New Apartment in Toulouse

After three solid days of panicked apartment hunting, I am happy to report that I have found a new chez moi! The new place is steps away from Place Capitole, and a two minute walk from the university where I will be working. The new place is tiny, but not without a certain charm, that comes mainly from the enormous window that provides a view of the tower of Saint Jacobin, a 13th century Dominican church that houses the mortal remains of Saint Thomas Aquinas.

I wanted to reserve the apartment on the spot, but the landlord said he had a few more interviews to conduct before he decided. My heart sank. I wondered if my being a foreigner made me an undesirable candidate...

Two days later, I hadn't heard from him, and worked up the nerve to call him. "Excusez-moi de vous déranger, Monsieur. I know you told me you would call me back when you made your decision, but I just wanted to know that I really really want the apartment, and I will take really good care of it, I promise!"

After a long pause, he responded "OK," with a trace of amusement in his voice. I wonder if he waiting this long to make me squirm!

I breathed a sigh of relief that was audible over the phone. "Oh, thank you! You have no idea how hard I have been searching!" I prattled on senselessly, and somehow he got a word in edgewise to make a date to sign the contract.

My appointment for the signing of the contract was August 10 at noon.

Two hours later was my Visa appointment at the Préfecture.

At my appointment, the clerk smirked when she saw the date of my apartment contract. "Just made it, eh?" she said.

I shudder to imagine what would have happened if I had no address for my visa appointment...

That major hurdle out of the way, I can now concentrate on my enjoyable things, like decorating. The Italians took me shopping in their Sidecar, and helped me move my luggage as well. I cannot begin to express my gratitude to them!

The apartment is a tiny studio, yet I have managed to make it my own with an Indian rug, posters, and decorations from my travels.

To celebrate, the Italians have proposed a day trip to Andorra, in the sidecar, of course!

Visa arrival

Wow, this is amazing! My French Consulate appointment was Friday morning in Chicago, and my visa was already delivered via express mail this morning! I wasn't expecting to receive it for at least a few weeks.  

As you can see, the visa is a sort of sticker affixed to a page in my passport. I look like a secret agent in my photo!

The arrival of my visa gives me the legal right to live and work in France for one full year, which means I'm cleared to leave September 21st.

Getting my French Visa in Chicago

I'm officially one step closer to France! Dad accompanied me to beautiful Chicago for my Visa appointment at the French Consulate, where I had to appear in person and submit my arrêté de nomination, as well as my passport and some paperwork.  My Visa should be delivered within two weeks, at which point I will be free to leave for France!

Dad and I had an absolute ball!  Being cut from the same cloth, we get along famously! We wandered the streets all weekend, photographing everything in sight, and eating quite well too!

Highlights of the trip include:

*Cloud Gate, a three story steel sculpture affectionately known as "The Bean," in Millenium Park.

*Visiting Seurat's Un dimanche après midi à la grande Jatte and Hopper's Nighthawks at the Art Institute of Chicago.

*Dinner and Guinness at Elephant and Castle Pub.

*The stained glass museum at Navy Pier (refreshingly air conditioned and devoid of crowds.)

*Free Opera performance at the Jay Pritzger Pavilion in Millennium Park.

*Exploring our two favorite skyscrapers: My favorite is the Tribune Tower, and with its neo gothic architecture, and stones and bricks from places all over the world, including the Pyramids of Giza, Notre Dame de Paris, and Edinburgh Castle. Dad's favorite is the Hancock Building, the structural expressionist masterpiece in the commercial district.

*Outdoor breakfasts, drinking in the sounds of the city waking up.

What an unforgettable trip! I'm thrilled to have shared this experience with my dad! As amazing as our trek across the city was, it was the conversations we shared that I will treasure the most.