Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Priceless

Opening a bank account : 5 visits to 3 different to the bank
Finding an apartment : 6 weeks of searching
Obtaining a Carte de Sejour : 4 trips to the prefecture, 3.5 months
Social Security : 4 trips to 3 different offices, estimated 2 month wait
Getting internet, phone and TV service : 4 visits to the Phone House store, 3 weeks to install

Finally completing all administrative processes (for the time being ;): Priceless!!

6 comments:

Nicole J. Butler said...

Congratulations! Sit back in your apartment amidst your bank statements with your Carte de Sejour in one hand and your social security card in the other, watch tv, talk on the phone and surf the web at the same time.

You have ARRIVED!

Anonymous said...

good for you,getting yourself sorted.I would love to move to a country where I barely speak the language and don't understand the bureaucracy,it all just seems like too much of a headache.You're my hero,I actually feel inspired.

rENX

The Un-Ashtangi said...

nicole I just need to find me a frenchie bf and I'll be all set ;)

The Un-Ashtangi said...

rENX I'm happy that I'm able to inspire you through my blog but let's get one thing straight, I am definitely not heroic by any means. For lack of a better way to explain it, for me moving to Paris was something that I HAD to do. From the pit of my soul, to the deepest darkest recesses of my subconsciousness I had to do it or else I knew that I would live a life of regret and what ifs.

Alejandra Ramos said...

Oh man. Enough to make me want to stay put, but definitely worth it I imagine! Congrats!

Ducky said...

I've had experience with US temporary worker procedures and they can also be a pain in the butt.

The problem is simple: foreign workers don't vote, so politicians can afford to ignore their concerns; and politicians, be that in France or the US, play the immigration card in order to get votes.