OK, coming off that last post I should probably not say running. :)
So, now that I'm pretty much settled I checked back in with my agency, Enjoy Models, here in Nice to say I was back and ready to work. And to tell them I apparently DON'T need that darn work permit card as far as the French Consulate in America says. (Well, we'll see if a post comes along saying otherwise, but for now.....)
I have a job! I checked in on Monday, got a call on Tuesday that I was being considered for a three day print shoot, and on Wednesday was told I was booked. Woo hoo! I travel to Lyon, expenses paid thank goodness, next Tuesday, shoot the 25th-27th, and travel back on Saturday.
The crazy part is that it's for a company, SOMFY, that has a base in New Jersey!! Hey, didn't I just move out of New Jersey?? Yes, we Jersey folks will converge here in France to shoot a campaign for window awnings and blinds. Funny!
So, I'll keep you posted on how the shoot goes. I sure hope someone speaks English. :)
Showing posts with label work permit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label work permit. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Tuna Casserole
This week has been a mishmosh of craziness. Like a good casserole, filled with all kinds of things that all come together in one lovely satisfying meal. Ok, this weeks events may not have been satisfying or lovely, but all the events of this week were very educational regarding our move to a foreign country. Let me fill you in....
1. We had an international moving company come to give us a quote on sending our belongings to France. We love our couch and ottoman, it's big and comfy and the ottoman is a multitasker. (See pic) Yes, we know they make these kinds of things in France, but we're partial to ours so we considered bringing the beast along with us. Along with Taylor's bed, a few shelving units and some boxes of kitchen stuff, books, and linens. WELL, what a wake up call that was, a $13,600 wake up call. If we re-bought all the stuff in France plus everything else we'd need to furnish a home we'd only spend about $10,000. So, plan "B". UPS will send small boxes at 20-30 pounds for about $100-$150. So, we decided to be RUTHLESS (did you notice that ruthless is now in capitals!) and only take 10, yes 10 boxes. (we'll add one or two if in dire need)
MORAL: Either make sure you're being sent by your company so the move is paid for or say goodbye to your "things" and relish the idea of big shopping sprees on the other side.
2. Taylor decided to try and leap over a small jungle gym at school and broke out his three front teeth. When I entered the school to pick him up, unaware of the true damage, I was met with a line of school personnel. Tip off that this was not just a little boo boo. As we made our way to the Nurse's office, the Vice Principal said that the accident involved many teeth and I would probably need to consult a Dental Surgeon. My heart sank and my mind raced, I didn't know a dental surgeon and if he needed one right away, what was I to do? We had recently been to a new dentist near our house so I called them immediatley and they took us right in. In the end he didn't need surgery, what looked like bone fragment hanging out of his gums was actually one of the teeth. The whole sight was pretty gruesome but cleaned up well and in the end wasn't so severe. But, it did make me realize that if we were in France I wouldn't know what to do or where to go or who to call. (Note to readers...T is doing just fine!!)
MORAL: As soon as you get to your new country, maybe even before, find the local doctors who speak English (cause if it's me on my own without James to translate then I'm in trouble with a French only Doc.) and meet them and get their numbers into your phone. AngloInfo.com is a good place to start the search. AND know what number(s) to call for emergencies at any hour of the day. When we were there this winter I didn't even know the number for the Police or the Fire Department. Pretty silly of me now that I look back on it.
3. Went to the French Consulate here in NYC to try and get a work permit. I attempted a "Competencies and Talents" visa but was turned away. Not for that visa in particular, but because supposedly as a wife of an EU citizen I don't need a work permit. WHAT????? Now I told Sami, my consultant at the French Consulate, all about my meeting with the lovely lady at Cadam in Nice, France. He looked at me stunned and said he'd never heard of such a thing and that she didn't know her laws. OK, now I'm confused. Does anyone know the truth here??? So, another lady, the one he kept excusing himself to go and consult with regarding the info I was giving him, came out of hiding and backed him up. She said to look up the EU agreement and see what it says. Well, I found it. It states very clearly that I do not need a special permit to work. That I have all the same rights as my EU spouse. I was hoping it would even say that I was NOT the junk in his trunk to show the nice lady at Cadam, but that particular phrase was no where to be found. Darn. Now, you'll just have to stay tuned to see if indeed this works on the workers at Cadam. (Note to readers...if you feel lost, read the post "I'm the Junk in His Trunk" to catch up on my visit to Cadam in search of a work permit)
MORAL: When it comes to French policy and politics, nothing is as it seems. Be ready for what you believe to be the truth to not actually be the truth. And so it seems that if you're feeling confused, you're doing everything right. Can someone say "run around?!" Next window please...
