tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877199150999254647.post21965786599019402..comments2024-03-11T11:00:55.829-07:00Comments on Den Nation: French conditioningDen nationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04259526826141331097noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877199150999254647.post-88509375759175619882013-06-30T11:18:08.413-07:002013-06-30T11:18:08.413-07:00Yes, I never realised that I had been French-condi...Yes, I never realised that I had been French-conditioned until I came to Denmark. It just sort of snuck up on me...<br /><br />My Canadian friends are completely surprised and shocked when I tell them about my paperwork nightmares in Europe. <br /><br />Even here in Denmark I follow the golden rules for opening hours. It's so normal now that I can't imagine showing up outside of these hours. It never even crosses my mind to go outside of these hours.Den nationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04259526826141331097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877199150999254647.post-62595533111906412562013-06-17T09:57:09.445-07:002013-06-17T09:57:09.445-07:00I'm just finally getting the chance to catch u...I'm just finally getting the chance to catch up on blogs and this post made me laugh out loud. I realized I've been French-conditioned in the same way while I was in the US. Every time I had an important errand I needed to run to the bank, post office, Bureau of Motor Vehicles, court house, anything, I would always triple check that I had every document I could think of, just in case and I would spend hours researching ahead of time for lists of any potential papers I could need to bring with me. And then, before going, I would always check with friends, family and the internet just to be 100% certain that I knew the hours they were open. My mom would always look at me like I was crazy when I kept asking what time different places closed for lunch, but it just became such a habit for me to expect administrative offices, banks, etc to close in the middle of the day for a long lunch break. Luckily though, my time in the US doesn't seem to have broken these habits because I definitely need that reflex now that I'm back in France!Michelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17460908569554684989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877199150999254647.post-29714722141569851352013-06-07T08:25:59.674-07:002013-06-07T08:25:59.674-07:00Sorry I didn't see this before. Yes, my husba...Sorry I didn't see this before. Yes, my husband and I met in France. I was teaching yoga at a school in Montpellier, and he came to a workshop we were hosting with an Ashtanga teacher. He's been here for almost 20 years! Practically a native. ;)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04268235487485805898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877199150999254647.post-91984417211154721402013-05-28T17:35:42.513-07:002013-05-28T17:35:42.513-07:00Hi, and thanks for reading my blog!
It sounds li...Hi, and thanks for reading my blog! <br /><br />It sounds like you arrived in France right around the same time I did, back in 2007. Did you meet your British husband in France or did you move to France from Britain? <br /><br />I am just not used to everything being so efficient. I have read some blogs about expats in Denmark having problems with paperwork and my husband and I have had some problems, but it is nothing compared to some of the stuff I've seen in France!Den nationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04259526826141331097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877199150999254647.post-36847356686748660362013-05-27T05:09:22.717-07:002013-05-27T05:09:22.717-07:00This really made me laugh out loud! I've been...This really made me laugh out loud! I've been French-conditioned as well after 6 years here, and my husband is British. Whenever we have to deal with the Brits or the Americans for anything "paperasse", especially around our wedding or the transfer of my American driver's license for a French one, it's just amazing how easy and accommodating they are compared to the French. I end up thanking everyone profusely and practically saying I love you before hanging up the phone/leaving the consulate/etc.<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04268235487485805898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877199150999254647.post-45850524011603274102013-05-24T13:32:14.122-07:002013-05-24T13:32:14.122-07:00Why do you find getting a French passport easier? ...Why do you find getting a French passport easier? I don't know how it is to get a French passport, but I agree, getting a Canadian passport is difficult. At least it was all those years ago when you needed a guarantor and the list was quite limited. Were you already Canadian when you still needed a guarantor. <br /><br />Since they did away with the guarantor, it seems like things are so much easier. This is not the case if you live abroad though as you still need a guarantor, which is why I'm going to wait until my next trip to Canada to get my passport.<br /><br />Yes, the French always want those passport-size pictures. I remember when I studied at the university in Bordeaux, almost every teacher asked for one!<br /><br />I noticed that there are no consular services at the French embassy in Ottawa. Why is everything done in Toronto? That's kind of silly, if you ask me, what good is having Ottawa as the capital if you have to go to another city to get your identity card?Den nationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04259526826141331097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877199150999254647.post-30574492295436222912013-05-24T13:23:59.584-07:002013-05-24T13:23:59.584-07:00Hi, thanks for visiting my blog!
