Visa Crap.

As a temporary worker in France, there are many tedious and insanely annoying processes to go through, even though we're only here for seven months. I'm sure it's worse in the United States, mais quand-meme. So, I have a French bank account, social security number, health insurance, etc. The last step in the process was getting my visa validated which involved a medical visit at the immigration and integration center in Montpellier... on a Wednesday. I live in Lozere, so I had to take a train down the night before, and this is where the saga begins.

Being the nice daughter I am, I sent a package of French goodies to my family back in the States and I decided to do this right before my train left. I brought my package up, not taped and the lady behind the desk looked at me confused. Apparently the post office in Marvejols does not have tape. So, sorry Howards and Shaws if the package arrives busted open and broken as we taped it together with normal scotch tape. Anyway, because of this minor catastrophe, I end up running full speed up the mountain to the train station. I am two minutes late and decide to spring the last 200 feet. I run into the station to see the train was late and I had 2 minutes to buy my ticket, get a water from the vending machine and jump on the train. This train is never, ever, ever late. So, I'm thinking good kharma! Exactly. And that's where all my luck dried up.

The next day, I drag myself down to the immigration office for my appointment at 3pm. There are a bunch of other assistants I know there as well, so time went by relatively quickly, however the process didn't. After x-rays of my lungs (awkward experience) and meeting two other people, I was brought back to validate my visa... at 5:30pm. So, I ended up missing the only transportation to bring me back up to Lozere and home. Not being too upset about this, I decided to celebrate with a Kebab with a fellow assistant (be jealous Scott).

The next morning, this is Thursday now, I had a train at 8:20am that would bring me to Beziers where I would then take a train to Marvejols. It has turned into winter in Southern France and I'm none too please. Yes, 30 degrees isn't terrible but it's still not pleasant, especially because I have zero winter clothes with me. So, I have layers of clothes on and I am chilled to the bone.... and I look absurd wearing all my clothes. But anyway, I digress. As my train was pulling into Beziers, we stop. Curious. I look to see why. It was letting another train pass. What train? My connection train. So now I'm stuck in Beziers and there are no other trains up to Lozere that day. I rage over to the ticket counter and they could do nothing for me. I call my English teacher in Marvejols, she's incredibly understanding, as always, and we decide I should come up the next day. I then spend two hours in Beziers waiting for a train to Montpellier. In the mean time, these teenagers are having fights with old people about their loud music and throwing newspapers at me and this other dude. I finally got to Montpellier, asked the ticket agent if I could use my ticket the next day: no. Enraged, I take the tram out to the new mall in Montpellier and buy myself proper warm clothes and wandered around in an annoyed, exhausted stuper. Eventually headed back to my friend Lisa's appartment, Lisa the fantastic girl who takes care of me every weekend. We complain about the French for a while and take naps.

Well in the end I wasn't too upset to miss my train because I was able to go out to fondue with my friends to celebrate the last nights of our Maltese friends in Montpellier. The fondue was delicious, wine was in baby bottles and the ice cream was scandalously arranged. I loved this restaurant. Someone visit me in Montpellier please?

Finally. FINALLY. This morning (FRIDAY) I head back to Marvejols. I slept through my alarm and had to run to the train in high heeled boots. Why heels? Because I thought I was going to be in Montpellier for 24 hours, not 60. I make it on the train with 3 minutes to spare. The connection in Beziers was still there when I arrived and in fact waited 10 extra minutes for other train connections to come in. SERIOUSLY. I was able to sneak my expired ticket as a legitmate one and I was relatively happy. So, I found myself a nice compartment to myself with eight seats and private heating control. I put the heat on maximum, closed the doors and the curtains and slept. I awoke to a text from a friend in Paris about snow, I looked out the window to see myself in winter wonderland, corny I know. The mountains were covered in a couple inches of snow and it was still falling. It was gorgeous, I felt like I was on the Hogwarts express (Harry Potter reference) minus the candy car and magic.

Back in Marvejols, I slept the entire afternoon and have now commenced packing for my Christmas vacation that started today, or really Tuesday for me... Anyway, I'm off to Montpellier for a couple days, then to Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Manchester and London. Talk about cold!!