We invite you on our journey, the door is always open!!
** become a follower by clicking "Devenir Membre" and you'll never miss a moment of the adventure: www.ayearinthelife-anexpatsadventure.blogspot.com
Thanks!
1. We had an international moving company come to give us a quote on sending our belongings to France. We love our couch and ottoman, it's big and comfy and the ottoman is a multitasker. (See pic) Yes, we know they make these kinds of things in France, but we're partial to ours so we considered bringing the beast along with us. Along with Taylor's bed, a few shelving units and some boxes of kitchen stuff, books, and linens. WELL, what a wake up call that was, a $13,600 wake up call. If we re-bought all the stuff in France plus everything else we'd need to furnish a home we'd only spend about $10,000. So, plan "B". UPS will send small boxes at 20-30 pounds for about $100-$150. So, we decided to be RUTHLESS (did you notice that ruthless is now in capitals!) and only take 10, yes 10 boxes. (we'll add one or two if in dire need)
MORAL: Either make sure you're being sent by your company so the move is paid for or say goodbye to your "things" and relish the idea of big shopping sprees on the other side.
2. Taylor decided to try and leap over a small jungle gym at school and broke out his three front teeth. When I entered the school to pick him up, unaware of the true damage, I was met with a line of school personnel. Tip off that this was not just a little boo boo. As we made our way to the Nurse's office, the Vice Principal said that the accident involved many teeth and I would probably need to consult a Dental Surgeon. My heart sank and my mind raced, I didn't know a dental surgeon and if he needed one right away, what was I to do? We had recently been to a new dentist near our house so I called them immediatley and they took us right in. In the end he didn't need surgery, what looked like bone fragment hanging out of his gums was actually one of the teeth. The whole sight was pretty gruesome but cleaned up well and in the end wasn't so severe. But, it did make me realize that if we were in France I wouldn't know what to do or where to go or who to call. (Note to readers...T is doing just fine!!)
MORAL: As soon as you get to your new country, maybe even before, find the local doctors who speak English (cause if it's me on my own without James to translate then I'm in trouble with a French only Doc.) and meet them and get their numbers into your phone. AngloInfo.com is a good place to start the search. AND know what number(s) to call for emergencies at any hour of the day. When we were there this winter I didn't even know the number for the Police or the Fire Department. Pretty silly of me now that I look back on it.
3. Went to the French Consulate here in NYC to try and get a work permit. I attempted a "Competencies and Talents" visa but was turned away. Not for that visa in particular, but because supposedly as a wife of an EU citizen I don't need a work permit. WHAT????? Now I told Sami, my consultant at the French Consulate, all about my meeting with the lovely lady at Cadam in Nice, France. He looked at me stunned and said he'd never heard of such a thing and that she didn't know her laws. OK, now I'm confused. Does anyone know the truth here??? So, another lady, the one he kept excusing himself to go and consult with regarding the info I was giving him, came out of hiding and backed him up. She said to look up the EU agreement and see what it says. Well, I found it. It states very clearly that I do not need a special permit to work. That I have all the same rights as my EU spouse. I was hoping it would even say that I was NOT the junk in his trunk to show the nice lady at Cadam, but that particular phrase was no where to be found. Darn. Now, you'll just have to stay tuned to see if indeed this works on the workers at Cadam. (Note to readers...if you feel lost, read the post "I'm the Junk in His Trunk" to catch up on my visit to Cadam in search of a work permit)
MORAL: When it comes to French policy and politics, nothing is as it seems. Be ready for what you believe to be the truth to not actually be the truth. And so it seems that if you're feeling confused, you're doing everything right. Can someone say "run around?!" Next window please...
We invite you on our journey, the door is always open!!
** become a follower by clicking "Devenir Membre" and you'll never miss a moment of the adventure: www.ayearinthelife-anexpatsadventure.blogspot.com
Thanks!
