Love/hate you, France

A few people have asked if I accomplished anything re my maldita French visa while I was in nyc. Answer: no.

I did, however, receive my "official" acceptance into CIEE's Rennes program a few days ago, by email. And now... empieza el infierno.

Okay I don't really even wanna get into it that much, because I know that even writing about it is going to make me frustrated.

Here is an image of the nice flowchart that CIEE sent to me about the multiple steps of this visa process.

They also said that this whole process takes 8-10 weeks, so we need to start asap! Okay, well... the program starts in 12 weeks. And I can't even officially start yet, because I need to wait on some official letters from France to be FedEx'd to my house. THEN I need to do CampusFrance (which I looked at over the summer, and is confusing as all hell, in both languages) THEN I need to wait some more THEN I need to fill out some forms THEN I need to fill out some more forms THEN, after getting back into the states on Dec. 15th, I'll cancel my second flight (from JFK -> home) and instead just stay in nyc (with my sister, fyi Coll, didn't know if Mom told you) so that on Dec. 17th I can go to my visa appointment and everything MIGHT work out. However, with just one sheet filled out incorrectly or if I'm missing just one form, I won't be able to get another appointment and I won't be going to France.


The elusive Schengen Visa

However, si Dios quiere and everything goes fine, all I've gotta do is wait anxiously anxiously anxiously over the holidays until I receive my visa in the mail. I won't be buying my plane tickets until the visa comes, so I'll probably be buying them at the last minute. So I may not know until a week before my program starts if I'm going to France, or if I'm going to Pittsburgh. Two completely different outcomes. Then, of course, if something goes wrong and I do end up in Pittsburgh, I won't have anywhere to live. AWESOME.

I am signing up for classes though, por si acaso.

/END ANGRY BLOG. So much for "not getting into it."

PS- It's not that I'm hating on CIEE, I understand that they're probably doing all that they can, as fast as they can. I blame France. Love/hate you.

PPS- I love everyone who has helped me/is helping me/will be helping me with this process. BESITOS.