It looks like y...Hi, thanks for visiting my blog! <br /><br />It looks like you have been in Italy a very long time. <br /><br />There are many things Italy and France share, but things in France are less intense than in Italy. In Italy often you can't even walk into the bank - you have to be buzzed in. <br /><br />I can't stand how women dress on Italian television. You've got the man who is dressed in a classy suit and tie (or at least looking very well-put-together) and then the woman standing next to him, who looks like she's ready to go out to a nightclub. Thank goodness things are not like that in France. It makes me so mad to see this!Den nationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04259526826141331097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877199150999254647.post-83339695360317801212013-05-24T13:15:43.845-07:002013-05-24T13:15:43.845-07:00Slowly but surely France is catching on to doing t...Slowly but surely France is catching on to doing things online now. I was even able to order a European Health Card online!<br /><br />I have also been spared the worst of French bureaucracy because I don't need a visa to live in Europe. It could be much, much worse...Den nationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04259526826141331097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877199150999254647.post-1829800055434352362013-05-24T13:09:50.124-07:002013-05-24T13:09:50.124-07:00Oh, I am sure it will come. Like when you start to...Oh, I am sure it will come. Like when you start to say sorry for everything. <br /><br />Things are much easier here than in France, that's for sure. <br /><br />I wonder how hard it is for a foreigner to get a bank account in Canada? I remember it took me months to get a bank account in the UK. In the meantime I had my salary (yes, the British banks wouldn't even give me, an employed person, an account!)deposited into my ex's account! Good thing he didn't take off with my money.Den nationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04259526826141331097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877199150999254647.post-53904304809097344312013-05-24T13:08:46.540-07:002013-05-24T13:08:46.540-07:00Ce commentaire a été supprimé par l'auteur.Den nationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04259526826141331097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877199150999254647.post-35120702119991275792013-05-24T13:06:05.668-07:002013-05-24T13:06:05.668-07:00Everything is so easy in Canada! Most people belie...Everything is so easy in Canada! Most people believe you when you say something and don't bother asking for 3 documents that prove what you are saying. <br /><br />I love your use of the word armed. It really is like that - you need a weapon to protect yourself when dealing with French administration!Den nationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04259526826141331097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877199150999254647.post-2901572417662018762013-05-24T13:02:27.332-07:002013-05-24T13:02:27.332-07:00Of course Denmark isn't perfect either. I shou...Of course Denmark isn't perfect either. I should do a post about what bothers me about Denmark because I want this blog to be honest. <br /><br />Nevertheless, it is a lot easier to live here regarding paperwork and administration.Den nationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04259526826141331097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877199150999254647.post-49521202898966627572013-05-22T03:47:41.255-07:002013-05-22T03:47:41.255-07:00You are pretty right about that. It's always ...You are pretty right about that. It's always better to go with more documents than you need in France, because you never know. I think I'm gonna move to Denmark tomorrow, if that's ok with you. It sounds way better than France. Milhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02647139896187096733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877199150999254647.post-32378596500119576262013-05-22T02:21:25.685-07:002013-05-22T02:21:25.685-07:00LOL! This post was right on the money (pun intende...LOL! This post was right on the money (pun intended). I always go to any sort of French admin rendez-vous armed with an entire dossier of paperwork (and multiple photocopies of each). In Canada, I can do most things by phone or just by showing a piece of ID!Crystalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18136483568967161966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877199150999254647.post-366765479472136262013-05-21T08:54:30.041-07:002013-05-21T08:54:30.041-07:00Bless you! I wonder when I will ever become Canadi...Bless you! I wonder when I will ever become Canadian conditioned?!?! Sounds like it is amazingly easy to get money in Denmark?! It isn't like that anywhere I have been thus far. Getting a Canadian bank account is at the top of my to do list this week!Holly Hollyson @ Full of Beans and Sausageshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02924287399418536406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877199150999254647.post-54339353950873675562013-05-19T22:55:27.478-07:002013-05-19T22:55:27.478-07:00The way you wrote this is very funny! But I've...The way you wrote this is very funny! But I've had it happen to me a few times in France too recently. I do think lots if things, like banking, are getting easier ( but I haven't had much to do with the public administration, so maybe that's why I'm feeling optimistic!).Canedoliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00793959858820555197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877199150999254647.post-43129716023055366602013-05-19T21:42:08.052-07:002013-05-19T21:42:08.052-07:00Sounds like living in Franc eis a bit like living ...Sounds like living in Franc eis a bit like living in Italy!!! -especially the 50 year old tellers who dress like 20 year olds - and the bank opening hours OMG -they drive me MAD!!! Kathrynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02056021186333154227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877199150999254647.post-41039966060747466942013-05-19T19:30:36.022-07:002013-05-19T19:30:36.022-07:00This is so funny... and so true!
Canadian adminis...This is so funny... and so true!<br /><br />Canadian administration can be quite complicated at times. For instance, I do find getting a French passport is easier than getting a Canadian passport (provided you are a national, of course). But yes, most of the time, French drive me nuts with their request for passport-size pics, endless copies of whatever obscure doc, etc.<br /><br />I recently renewed my French ID card and it took... yep, four months to get a new one. Mail application to the Consulate in Toronto, the Consulate mail it to the Embassy in Ottawa who called me to have my fingerprints taken (and they only open mornings, so it took me a while to find the time to get there), then Ottawa mailed it back to Toronto, who mailed it to Paris, who made the actual ID, sent it to Toronto... and then Ottawa.<br /><br />Like, seriously.<br /><br />I'm not even attempting to renew my passport.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com