Friday, February 25, 2011
When wine is cheaper than water....
I just read the Facebook post of a friend in Arizona who said her day was full of drama. Crazy, cause even all the way out here in France, so was mine.
It's funny, no matter where you are you have those days sometimes. You'd think that if you went off to live in some amazingly awesome country you'd become immune to them...cause life is supposed to be amazing living there. Well, not really. No matter where you go one of those days when you are annoyed at anything and everything, and nothing seems to go right will pop up.
We're currently busy getting some official issues sorted and settling our things into the new apartment before we make our return to NYC to wrap up our lives there to then move it officially back here to France. Whew, it just feels like the to-do list is so full. So far this week: we got me my bank account, signed the lease on Grandpa's old apartment over to us -so now I have two of the important items on the "Titre de Sejour To-Do list", painted Grandpa's new apartment, put together all of his flat packed tables and closets, got Grandpa moved into his new apartment, and took in a bit of the Carnaval. We still have to move ourselves to the new apartment, set up the husband's sound booth, get internet-phone-cable set up, and clean the old apartment.
Now with three days left before flying, the husband is sequestered in his booth half way through recording an audio book and I'm busy keeping the kids occupied while trying to pack the apartment to move it to the new one. Well, I think this is all becoming more stressful than I think and it's making me grumpy. Or maybe it's the thought of returning to cold weather! So, after grouching at the husband in the morning, I decided to escape the house with the kids and hang out in the sun at a park. I just said to myself, relax, it will get done, go have fun with the kids. So I did. (and in the end we did have some fun at the park)
But of course, since it's one of those days nothing was easy. I chose to try a new way to the park and after three uphill attempts at different streets I ended up on the usual one we take. Now completely tired. At the park the kids threw tantrums because I had the nerve to say we couldn't eat ice cream until after we had lunch, and then when we left the park and headed half way down the hill I realized we didn't have Taylor's outer jacket. So we went back up the hill to find it, couldn't, and went home. Darn it, now I have to buy him another one cause it will be cold in NY. But of course, where do you think the coat ended up being??? Yes, in the closet at home. We didn't even bring it to the park! Then my head decided to ache so I get grumpy at the husband again. Poor guy. But since he is a lovely man underneath it all, he carted two suitcases I packed this morning full of stuff up the hill to the new place. See, it will get done. :)
MORAL...on these days, always take the tried and tested route, everyone should eat ice cream FOR lunch, and once down the hill forget about the old blue jacket with the red paint on it and think of it as an excuse to go shopping.
Now, I sit with my feet up drinking a nice bottle of red and figure tomorrow I'll tackle the next two suitcases and the cleaning of the "old" apartment.
In a country where wine is cheaper than water, it's easy to drown away a day, or week, full of drama. :)
It's funny, no matter where you are you have those days sometimes. You'd think that if you went off to live in some amazingly awesome country you'd become immune to them...cause life is supposed to be amazing living there. Well, not really. No matter where you go one of those days when you are annoyed at anything and everything, and nothing seems to go right will pop up.
We're currently busy getting some official issues sorted and settling our things into the new apartment before we make our return to NYC to wrap up our lives there to then move it officially back here to France. Whew, it just feels like the to-do list is so full. So far this week: we got me my bank account, signed the lease on Grandpa's old apartment over to us -so now I have two of the important items on the "Titre de Sejour To-Do list", painted Grandpa's new apartment, put together all of his flat packed tables and closets, got Grandpa moved into his new apartment, and took in a bit of the Carnaval. We still have to move ourselves to the new apartment, set up the husband's sound booth, get internet-phone-cable set up, and clean the old apartment.
