The French government is a pain in the ass, but I can forgive them when they occasionally redeem themselves.
So for the visa process, part of finishing it is going to this medical appointment, which included various things and moneys. This visit needed to be done before we had been in the country for three months, AKA by mid-November. Our directors had told us that we would get the date in the mail late October, and it would probably be in late November or early December. Then I got mine before everyone else, and it was scheduled for the 29th, when I was due to return from Rome on the 30th. Naturally I was very upset, but I had gone through a lot of thinking and figured that okay, I'll go talk to the OFII (Office Français de l’Immigration and de l’Intergration), but I wasn't expecting anything because the directors had continually told us that it was completely unchangeable; rather like they how told us that it would be in November. I figured that it was worth a try, at least, but I would end up calling Air France and try switching my flight to the 28th out of Florence, or just buy a new ticket and eat the $200 on the other one from Rome on the 30th. I was being a good, mature person, accepting that life sometimes throws shit at you and there's nothing you can do about it.
This mindset clearly paid off. I went to the OFII the first chance I got, today before my class. I waited for a bit, then talked to a very nice woman there, and I luckily didn’t even have to explain what was going on (later findings showed that I had gotten a response via e-mail from the office right before I got there, so common sense leads that she had probably read my e-mail) before she agreed to reschedule my appointment. I didn’t believe it at first, but she went, made a photocopy of my paper, and wrote “Excused, reschedule” on it! So as far as I know, I’m in the clear, and from what I understand I’m just waiting for a new appointment. I am A-OKAY with this. French people are just that, so it shouldn’t interfere with any other travel plans because they don’t work on the weekends, nor do they generally work very much on Fridays. So I am happy as a dog, my Italy plans are all go, and it’s good.
Italy’s looking to be super exciting, we’re hitting up Rome for two days, Venice for two days, Florence for two days, then back to Rome for another day and then flying back out of there. I’m totally happy to be going with Becky, she’s one of the few (AKA like, two) people that I’ve clicked with here. Studying up on my Italian, that’s my next language of choice! Plus, I love getting away from Bordeaux, then getting back and getting to know the city all over again. After that we have a free weekend (Halloween! Is it already the end of October?), then Geneva, then Paris, then Edinburgh, then free weekend, then Lyon, then two free weekends, me leaving on the Sunday of the second weekend. Looking forward to coming back to reality, though I know I’ve got a ways to go. It’s still cold, and I’m still having a good time. I love French food. So, so much. I will miss being able to just grab a baguette or go to a patisserie. Or buy two-Euro wine and have it still be amazing.
And the Angels better open up a bottle of home-made whoopass on the Yanks, or else I will be very sad. Very sad indeed. Especially because I’m staying up late for tonight’s game, and I have class at 8h30. And I’m going to miss game 6 and 7, then games 1 and 2 for the World Series. Very, very, very sad about that. I’ll recruit someone to send me texts with scores…
Reading Romeo and Juliet in French. It’s awesome, and possibly even more vulgar. Probably last blog entry before I return from Italy.
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