my day in Creteil

Before i begin this post, I want to remind you that I'm having a really great time here and France is beautiful and the people are wonderful.


The day began early this morning at 6:30 am when I heard the taxi horn honking outside my house. Apparently the taxi wanted to come half an hour earlier than it was booked... fine... sure I can get ready in 30 seconds.

Taxi ride was pretty good, the driver was pretty good looking... (strange I know - but its France). And the guy was asking me a bunch of questions which I just happened to understand, AND respond to! - A proud moment

Then everything went completely downhill. I got to the Immigration office and it wasn't open. I had to wait an hour, in the parking lot, without a jacket...

Then when I got inside the lady directed me in a very general direction and told me to wait. So I wait... 30 mins pass... nothing happens, finally a nurse calls Mademoiselle Gogal? and Some other girl gets up! ummmm non... C'est moi. I said.

Lucky me! Its time for my X-ray! And nobody speaks English! but they think they do. "You muzzt taake uff all of clothing and juste" .... "just what?" ... "yes. juste" mmmmm okay. So to be safe i decide just to take of my shirt and pants. when I came out she says "Non, not your pant - jet zee bra" ( o god this is fun )

After the nurse scanned me, she told me to go up stairs to the right, then she was used her left hand and pointed left and said "to the right". So i went left, and found a bunch of people in a waiting room. We watched a movie about immigrating to France. then I waited for 2 HOURS, and nothing happened. Finally I asked a lady in very broken French if I was in the right place, and she looked at my papers and started laughing.

She showed me were to go and I finished my medical exam- After a total of 3 1/2 hours.

O but that is not it! Then it was time for legal stuff. And of course i didnt have the necessary papers or a photo of myself. So the lady was nice and told me what bus to take in order to get to the shopping center to get my picture taken. Then i could come back at 2pm and complete the Visa process.

So i took the bus. and I couldn't figure out how to pay, because everything is digital So I just didn’t pay at all. It’s easy to be a rebel when you can’t understand anything. Got to the mall… and the photo booth is broken. So I finally find another one and it works

Then I got my Visa completed. And took the train home in time to pick up Anais from school


the end.