Now with three days left before flying, the husband is sequestered in his booth half way through recording an audio book and I'm busy keeping the kids occupied while trying to pack the apartment to move it to the new one. Well, I think this is all becoming more stressful than I think and it's making me grumpy. Or maybe it's the thought of returning to cold weather! So, after grouching at the husband in the morning, I decided to escape the house with the kids and hang out in the sun at a park. I just said to myself, relax, it will get done, go have fun with the kids. So I did. (and in the end we did have some fun at the park)
But of course, since it's one of those days nothing was easy. I chose to try a new way to the park and after three uphill attempts at different streets I ended up on the usual one we take. Now completely tired. At the park the kids threw tantrums because I had the nerve to say we couldn't eat ice cream until after we had lunch, and then when we left the park and headed half way down the hill I realized we didn't have Taylor's outer jacket. So we went back up the hill to find it, couldn't, and went home. Darn it, now I have to buy him another one cause it will be cold in NY. But of course, where do you think the coat ended up being??? Yes, in the closet at home. We didn't even bring it to the park! Then my head decided to ache so I get grumpy at the husband again. Poor guy. But since he is a lovely man underneath it all, he carted two suitcases I packed this morning full of stuff up the hill to the new place. See, it will get done. :)
MORAL...on these days, always take the tried and tested route, everyone should eat ice cream FOR lunch, and once down the hill forget about the old blue jacket with the red paint on it and think of it as an excuse to go shopping.
Now, I sit with my feet up drinking a nice bottle of red and figure tomorrow I'll tackle the next two suitcases and the cleaning of the "old" apartment.
In a country where wine is cheaper than water, it's easy to drown away a day, or week, full of drama. :)
Monday, February 21, 2011
I'm the Junk in his Trunk...Cadam Part 1
Today we made the trek out to Cadam, the administrative offices, to get my Titre de Sejour (work permit, kind of like the American Green Card). Well, we had a long talk with a managerial type woman at the counter upon entering, which is as far as we got, about what we needed, the process, etc. It didn't go as well as we had hoped or like the internet had informed us it would. Many more documents were needed and those documents needed to be prepared in special ways that we had not done.
Such as....copies of passport, both of ours, and not that old one you have James without a microchip - seems a lot of Portuguese are faking their way in (really?), my birth certificate, our marriage license, apartment lease, bank account, tax documents if you are not a salaried employee of a company, a utility or mobile phone bill, AND ALL TRANSLATED IN FRENCH. Because as she said..."The French, we protect our language", and don't forget to have all those documents officially stamped.
And don't even think about trying to do this if you can't speak the language. Thankfully I have James who speaks French very well. Oh, and before any of this, James must declare himself at the Town Hall and register what he does for a living. Everyday I understand more and more the plight of those trying to come into America legally.
So then the managerial lady proceeds to tell us that...
"You are whatever your husband is (how he's registered), he carries you with him. If he's a salaried employee then you are, if he's a student then you are (how two students could support a family I'll never know), if he's an entrepreneur, then you are, etc. She is in your luggage. (huh??) She is whatever you are, so decide what you are wisely. It can never be changed."
Never??? I'm sure that part was lost in translation. Could the French laws really be this condescending or ancient?
So, if any of you ladies think you are going to be strong independent women in France, think again. By being a non-French foreigner, you are just junk in someone's trunk.
How it all plays out in the end?.....stay tuned. I won't be beaten that easily! I WILL live and work here, I will, I will, I will!
Such as....copies of passport, both of ours, and not that old one you have James without a microchip - seems a lot of Portuguese are faking their way in (really?), my birth certificate, our marriage license, apartment lease, bank account, tax documents if you are not a salaried employee of a company, a utility or mobile phone bill, AND ALL TRANSLATED IN FRENCH. Because as she said..."The French, we protect our language", and don't forget to have all those documents officially stamped.
And don't even think about trying to do this if you can't speak the language. Thankfully I have James who speaks French very well. Oh, and before any of this, James must declare himself at the Town Hall and register what he does for a living. Everyday I understand more and more the plight of those trying to come into America legally.
So then the managerial lady proceeds to tell us that...
"You are whatever your husband is (how he's registered), he carries you with him. If he's a salaried employee then you are, if he's a student then you are (how two students could support a family I'll never know), if he's an entrepreneur, then you are, etc. She is in your luggage. (huh??) She is whatever you are, so decide what you are wisely. It can never be changed."
Never??? I'm sure that part was lost in translation. Could the French laws really be this condescending or ancient?
So, if any of you ladies think you are going to be strong independent women in France, think again. By being a non-French foreigner, you are just junk in someone's trunk.
How it all plays out in the end?.....stay tuned. I won't be beaten that easily! I WILL live and work here, I will, I will, I will!
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