Would placing a personal ad be too blasé?

Conclusion 1: Every single time I think I have the whole France thing under control, I am confronted by a training session or other small crisis that reminds me that I will never, EVER have the right to become complacent.

Jerks.

Yesterday, my relative peace was broken by the discussion of immigration paperwork (which I think I have done correctly and completely) and social security numbers. Evidently I need to start gathering up papers to form my social security dossier, EVEN THOUGH I WON'T BE GIVEN THE THREE PAYSTUBS I NEED UNTIL JANUARY. Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?!

Ugh.

Couple this with general anxiety stemming from the fact that they can't decide when we'll be getting our first paychecks, and I've just been told that I haven't got the right to look for a secondary job. Buh-scuse me? I e-mailed the Embassy liaison in DC for clarification on the matter - she had previously told us we could find another job, there were just lots of limits on how many hours we could work and such. Waiting to hear back from her.

So basically, I think this is what the French call a galère (roughly, a slang and semi-vulgar term for living nightmare).

In happier news, another assistant that lives near me, Betsey, and I have plans to get together over wine tonight and laugh about all of it (she's having a nightmare of a time trying to figure out her teaching schedule). At least this will all make for some great stories ... someday.

In other news, yesterday we were given a demonstration of smartboards in training. Funny, because Meg and Gennie have always told me about smartboards (and recently Lin!), but I've never seen them until now. Also, incredibly ironic, because not ONLY are we using vintage 19th century chalkboards in the majority of our school districts, but we have a Hell of a time finding ways to make copies for class.

And they're teaching me about integrating a smartboard into the classroom. You have GOT to be kidding.

I am clearly not being paid enough for this. Fortunately, my sense of the absurd is soaking up the majority of my frustration.

Conclusion 2: If I marry someone with EU citizenship, the vast majority of these problems go away. I can work, I don't have to file with immigration, the sun comes out, and the butterflies dance through the sky. Hmmm.

I'M JUST KIDDING KEEP YOUR PANTS ON. But it's nice to think about.