J'ai démanagé encore

3 septembre 2007

So today I finally moved into my apartment. First I had a meeting at the SRI ( services de relations internationales). The woman there was very nice and informed me that I had to be on campus at 8h50 the next day for my French test. Then I paid 5€ for my dishes and such. They only gave me a fork, knife, spoon, serving spoon, plate, bowl, spatula, pot, frying pan, and 2 glasses. Everyone got different things (Kay and Dee both got strainers, and Dee also got a cutting board). They also gave me a packet of info, with maps and brochures for stuff like the tram and restaurants. Then they sent us (Tina and I) off to the residence. We had to be there by a certain time, but when we arrived there were 3 other people waiting already. After maybe 20 minutes the girl who was before me at the first rendez-vous went to do the état de lieu. Finally I went in the Secretariat's office. They said I was missing some stuff; and I had to fill out a paper and sign some stuff. They didn't like it that I already had my flight back home and that it's for the 26th, but too bad for them 'cause it's cheaper to buy round trip. So then we did the Etat de Lieu. This means that we went to my apartment with a maintenance guy, and he had a paper to fill out. He took note of everything (and I mean everything) that was wrong, from missing button to flush the toilet to the tiny dings in the floor. They do another one the day before we leave to see if it's in the same condition and to determine whether or not I get my deposit back. This is why they didn't like it that I'm leaving the 26th...the day before is Christmas. Whatever, they can do it on the 23rd or the morning I leave.

I also found out that I have to get insurance for the apartment...no one told me this...and I have to sign up for financial help for the rent even though I've already paid for all of it, and the chance of getting it is slim to none. I also had to rent sheets and blankets because they come together. I brought my own sheets but oh well, I'll send them home when my visitors come I guess. I didn't have to pay for them because I overpaid for the room. Now I have to find out how much I overpaid, and when they're gonna give it back. I wouldn't mind some extra euros in my account.

After lugging my stuff down the street and up the stairs, Tina and I went to the centre commercial. I finally got some euros, bought tram tickets and food for about three days. Although the Super U in Gevrey_Chambertin was great, the Carrefour in Orléans is not. If you think S&S on a Sunday with three call-outs is bad, try this place, every day. The front end was so packed it would probably take five minutes to squeeze through with a cart from one end to the other.

After this little outing I was finally able to settle in. There's no dresser, so three shelves of my bookcase now hold clothes, another holds daily stuff like jewelry and vitamins, the bottom is sheets and my bag. After I rangé mes affaires I went in search of the other two girls from my home university. One wasn't in her room, and as I was going upstairs to find the other, she came in with her host family and groceries. We tried speaking French for a few minutes, but then she finally said, 'fuck it, I've had enough'. She put her stuff away, then we came up to my room for dinner and exchanged stories about our first few days.

I think I will get in shape here. My room is on the 3ème étage (floor). Unlike in America, the floors here start on the 2nd. The ground floor is the rez-de-chaussée, then the first floor. So in America you would say that I live on the fourth floor. So at least once a day I have to go up and down four flights of stairs (no elevators). Since my residence is in the centre-ville, and campus is across the Loire river, I have to take the tram. However, there are no stops at my residence. It's three or four blocks away, about 10 minutes walking. I definitely need to invest in an umbrella and a winter coat.

I think I will also learn how to cook better. My kitchen consists of a big shelf, two shelves in a little cupboard under the sink, a small sink with space on the side to dry dishes, and two small burners. And a mini-fridge. At least the burners are electric. No stove, no microwave...only cold and stove top. I also have to pay for my electricity, so I light get some candles for the evening to save on light use.

There is also a table with two chairs, and a little bedside table type thing with a drawer and two shelves. The drawer now holds socks and underwear, and the shelf is my mass of papers and school supplies. It's about 400€ a month, and the furniture is very dorm-ish. Would I pay that much for a place this size in my town? No way. But if I could find a place this size I would pay $250-$300 depending on whether or not hot water and electricity were included. I have one good-sized window, with a ledge big enough to sit on and write on. It only looks out on the courtyard, which means doors and some other peoples windows, but hey, it's a window. It's also very easy to watch everyone else without them noticing me.

Tomorrow beings my scholarly adventure. I hope I don't need a pencil because all I have is a pen. We'll see I guess.

à beintot!