June 13, 2007

My (un)Favorite Time of Year

Early summer should be an enjoyable time of year. The days are lovely and warm but not too hot yet, and the evenings are deliciously cool. The rosé flows generously, apricots, cherries and peaches appear at the market and barbeques become de rigeur.


Yes, I should enjoy this time of year. But for me, the middle of June is marred by something so awful....
it's almost too painful to mention...

it's time to renew my Carte de Séjour

(cue: screaming) Pin It

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

oh do i feel your pain! but, and now it's my turn to be a brat and gloat a bit, i just got my 10 year card!!! i am so excited that i don't have to set foot in that place for a loooong time. i really don't think it has to be as difficult as they make it.
good luck! i hope it's speedy and painless.

Jennifer said...

oh, I am envious!!!!
But luckily you're married to a frenchman...I have to keep my american husband...oh well. :)
Congratualtions on the 10 year card

Brunofrance said...

Oh, thank you for allowing me to stay.

Jennifer said...

bruno
you're welcome my dear

Papadesdeux said...

Good Luck

Katie Zeller said...

Now I understand why I no longer look forward to Christmas.... Aaarrghhh!

wcs said...

Here in the Loir et Cher it's a relatively painless process. All done by mail and we don't even have to go to the préfecture. They send the cards to the Mairie of our village.

Is it true that you get the ten-year card after 5 years of the annual ones ? And is that the 5th year or the 6th... Just wondering.

Jennifer said...

papadesdeux
merci
every year it seems to get more difficult, so we'll see how long it takes this time around.

katie
another terrible time of year to deal with bureaucracy. everyone is in holiday mode. when I have to renew, they are in vacation mode

wcs
we have to turn in our papers to the mairie and the card is sent back to the village (many months later)
I wish I could answer your question about the 10 year card. I have no idea and it seems that each préfecture has different rules about these things

The Late Bloomer said...

Oh, man, I feel your pain... I'm always dreading the next bureaucratic hurdle, but when it comes to this particular element, in general I'm relieved that I ended up agreeing to dual nationality a few years back. At the time I wasn't too sure and I don't know if I would have gone through with it without some nudging from my ex... But it's a relief to have it now.

Hope all goes well for you this time around! I'm sure it will.

mpabner said...

If it is anything like the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles, I am sorry that you have to deal with that. What a nightmare!

Jennifer said...

late bloomer
you have dual nationality? you ARE lucky!

mpabner
you have no idea!
I wonder if the DMV in Florida is as bad as in New Orleans?