My last Monday memory article. Last year around this time I returned to the United States for the Christmas Holiday and when I returned in January I started my blog. So from here on out it's all in real time! This article was written one year ago this week as I was preparing to return home. I am now in the process of getting ready for another return trip...for 4 weeks. I'm excited. And there is no doubt we will have a white Christmas. Apparently the worst snowstorm in 20 years blew it's way through my old stomping ground leaving up to 20 inches of snow in it's wake. And tonight the temperatures are supposed to bottom out at around -15 F (-26 C) with a windchill of -25F (-31C). The snow I love, the temperatures I detest! And I'm leaving France just when my rosemary is blooming so nicely! I had to check the headlines from my old hometown newspaper. Click here if you want to cool off!
Five days and counting. On Sunday I’m on my way back to the
U.S. for Christmas and I’m running around like a madwoman trying to get
everything done. What clothes will I need?... do I even have clothes for a
Minnesota winter?...is there room for Christmas gifts?... what Christmas
gifts?... damn, I need to take care of that!... is there enough money in my
bank account for rent while I’m gone?...find someone to take any perishable
food and beg same person to water my plants…. check to see that tickets are in
order…… make hair, dental and other such appointments in the U.S…. take care of rental insurance
problem…and finally, make sure once I leave the country, that I’ll be allowed back
in. Right now, that is the biggest problem on my list.
Last week I trekked back to the local prefecture to finally
pick up my permanent Carte de Sejour (residency card). I began the process last
January and I’ve written several times about the problems involved in obtaining
this little treasure.
In May I finally got my hands on it…well, it was actually a
temporary card but I was told my real one would be processed and send to the
local prefecture in Aix. My temporary card was good for 3 months and after
checking at the prefecture several times for my “real card” I was finally told
there was a back up in Marseille and they would reissue me another temporary.
That second card expired the end of November so off I went again.
The gentleman at the window, who truly resembles a gray rat
and whom I have come to detest, looked at me in mild disbelief and said, “You can’t have your card because your
address has changed”. Oui, monsieur, in fact it’s changed 6 times since we
first met but I’ve always informed you of the changes.
“I need proof of your new address”, he told me and gave me
their hours of business so I could return with my rental papers another day.
I high-tailed it out of there and returned within 10 minutes
with said document. I produced this paper for the combative little rodent and
he looked at me again with dismay and said “ you can’t have the card without
your medical certificate”.
“What medical certificate? In all the times that I’ve come
here to make inquiries, no one has mentioned a medical certificate! This is the
first time! It wasn’t on the list you gave me and nobody mentioned it to me in
Marseille or here!” All of this in broken French, mind you.
He gruffly told me that was not his problem, teased me by
waving my actual card in front of my face (if there wasn’t glass between us I
would have grabbed it out of his greedy little paws and run like hell) and
repeated that he could not give it to me without that certificate. He also
informed me, to my dismay, that if I
left France without that card, I would not be allowed back in because my
regular Visa has now expired. C’est tout! He gave me several numbers to call in
Marseille and I was dismissed.
C’est un grand probleme! Because I’m going back to the
United States for Christmas and I’ll be damned if Monsieur
I-Hate-My-Job-And-I-Hate-You-Too is going to stop me.
I tried the numbers I was given for days and it was
impossible to get through. After another visit to the local prefecture with a
French friend to help me make sure I had my information right, I decided that I
needed to just get my body to this mysterious office in Marseille and beg for
an appointment to obtain the certificate.
I hopped a bus early in the morning, landed in Marseille,
finally found the proper metro station to get me where I needed to go and
actually arrived at the Office of Strangers by 9:30 am. I marched past all
the people waiting, went to the desk and told them in French what my problem
was. They were actually very nice and called somebody on the phone that spoke
English to help me (my French is obviously still lacking!). I regurgitated the
details (finally in English), told the voice on the other end when I was
leaving and that I must get this medical certificate before I go.
I got an appointment for the next week, which is tomorrow!
That leaves me one day to get back to the prefecture here in
Aix with a satisfied smirk on my face, medical certificate in hand, and politely ask Monsieur “Willard” for
my card. At least I hope that’s how it will go.
So my open bag is on the floor and I’m beginning to faire
mes valises. All I really care about is wrapping my arms around my boys, one of
whom I haven’t seen in a year, scratching my dog in that soft place just under
his chin, laughing with my sister, helping my mother finish redecorating her house
(an endless process), sharing a meal and good stories with my friends back home
and celebrating my favorite season with snow, Christmas carols and the people I
love surrounding me.
Merry Christmas to all.
Have a great trip. We wish we were in France for Christmas but UK it has to be this year. Diane
ReplyDeleteoh Delana, Delana....I have all fingers and toes crossed. What a story. You are something to be able to deal with all this. Please......calll me when you get back here so we can chat if just for a minute, ok?
ReplyDeleteOur moving truck is here, as I write, so we are on our way (I hope). xxxxLibby
Good luck with everything, Delana! Hope you make it home - just make sure to pick up some good gloves and warm socks!
ReplyDeleteKris
Merry Christmas from bitterly cold, excessively snowy northern Iowa (we got the same storm Minnesota did). I'm glad you get to come home for Christmas, but do be prepared. It's been a brutal winter so far.
ReplyDeleteI wish we were closer so we could experience Christmas in France and in Germany, where I have so many wonderful memories of Christmases past.
I will think of you when I pluck my fresh herbs and geranium blossoms from the sunny, southern windows at the parsonage and hope your flowers get watered while you are gone.
Have a wonderful Christmas with your family!
Sherrie and Mark
What a story! I waiting with nervous anticipation to find out what happens. What grit you must have! GOod luck and Joyeux Noel.
ReplyDeleteThis saga was last year, right? So we know you got back to France. But guess we'll have to wait for awhile to hear about what a medical certificate is!!
ReplyDeleteHave a safe trip home and a wonderful Christmas and happy New Year! :-)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your trip...and don't get frostbite!
ReplyDeleteI am always very embarassed when I read stories like this. My son in the States also has a problem of visa, but rules are clear and there are no surprises.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice Christmas, Delana: we have a lot in common, you are right. It takes a lot of courage to start again (at least you are younger than I was when I left), I didn't move very far...not yet, who knows...
Delana, Enjoy your holiday :) My brother is in Forest Lake, MN! brrrrr! Happy Christmas! :) -susan
ReplyDeleteOh, a fellow Minnesotan! Hope you made it back safely - I'll be heading back on Sunday myself.
ReplyDeleteAwe! Yes! A lot of snow and a lot of cold.
ReplyDeleteBe warm and safe.
Oh, my goodness, what a story! Good luck to you, and merry, merry Christmas!!!
ReplyDeleteI find myself very anxious for your return so we can get "the rest of the story!"
ReplyDeleteHope your new year is the best ever, Delana. Thanks for your always entertaining, uplifting perspective on life!
Brrrrr snow! And -25C wind chills??? Where do you live? I need to send you a heater, STAT.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a great trip home...my kids are in Minnesota, too. Just discovered your blog and love it. I added it to my bloglist and wondered if you would be interested in reciprocal link. At any rate, I am sure you would enjoy reading it from time to time. I am a Midwestern married to a Frenchman living in Switzerland.
ReplyDeletehttp://pattymackz.com/wordpress/
Safe travels. Pat