Today is my one year anniversary in France and tomorrow's my 25th Birthday
We just got back from Brugge, Belgium where Steve brought me for my Birthday weekend (It was a great present!). It's a beautiful city and we had nice weather the entire time. We left Friday morning and arrived back in Paris around 5pm this evening. (I would put a pic on here but I don't know how...sorry).
Last Thursday we ate with Steve's family and it turned out to be a surprise Birthday dinner for me...got lots of gifts and chocolate cake. Steve's uncle bought me (and Steve) a night in a 3 or 4 star hotel and we get to pick where and when we want to go. Basically it's a gift certificate to spend a night anywhere and to get a nice dinner and to take advantage of the 'royal' treatment and the jacuzzi/pool. Can't wait! It's a change from the youth hostels and 1 star hotels that we stay at when we travel.
Ok so that was the good news. It was a good distraction from my actual situation here. Back to Paris, back to stress. My whole life here has been put on hold. I went to get a renewal of my 'autorisation de travail' (work permit) and was told that since it expired in May (we thought it would be renewed along with my 'carte de sejour' (visa) in October) that I was working illegally and had to quit my job immediately. So I quit BTL on Friday August 11th. I now have to wait for the teachers at Ecole Active Bilingue to return from holiday to see if they still want to keep me for September. If so, they have to pay around 800 euros for my papers, if not, I will be returning to Canada in October. That's that! So, it's been a stressful time. I will know more on the 23rd so I will keep you guys posted (if anyone actually reads this!).
Peace out
P.S. Just to add to my misery, it's been raining and cold here for the last three weeks now. The highest temperature that we've had here is 20 degrees since July (when we were at 37 for two weeks straight!) This will be the first time in my life that I spend my Birthday wearing a sweatshirt. Fun times.
Last Thursday we ate with Steve's family and it turned out to be a surprise Birthday dinner for me...got lots of gifts and chocolate cake. Steve's uncle bought me (and Steve) a night in a 3 or 4 star hotel and we get to pick where and when we want to go. Basically it's a gift certificate to spend a night anywhere and to get a nice dinner and to take advantage of the 'royal' treatment and the jacuzzi/pool. Can't wait! It's a change from the youth hostels and 1 star hotels that we stay at when we travel.
Ok so that was the good news. It was a good distraction from my actual situation here. Back to Paris, back to stress. My whole life here has been put on hold. I went to get a renewal of my 'autorisation de travail' (work permit) and was told that since it expired in May (we thought it would be renewed along with my 'carte de sejour' (visa) in October) that I was working illegally and had to quit my job immediately. So I quit BTL on Friday August 11th. I now have to wait for the teachers at Ecole Active Bilingue to return from holiday to see if they still want to keep me for September. If so, they have to pay around 800 euros for my papers, if not, I will be returning to Canada in October. That's that! So, it's been a stressful time. I will know more on the 23rd so I will keep you guys posted (if anyone actually reads this!).
Peace out
P.S. Just to add to my misery, it's been raining and cold here for the last three weeks now. The highest temperature that we've had here is 20 degrees since July (when we were at 37 for two weeks straight!) This will be the first time in my life that I spend my Birthday wearing a sweatshirt. Fun times.
