Yeah Baby She's Got It

I got my passport today, minutes ago to be exact and if you could see me now I'm actually doing a happy dance. Maybe I should turn on the webcam and record a YouTube moment for you all...yeah on second thought I don't think so.

Just when I was about to give up on the US government they managed to surprise me. I called the National Passport Information Center and informed them that they had been holding my passport hostage for almost 3 months and that I had an appointment to get my visa on August 20th. The kind woman on the other end of the line checked the status of my passport and told me that the paperwork had been processed but that it still needed to be printed. She told me that she would put a note on my application to have it printed and shipped to me by the end of the week. I was skeptical during the whole conversation because I kept hearing horror stories about people missing weddings, funerals and vacations because they didn't receive their passports in time, but I thanked her and then hung up the phone.

Last night I received an email from the agency saying that my passport had finished processing and that since I had paid for overnight delivery I would have it on or around 8/1. I checked the mail today and voila I now have my passport in hand and the photo isn't even that bad.

I guess I can now close the book on my morning ritual of checking the status of my passport at the US Department of State website. I'm sure I'll think up a new ritual to perform in its place.

France: Things I Love #1

I thought this post would be appropriate following my previous one because it will put things into perspective and give me something to look forward to while I prepare for my move. I'm going to keep a running list of things I love about France and things I look forward to experiencing once I get to Paris. The posts won't appear in any particular order as items will be posted as they pop into my consciousness.

Alas, I present you with La Duree Macaroons:


Words cannot explain the deliciousness that are La Duree macaroons and they can only really be appreciated when experienced firsthand. These sweet little numbers come in a variety of flavors that will satisfy almost all palettes.

I hereby pledge to myself to purchase a macaroon or ten upon landing in Paris and to indulge in such treats whenever I'm faced with challenges while living in France.

She's Coming Undone

As the clock clicks closer and closer to September 17th I find myself getting more and more stressed out about my move to France. Perhaps these feelings are only natural but at times I feel nearly incapacitated by the number of things that I need to accomplish in such a short time frame (49 days to be exact). I know I'm not the first person to be in my situation and I know there are countless others that have done it before me but at this moment I feel like I'm not going to be able to get it all done. When I think about it my life here in New York City it really isn't all that bad. I have a decent job, a great group of friends, a semi-active social life and I'm fluent in the language. Why put myself through such undue stress?

What makes matters even worse is that there are some things that I simply can't do yet such as get my visa because I have yet to receive my passport or my arrêté de nomination. And let's not even discuss housing.

So instead of feeling excited by this wonderful opportunity that I have before me I'm feeling daunted and overwhelmed. I do see the light at the end of the tunnel that unfortunately it is not shining as brightly as it once has.