After I successfully enrolled in France’s health insurance system and got my temporary social security number or numéro provisoire, I went to see many doctors. At the beginning of the appointment, they would look at my certificate of registration and … Continue reading
Editor’s Note: In these articles, Molli Sébrier (MS) & Gracie Bialecki (GB) discuss their study abroad experiences, particularly in the light of later on becoming Paris residents. MS: I was never someone who imagined herself in a foreign country. But, … Continue reading
For the first year after I arrived in France, every time I went to the pharmacy or doctor, they’d ask for my carte vitale. This is the health insurance card every French person has which allows them to be reimbursed … Continue reading
My first visit to France was with my family when I was thirteen. We were the classic sweaty tourists in late-July Paris, dragging ourselves from monument to museum. But I loved old buildings, narrow streets, and outdoor cafés — everything … Continue reading
As Stephen mentioned in his article about the DELF A2, the DELF is an internationally recognized competency exam, and one that I hadn’t heard of until 2020. When I was at the appointment for my first vié privée et familiale … Continue reading
I already wrote about signing a contrat d’intégration républicaine (CIR) and attending the first day of civics training, so I’ll continue my integration journey here by covering the remaining days. Day 2 It’s hard for me to differentiate what was … Continue reading
Unlike Stephen’s article on French customer service, my experiences have not been nearly as rosy. It’s interesting that one or two specific events can stick out in our minds as indicative of an entire system. There are enough tales and … Continue reading
As with many things involving French bureaucracy, when I received my vie privée et familial visa, the process was not truly over. In addition to coming back to pick up my titre de séjour, the administrator told me that I’d … Continue reading
I first met Gracie over coffee at the end of 2018. She had some minor questions about visa issues but seemed supremely in command of what she needed to do. Turned out my impression was true. Now it’s her turn … Continue reading