I’m becoming a real French person ☺ …kind of

“Un grand succès,” are the words that I would use to describe today’s adventures.  And many things learned about the French in general during the process.

I had a “rendez-vous” at the bank this afternoon.  I passed by HSBC, the bank with whom I have chosen to open an account in France, and asked what documents were necessary to open an account.  The secretary told me all I needed was some kind of identification, in this case my passport, and proof of residence in France (thank you Benoît).  Great! Easy as cake, right?  Wrong.  I returned later that day and told them that I had returned with all of the necessary documents to open in account.  What they failed to tell me the first time around was that I needed to schedule a certain “rendez-vous,” where I would discuss with someone what kind of account I was looking to open and where I would present all of my necessary documentation. 

So today was that day.  I scheduled a meeting at one o’clock so that I would have the morning to sleep in—I am still a little jetlagged along with the symptoms of PMS in full flight, HOORAY!—and physically and mentally prepare myself for such a meeting with the French bank.  I walked about a quarter of a mile to the nearest bus stop in the rain, not realizing until 10 minutes later that that particular station was currently not being used due to all of the road construction happening in Nantes this summer.  Already 10 minutes behind schedule.  Finally, I walk another quarter of a mile (still in the rain and still without an umbrella) to the next bus station, hop on the bus, and head towards town.  I arrive soaking wet to the bank and the secretary looks at me as if I was some crazy immigrant who would never fit in to the “their way of life” looking how I did, like a nervous, wet dog.  He told me to have a seat and Monsieur Jerôme Legrand would be with me in a moment.  Receiving the same reaction from M. Legrand as I did from the secretary, I was here about ready to pee my pants.  I step into his office, he closes the door behind me, and I try to “break the ice” by making a comment about the weather.  “Il fait très beau aujourd’hui, n’est pas?” (It’s very nice weather today, isn’t it?), I say politely with a smile.  “Non, il ne fait pas beau aujourd’hui” (No, actually it’s not very nice out today), Monsieur Legrand replies in a cold, professional tone.  “Well I am off to a great start,” I thought to myself.

After a full hour of signing and initialing papers and having official French bank terms being thrown at me, I am proud to say that I have an official personal French checking account.  I will receive what will serve as my ATM card along with my check book in the mail sometime next week; arriving still at Benoît’s parents house due to technically difficulties of the address of Benoît’s new apartment. 

French people 101: 

Lesson #1:  It is not polite to try and make a witty comment in a professional setting, especially if you have never met the person before.

Lesson #2:  The French LOVE paperwork.  Just as we as Americans love doing things online, the French love to have an official hard copy in their hands.  And to be honest, we all know I am not at all technologically savvy, so this fondness of written paperwork is FINE by me.

It was still raining by the time I left the bank so I took advantage of already being “out and about” and bought FIRST a sandwich from a local bakery (salmon with lots and lots of butter for today’s lunch) and then, an umbrella.