Days in Paris: 12
This should really be pulse check #9 or so because I skipped a couple of weeks but please forgive me.
It seems like this past Friday was a big day for me. I managed to get my récépissé and open a bank account on the same day before noon. Had I known how easy it was going to be to get my récépissé in Paris I would have gone to the prefecture the day that I arrived. I should point out that this is not necessarily the case for all regions as I have a friend that ended up waiting in line for 3 hours only to be told to come back the following week. I was under the impression that I would need my medical visit and some other forms before I could start my dossier for the CDS. I guess you live and you learn. Oh and shoutouts to Virgine at Credit Lyonnais in St-Germain-des-Prés.
So that was the good news. Unfortunately, the bad news is that I'm going to be homeless in a day. I thought that two weeks would be plenty of time for me to get settled and to find housing before starting work but I was terribly wrong. I need to come up with a plan B before I end up spending a couple of days sleeping in one of the metro stations.
So far I'm really loving Paris and I've already met some great people. Veronica has been very helpful and an absolute godsend and I owe her big time.
BTW: Does anyone know the cheapest way to transfer money from my US bank account to my French bank account? When I find housing I'll need to pay at least 1 month security deposit and 1 month rent up front. With the crappy exchange rate paying I don't want to end up paying a buttload of additional fees.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Sunday Pulse Check #7
at 9:23 AM
Labels: pulse check
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6 comments:
Check out HiFX (you can google it for the link). I've used them and they don't charge fees.
Interesting I will check them out. I heard about them through some sketchy craiglist ad but I didn't trust it b/c it seemed too good to be true.
Will keep you posted.
I thought the same as you re the CDS and the medical visit. I was also told false information from my contact person that I needed some form signed...bollocks. I'm so annoyed. Now I have to wait to find out my schedule tomorrow and see when I can sort it out.
If you need a nice hostel, I recommend hostel caulaincourt on rue caulaincourt, montmartre. It's clean, new, net access and is in a safe part of the quartier.I hope you find somewhere to live soon.
Hiya, while we don't know each other, I have become a fan of your blog and will live vicariously through you! :)
In regard to your impending homelessness, have you checked out couchsurfing.com? A friend of mine in the South of France has used it and met some great people and their couches in Paris. Give it a whirl - you never know.
An Ex-Expat
Hi ejote thanks for reading my blog and commenting. It's really great to know that there are people out there that read this thing.
The apartment that I had been banking on has fallen through sad, sad, sad but I'm not homeless yet. A friend found temporary housing for a week so I should be ok until Saturday. I've considered couch surfing and I'm heard great things about it.
Hi there Etrangiere!
I just started reading your blog last week! Welcome to Paris.. I am not too far from Paris- I live of the RER B line in Antony... If you ever want to meet up for coffee or a walk in Paris... let me know. I have been here for a little over a year and my hubby is French. If you have any questions of what not, just send me an email...
As for the money transfer... not sure if this is cheaper or not.. but I DO know that if you open a paypal account and link it to your bank account in the US you can link it to your bak account in France... but there IS a charge... You can always check it out as it is a very secure sight!
Also, a few of my American friends are meeting for sushi at Odeon at noon if you would like to meet us on Friday, Oct. 12. You can send me an email and I can give you more details... Take care, Leesa
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