today remind me that I am by no means in control nor would I want to be. I am thankful to be guided and encompassed by such a loving Father that I don't have to worry about any of this. If only I could remember that when life gets overwhelming!
I'm no stranger to being frugal or waiting (sometimes not so) patiently until I can afford something. That wait (usually) makes the fruit sweeter. I'm nervous though that once I am in France and living there, there will be some things that I won't be able to wait to do and I will feel stressed over money there. I guess that I'll just have to suck it up and worry about that when I get over there. Hopefully, everything will work out and things will just fall into place.
The dull ache behind my eyes from the stress tears is a telltale sign that I worried enough today. I need to fall back into my bed and try to float off into the land of dreams where I will hopefully not think about the headache that is France. This is going to be the adventure of a lifetime, I just have to get there. Last week I bought my plane ticket. I am so blessed and lucky that my Dad bought it for me. He is so awesome and I don't know what I would do without him. Later this week, KJ (my sister) and I are travelling to Chicago so that I can get my visa. I'm a bit nervous for that too but I'll get to see my Chica so it'll be worth it.
Days like today remind me that I am by no means in control nor would I want to be. I am thankful to be guided and encompassed by such a loving Father that I don't have to worry about any of this. If only I could remember that when life gets overwhelming!
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