I've finally accomplished some major things. 1. I sent in all the paperwork for my visa. This is landmark for me. Not only did I send in all required documents, but I did so in a timely manner. Pat on the back.
2. I ran around town the other day (in the pouring rain with no umbrella) in search of an official translator. I went to Le Marie (which is like city hall), who then sent me to the Justice Department, who then gave me a list of official translators, one of which I CALLED ON THE TELEPHONE, and got my birth certificate translated. SHAMWHAAAAT? such accomplishments. Now, (hypothetically) I have given all necessary documents in order to receive APL (Aide de Personnel Logement) which is money given to students by the government to help pay for rent. Kudos France... lets just hope that I get it!
3. I've started all of my classes. Pat on the back. I know I may sound ridiculous, but I can't believe I'm actually doing this. As I sat in my Diagnostic Financier class (I think it's the same thing as Financial Management... that's my best guess), I started to congratulate myself. TRUTH: I had no idea what the professor was talking about. TRUTH: It was 8 AM and like all my other classes, it was entirely in French. TRUTH: It's going to be the hardest year of my life. FACT: I somehow did everything correctly, arrived safely, and managed to start school in a different country?! What am I even doing here?! THIS IS CRAZY! and I can already tell that despite all the upcoming challenges and tears I know I will shed, this year might be one of the best in my life.
4. I paid my first ever electricity bill today... by myself... at a post office... in Euros. Pat on the back.
5. I concocted an interesting dinner tonight. I am trying to be as fiscally resourceful as possible by spending the least amount of money I can. Instead of going to the grocery store (which I actually need to do tomorrow desperately) I created a soup/stew/pasta/hotpot dish... I have no idea what you could call it. Essentially: a few nights ago I accidently cooked enough quinoa to serve a small country. I've been adding it to soup.. eating it plain.. throwing pesto on top... putting it in omelets. Tonight, I conjured up some sort of dish that consisted of quinoa, water, french onion soup mix, frozen roasted veggies, Harissa (it's this crazy spicy Middle Eastern hot pepper paste... closest thing I can find to crushed red pepper), tomato sauce, noodles, basil, garlic, salt, and pepper. It was very interesting... in a good way! It was both incredibly filling and sinus clearing.
6. I have a French bank/credit card. It has my name on it. Friggin cool. Again, pat on the back.
7. I've established new favorite snacks! I'm sorry, but a full tummy is a happy tummy, and a happy tummy is a happy Dena. Wasa crackers + Le Vache Qui Rit cheese (topped with an optional smoked salmon). Wasa crackers+thin spread of butter+honey. Wasa crackers with eggs over medium on top. Wasa crackers+nutella... anyone noticing a pattern here? Man, my creativity and ingenuity astounds me sometimes.
I can't tell if I'm so calm and collected right now because I actually am, or because I'm so stressed and in-over-my head that I have this invincibility complex going on. Either way, I'm going to bed tonight with a smile on my face.
I've already started to plan a trip to Paris for the last weekend in October. Here's the general game plan: Find a super cheap way to get there, find a couch to sleep on, and get tickets to see This Is It, the Michael Jackson movie that's coming out... and maybe see the Eiffel Tower (only if time permits it..) Ha, I kill myself. I really do. Although, I am starting to wonder if I can find someone as equally as ridiculous as myself to go to Paris with me to see the MJ movie. Is it sad that it has become my main motivation to go there? Pshaaa.... nah.
Anyways, goodnight to all you mesdames et messieurs.
You stay classy San Diego.
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