So, these last few weeks (or rather, this month since I've last written) have finally started to get really busy. Back in February, I was still mostly observing what everyone else was doing. I was following people around in order to learn how to get from our house to the train station or from the tramway to the church where we have classes. I was still mostly in spectator mode, but now, I'm pretty much doing everything on my own which is both terrifying and exciting. Now, I have my own class of women that I'm teaching without an observer (hallelujah. It isn't that fun to have someone looking over your shoulder and critiquing your teaching style). Generally, 5-6 of these women come regularly. We've been working on the letters "d", "b", and "p" lately, and it's been a real struggle since all three look and sound exactly the same to them. After several very long, very painful sessions where pushing out that "p" sound must have felt to them like pushing out a child, I think we're finally on the right track, and yesterday, when one of them recognized the letter "p" as the first letter in "pere", I was very relieved.
And for me, I've made some strides in the recognition department as well. At first, I was so frustrated, because every single one of these women looked alike. From the head scarf to the burka, I was completely unable to make a distinction between the Fatima from Morocco on the left and the Fatima from Morocco on the right (seriously, 2/3 of the women are Fatima from Morocco, while the other 3rd is made up of the more diverse "Fadma", "Famida" and "Farika"). Usually, I recognize people by hair cuts or hair colors, but clearly in this situation, that's not possible. But last week, only 4 women came to class, and I started seeing differences--a mole on the bridge of the nose or a birthmark on the forehead--and now, I'm happy to say that I can tell the difference between everyone in my class.
Another nugget of big news: I'd applied for my one-year residency card (my carte de sejour) on February 24th, but after receiving the papers stating that I was in the process of receiving my card, I found out that I would not be allowed to leave France until my carte de sejour arrived. From most of the members of my office here, I heard that it takes about 2 or 3 months to receive the card. For me, that was a huge let-down. My brother is getting married on April 4th, and I'd already bought my plane ticket, my bridesmaid dress, my shoes, etc. My short-term visa expired April 1st, so it wouldn't be still valid when I returned. I was devastated, because from what I understood, I was going to have to miss the wedding. Everyone here at the office started researching other options--second passports, short term aller et retour visas, and other things. No options seemed to pan out. So, we'd been praying for the card to come for several weeks.
Last Friday, I called the prefecture to say that I wanted to check on the state of my carte de sejour. The woman looked up my number and said my card was ready, and i could pick it up Monday. This was an enormous shock...like I mentioned earlier, it should take 2 months or more to receive the card. Still, not wanting to look the gift horse in the mouth, I rushed to the prefecture yesterday morning and waited in line. I waited several hours before they called my number. I walked up to the woman behind the desk and said, "I talked to an employee here on Friday and she said my card was ready." The lady at the desk took my papers, typed in my information, and said, "May I see the results of your medical exam?" (Well, I've never had a medical exam. I hadn't received the convocation to go get the exam.) So, I explained this and she said, "Mais si! Si! You have received the convocation. It's marked on the computer." I said that I'd checked my mailbox just the day before and it wasn't there. She, thinking I didn't really understand what she wanted, gave me my card and a piece of paper with the state medical doctor's number. She told me to call the number right away, but that she'd give me my card anyway, trusting I'd call the number. I promised to call, and I took that card and ran out of the prefecture, before anyone could stop me and say, "Wait. That's not right..."
I got home and called the doctor who said, "But I haven't sent you a convocation yet. How do you have your carte de sejour?" I explained what the woman at the desk had told me, and he just kept saying, "Impossible." He said that he'd only received my file on Thursday, and that he hadn't had a chance to send me my convocation yet. But we set an appointment, and all is fine now, but someone somewhere made a huge mistake in my favor. It's next to impossible that someone would mark on my file that I'd received my convocation when I really hadn't. A mistake this big can only be God's grace towards me. So, I'm incredibly thankful today. I won't have to miss the wedding!
So, those are just a few great things that have happened lately. I'd better head off and get ready for classes this afternoon. But in the meantime, I'll post a picture I took Saturday with a few friends I made in Paris' Catacombes.
And for me, I've made some strides in the recognition department as well. At first, I was so frustrated, because every single one of these women looked alike. From the head scarf to the burka, I was completely unable to make a distinction between the Fatima from Morocco on the left and the Fatima from Morocco on the right (seriously, 2/3 of the women are Fatima from Morocco, while the other 3rd is made up of the more diverse "Fadma", "Famida" and "Farika"). Usually, I recognize people by hair cuts or hair colors, but clearly in this situation, that's not possible. But last week, only 4 women came to class, and I started seeing differences--a mole on the bridge of the nose or a birthmark on the forehead--and now, I'm happy to say that I can tell the difference between everyone in my class.
Another nugget of big news: I'd applied for my one-year residency card (my carte de sejour) on February 24th, but after receiving the papers stating that I was in the process of receiving my card, I found out that I would not be allowed to leave France until my carte de sejour arrived. From most of the members of my office here, I heard that it takes about 2 or 3 months to receive the card. For me, that was a huge let-down. My brother is getting married on April 4th, and I'd already bought my plane ticket, my bridesmaid dress, my shoes, etc. My short-term visa expired April 1st, so it wouldn't be still valid when I returned. I was devastated, because from what I understood, I was going to have to miss the wedding. Everyone here at the office started researching other options--second passports, short term aller et retour visas, and other things. No options seemed to pan out. So, we'd been praying for the card to come for several weeks.
Last Friday, I called the prefecture to say that I wanted to check on the state of my carte de sejour. The woman looked up my number and said my card was ready, and i could pick it up Monday. This was an enormous shock...like I mentioned earlier, it should take 2 months or more to receive the card. Still, not wanting to look the gift horse in the mouth, I rushed to the prefecture yesterday morning and waited in line. I waited several hours before they called my number. I walked up to the woman behind the desk and said, "I talked to an employee here on Friday and she said my card was ready." The lady at the desk took my papers, typed in my information, and said, "May I see the results of your medical exam?" (Well, I've never had a medical exam. I hadn't received the convocation to go get the exam.) So, I explained this and she said, "Mais si! Si! You have received the convocation. It's marked on the computer." I said that I'd checked my mailbox just the day before and it wasn't there. She, thinking I didn't really understand what she wanted, gave me my card and a piece of paper with the state medical doctor's number. She told me to call the number right away, but that she'd give me my card anyway, trusting I'd call the number. I promised to call, and I took that card and ran out of the prefecture, before anyone could stop me and say, "Wait. That's not right..."
I got home and called the doctor who said, "But I haven't sent you a convocation yet. How do you have your carte de sejour?" I explained what the woman at the desk had told me, and he just kept saying, "Impossible." He said that he'd only received my file on Thursday, and that he hadn't had a chance to send me my convocation yet. But we set an appointment, and all is fine now, but someone somewhere made a huge mistake in my favor. It's next to impossible that someone would mark on my file that I'd received my convocation when I really hadn't. A mistake this big can only be God's grace towards me. So, I'm incredibly thankful today. I won't have to miss the wedding!
So, those are just a few great things that have happened lately. I'd better head off and get ready for classes this afternoon. But in the meantime, I'll post a picture I took Saturday with a few friends I made in Paris' Catacombes.
1 comment:
WOW!! Katie, PRAISE THE LORD!!! Had I known all this ahead of time I would have been on my knees for you! You must have prayer warriors like you don't even know to get that kind of miracle! I'm SO happy you'll be able to come home!! I can't wait to see you!!!
Post a Comment