Totally Frenched Out

From the blogger formerly known as Samdebretagne

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

The light at the end of the tunnel

My morning appointment got pushed back til the afternoon, so I decided to head over to V-town and swing by the prefecture there. The original citizenship letter I'd received had said there would be a second one coming sometime before mid-April, but in the mean time, my carte de sejour was going to expire, leaving me in this half-foreign, half-French gray area. With nothing but a coffee-stained letter to prove my French citizenship (thanks Fab).

Since I have a lot of traveling coming up, I thought I better swing by the pref in order to clarify my status. And then I got some news that made all the crappiness of this week fade away. Not only was my paperwork ready, but it was THERE! Just a few feet away from me.

She told me that everyone would get their papers at the naturalization ceremony in April, and in my head, I thought "April?? I can't wait til frickin' April". I was considering just grabbing the stack and making a run for it (Just think, I could be like the Robin Hood of french citizenship, going around and distributing naturalization certificates to the poor), but then she told me since I traveled so much and might not be able to make it to the ceremony, she'd just give them to me now. And so my thoughts of helping the poor slipped away and I instead listened as she explained what I would be getting - my naturalization certificate and an original of my French birth certificate. With which I can then go apply for my French ID card, and then my French passport. And once I have those, I will no longer ever have to be dependant on the Fab-meister for help again. ie. Freedom people, Freedom! At long last.

So are there any guesses as to what I will be doing first thing Monday morning?


Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

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23 Comments:

Blogger Frenchlover said...

YEA Sam...so happy for you.

February 3, 2010 at 1:41 PM  
Blogger la fille en rose said...

that's such great news! yeah!

February 3, 2010 at 1:48 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Congratulations.

When I got my paper a couple of years ago (between a photocopier and a water cooler) I almost cried. A wonderful moment.

February 3, 2010 at 2:19 PM  
Blogger Princesse Ecossaise said...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! I'm so pleased for you!

Good things come to those who wait eh? ;-)

February 3, 2010 at 2:29 PM  
Blogger Veronica said...

wahey! So pleased for you! We just got handed ours in a fonctionnaire's office too, with no ceremony. But we sang the Marseillaise at home later :)

February 3, 2010 at 3:12 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Felicitations! It is exciting isn't it? But I didn't get a ceremony, just the paper. Try to go to see what it's like.

February 3, 2010 at 6:06 PM  
Blogger judyb said...

Congratulations, Sam!

February 3, 2010 at 7:00 PM  
Blogger L said...

Yay!! Awesome!! It seems weird to me that you're getting a new birth certificate, but whatever. Those crazy Frenc...euh, wait, you're one of them!

February 3, 2010 at 7:17 PM  
Blogger Penny said...

Congratulations!! I agree the french birth certificate sounds weird. I wonder why they do that, given that a birth certificate usually proves where you were born. I'm thinking about maybe doing this myself in a few years time...

February 3, 2010 at 8:40 PM  
Blogger Starman said...

So glad it worked out so well for you. How lucky you decided to go.

February 3, 2010 at 8:59 PM  
Blogger Megan said...

oh congrats. I am so jealous. About two years (or more) behind you. Sigh.

February 3, 2010 at 9:08 PM  
Blogger Erica said...

Yay Sam, welcome to the club!! So exciting to finally have the paperwork and get going with the last bits of admin!!

February 4, 2010 at 12:30 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Congratulations, Sam. Ah, the sweet smell of freedom...

February 4, 2010 at 3:13 AM  
Blogger Pierre said...

Congratulations Sam!

I remember the tears, back in June last year, when you were telling me the whole story and how you were Fab-dependent; at that time I didn't realize how complicated it was...

So! Big step for you!

Too bad I won't be able to join the party you'll probably throw in the next few weeks... ;)

Bisous from the other side of the World!

February 4, 2010 at 3:16 AM  
Blogger Jadie said...

awww, what wonderful news. you've got your own identity in france, at long, long last...no more relying on the unreliable...

February 4, 2010 at 3:23 AM  
Blogger christine said...

yay! :)!!

February 4, 2010 at 9:46 AM  
Blogger au soleil levant said...

Congratulations! What a way to end all of the terrible encounters non-citizens go through with French bureaucracy - she just gave you the papers and in a few days, it'll all be done with. Amazing!

February 4, 2010 at 6:57 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Felicitations! You really deserve it, I hope having the certificate takes a weight off your mind :)
I'm happy to hear that they DO have a ceremony here, I was under the impression they just sent the letter and that was that.

February 4, 2010 at 7:42 PM  
Blogger Jennifer said...

Yahoo!
I know getting the citizenship is a huge deal, but being free from Fab must be such a relief!
So happy for you!

February 4, 2010 at 11:42 PM  
Blogger islandgirl4ever2 said...

YAYYYY !!! CONGRATS... Just catching up so I'm assuming you got it all accomplished!!!
Take care,
Leese

February 6, 2010 at 2:39 PM  
Blogger Antipo Déesse said...

Umm ... drinking champagne for breakfast?

February 8, 2010 at 8:38 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Awesome! I just got my Italian citizenship and it was such a relief. Good on you! Congrats!

February 8, 2010 at 8:29 PM  
Blogger corine said...

C'est vraiment super.

February 8, 2010 at 11:53 PM  

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