So, as of Monday; I will have been in Paris for a month. Wow, it has been a short and long month for me. Short because of all the "start-ups" I've had to accomplish and so that has kept me busy. Long because I have had to wait for responses, I have tried to follow-up and get responses that way to my enquiries but what can I do if they just never reply? I can only assume the worst and move on, yet there is no such other places to move on to. Ok, I have been reading 'Vanity Fair' this past week or so and though it's long winded, I am enjoying the story. It is quite enjoyable being able to picture the setting rather vividly being where I am.
It is amazing to be able to give a Paris address and it is wonderful to be able to wake up and know that I can head to any Parisien museum, historical site, etc. but it's hard to fully enjoy anything when one feels the bank account getting lighter and lighter. I have been able to learn some key things on how to save money in Paris and keep the costs down but when you have nothing else to do, it's easy to buy little treats, think nothing of a euro or two here or there...:) It's easy to forget that you aren't on vacation but looking for work to subsidize this adventure. I have met some people that are encouraging, as well as some potential employers that would like to employ me but it would be easier if I became a student and had a student visa that would allow me to work 20 hrs/week. Yet, not sure if I had stated before but there is no other way for me to get a student visa for France unless I came back home. France and Italy require the visa to be applied at the visitor's home embassy...everywhere else, I can apply in that country.
I have applied to some schools in Germany, Italy and UK. The other schools that I have sent CV's to in other parts of France, have yet to get back to me. I did apply to Marseille, Nice, Lille and Lyon. I was with a friend for lunch yesterday and it turns out we are in the same boat but he has a partial visa whiwh would allow him to work for these 3 months before he had to leave the country. I would be happy with 3 months work experience:) I would love to work for this one company that would hire me when and if I get a student visa but to do a French Language school here is not cheap. A regular university program would be cheap but I think the application process would take a lot longer and I need a lot more money in the bank. One of the requirements to apply for a student visa is the ability to show that I will have 500-600 euros/month to live in or at least a financial sponsor. Ay yi yi, so much to do here. If I were to take a program here it would do with International relations and give me an opportunity to work in the Gov't or UN somehow. Some International post would be fantastic. I have looked into Canadian Embassy jobs but I still need a work visa or a working holiday visa to work in France.
I love walking around the city though and seeing the old mixed with the new. All my courses in International Relations, European History and English Literature come to life when I walk around. The buildings and areas that honor the French Revolution, the Pantheon that houses crypts of Alexandre Dumas, Rousseau and Voltaire, castle and gardens where royalty would walk and lounge. How lucky I am to be here and to be surrounded by other countries that I have been able to learn about their history as well. I'm so close yet so far.
I had booked a flight to London for Oct. 3rd before I left and I am going to use that flight so that I can visit London and see a little more sights from last time. There are a few markets I want to visit and book stores that I didn't get to go into last time. I am going to send/hand out some resumes as well. I have friends in the northeast of England that I'll visit. I need some conversation, some adult interaction that doesn't require me to constantly stammer and ask if they speak english. I haven't had it too bad here and can get a long but I find that I'm not as confident as I should be when I speak. Oh well, C'est la vie.
Turkey and South America are both starting to look good to me right now...they offer visas and alright pay. Anything over a 1000/month is alright pay. haha. I have also thought of becoming an ESL volunteer which can be done all over the world and would give me experience.
These are all my musings so far, after a month in France. I am getting comfortable here and have found some things in Paris that make me want to stay like the familiarity of Church, people I have met and the ease of the transit system. Yet, I'm not a fan of the metro, I like the metro, you know?
All is well though, the weather is hot and the Euro is okay still. France will be fine economically and I know that I will be too. A bientot!
No comments:
Post a Comment