So, today I woke up in a panic and ran down to the metro to take a two hour trip down south to Évry (Essonne) for my first day of work. I thought it would only take an hour so I was extremely late.
The address I was given was incomplete and I had no specific directions. I walked a few kilometers before I found the government center and then had to wander around until I found the room for orientation. I strolled in angrily thirty minutes before the end of the meeting. They didn't seem to care I was late and had nothing to say about their incompetent directions. I filled out my paper work, gave it to them and listened to the game plan. After several more meetings and some more paperwork it looks like I'll be ready to teach some English.
I then ran to the metro, rode all the way back to Paris, and then to la Celle St. Cloud in order to open a bank account. The banker was a young guy who loves America and spent two hours worshiping us. He just couldn't figure out why we liked France and we couldn't see why he liked America. Classic. I think he thought we were so nice because Americans are just nice to anyone with a pretty accent. Anyways, we got an account! So, that was a huge hurdle. We cashed our checks, but it'll take a week to clear.
Afterwards, we went to the town's market and bought some freshly butchered and cooked chickens with potatoes. It was SO good. They were just butchering animals in the middle of the street, gutting them, cooking them and selling them on the spot. We ate whole chickens that had been breathing like two hours before we got there. Quintessential French.
We got a hot chocolate while we hid from the rain and celebrated a little. It was our first tangible victory.
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