WTF (welcome to France)

sarah at clover lane's post today

made me go back and look

at pictures of the kids

when they were younger.

or maybe i just have time on my 

hands today as i wait

and wait

and wait

for my plumber to show up.

why WOULD he be here at 1:00

when he said he'd be here at 9:00 a.m?

i've learned to stop questioning

the french and their ways.

we just chalk it up as just another

WTF.

(welcome to france)

oh..believe me,

i have many a WTF moment.

starting way back with our visa process.

and then of course there was the 

carte de sejour..

or our temporary residence card.

that was a fun process.

waiting ALL day in lines 

and waiting half naked

(have they heard of a johnny?)

to have an x-ray to make sure 

we don't have tuberculosis.

after we passed all the necessary

questions and medical exams

we had to run across the street

to the TABAC shop

to buy stamps to pay for the card.

why WOULD  they take a credit card or check?

and why would they sell the stamps there?

of COURSE they sell them at the TABAC shop.

"yes, i'll have 700 euro worth of stamps,

a pack of smokes and a lotto ticket,

s'il vous plait?"

i'm NOT complaining. 

really.

i actually get a kick out of

french customs and behaviors.

but more importantly,

it opens my eyes and mind

to different cultures and that

is one of the reasons we moved 

our family here.

we want our children (and us!) to experience

difference.

difference in language, environment,

clothing, education, food, religions.

ok..

plumber is here.

i don't think i've ever seen 

a plumber dress so nicely.

WTF.