A Beginning
It seems a little improper to start this chronicle before I actually set foot in France; my date of departure is a little over two months away. I am, in fact, sitting in my house on an uncomfortable futon to which I grown fondly accustomed. The boy from across the street is mowing our lawn — I’m craving a rare NY strip steak with plenty of A1. It’s all pretty normal and American and boring.
The premise of this Tumblr, therefore, could be a lie. My adventure hasn’t begun yet. All I can do is sit here and stew in my silently anxious thoughts — that tends to happen when one fucks up their visa process not once but twice. I’m convinced the struggle with French bureaucracy and the constant annoyance of collegiate abroad offices are necessary evils of the whole emigration process, and deserves documentation.
I read in my dog-eared copy of “Culture Shock! Paris” that blame is very dangerous territory as far as the French are concerned. For example, one should never fault a French bureaucrat for any mistakes that may occur during the visa process even if the error may be their fault. You must swallow your pride, your annoyance, your gum, mind your newly acquired Parisian manners, and apologize for the misunderstanding. Easier said than done. This whole “You sent the money order to the wrong office, so we’re going to send it back to you rather than simply sending it to the proper address and informing you” has me rolling, despite the stubborn reality that the whole situation was my fault. Still, I am trying to desperately train myself to ignore my Irish-Catholic heritage of arguing and fighting and potato eating so that I don’t alienate everybody ever overseas.
Actually, I lied: the potatoes are here to stay. Nick will be overjoyed to hear this.
I pray this repression of my blunt disposition will not lead any stabby-type incidences.
Moreover, I need to work on this whole loud thing I have going on. This will definitely be the most difficult challenge of all, and I am honestly frightened of the effort it will take to shut me the fuck up.
