16 November, 2000



We did it! We got up at 6:00 this morning and took an early train to the prefecture and got residence permits. Today we received temporary permits good for three months, and in two months we'll go back for the real thing, good for five or ten years. It's a huge load off our minds. Several people told us that it would be a real pain. We expected to spend all day there, waiting in line, not understanding, etc. etc. We also expected to have to return several times to accumulate the appropriate papers.

In sum, we anticipated a really challenging experience, and I (Andrew) have been dreading it for a long time. It brought into question my basic right to exist -- we were going to ask approval to live here, and by all accounts it would be a pretty subjective decision. We were told initially that we should have $20,000 in the bank, proof of health insurance, and proof of a place to live.

In the event, we got there, a wonderful French man who spoke some English helped us, and we were finished in half an hour. We were so happy! I have to say that French bureaucracy has so far failed utterly to live up to its terrible reputation. We have been treated well, we have not had to wait for long periods of time, and generally we have had really positive experiences.

That's all, but what a big deal, to be through that. It was the last hurdle to really knowing that we can live here.