Let's go to the USA with Miss Yoko

Or how I will share with you my idea of the day?

Paris is famous about a lot of things. Paris is the city of lights, the city of love, the city of fashion, the city of culture, etc. Paris is known all over the world about a lot of great things.

Hmmm, close your eyes and imagine...
a walk on the Seine's quays, on a sweet summer evening,  somewhere, someone is playing some "La Môme" songs on a accordion...

What a postcard picture!

What the world know less about Paris is the huge underground life of Parisians.

Maybe Wikipedia talks about the Parisian's underground life, but not in the same way I'll talk about.

Living in Paris may mean that you'll be a kind of member of a huge community and you'll have an every day underground life. Can you imagine something shared daily by 5 millions of peoples? You'll even have a member pass, the Navigo Pass. 'Cause yes the "Metropolitain", the Metro is the best way to move everywhere in Paris.

Taking the Metro can be compare as a jump in the 4th dimension.

Every day, like robots we traverse this maze of corridors and stairs and catch an often highly crowded train.

Every day, in a certain way, we share others people's life during a lot of time.
About 1 hour and half for me.

What can we do to not waste this time?

I saw peoples finishing or starting their night, eating pastries as a breakfast, doing their make-up, playing video games, working on laptops, students finishing homeworks or learning lessons, teachers correcting homeworks, peoples reading, writing, doing crosswords or sudoku, texting, listening music...

I use to read books or newspapers, if I have nothing to read, I'm listening music. If I have nothing to read and my I-Pod is out of battery... I will do something I do all the time. Thinking!

I'm a thinking person, I think all the time, about all and anything. Even if I'm busy... I'm thinking. And, since I start the blog, I think often about what I can post. I got a lot of ideas... that I'll forget very fast.

As i was writing my last 2 posts on an old notepad, I saw that taking my time, my posts are more complete... are better (OK, It's only my opinion)

Today, after my work, on my way to the Metro, I stopped to a store and I bought a nice notepad and a nice pen. And now I'll use my Metro time to put on the paper all my ideas!

Poor of you... you'll get so bored soon!

All that for that... I know... I'm silly

Let's talk a bit about immigration today.

Nope..., unfortunately no news from the U.S.C.I.S.

Just today I'm doing another big step about my case.
I already told you almost all my knowledge about the K1 (fiancé) visa process. But at this time I didn't told you about the K2.

K2?

What is she talking about?

As you maybe know, I have 2 daughters. A big one, Natacha, she's 20 and a little one, Gally, she's 5 and half (I have to say the half, 'cause if not she'll yell at me). Natacha will not follow me to the U.S.A or maybe later when she'll have finished her studies.
But Gally, yes! So, she is on the K2 visa process. The K2 is "The visa category for the minor children of a K-1 visa holder". OK, 'till there nothing too complicated.

But!

Do you think really that you can immigrate with your child just, like that?

No, not really!

You'll have to prove that the other parent allows you to do that.

When we was preparing the petition, I searched all the informations I was able to find about that.
Like, what kind of paperworks will be efficient as a proof.
I didn't found officials informations... I have to say... again... that U.S.C.I.S's website and embassy's websites are badly incomplete...
I read that an authenticated letter from the other parent would be sufficient.
But, as I didn't want to take the risk to be denied. I decided to do it in the most official way.

So right now, I'm writing the draft of that post on a notepad sitting in the bus. I'm on the way to the family court.

Gally's dad and I we hired a lawyer to write our agreement. Today, after almost 3 months waiting, we have our appointment with the "Juge Aux Affaires Familiales", the family judge, to legalize our agreement. Like that I'll have a court order that allows me to immigrate with my little sweetheart.
My guess is that I can't have a better proof than that.

...

Now, I'm in the court waiting room. I feel good even if I'm a little bit stressed. I'm pretty sure all will be OK, but 'till all of that will be done, there's still a risk that Gally's dad change his mind.

It's right now 10:20, the appointment is at 10:30...

OK, keep cool, all will be good.

Lawyer arrive, Gally's dad arrive...

...

After a while the clerk calls us.

We enter in a simple office, the judge was waiting us with a nice smile on her face. After we greeted ourselves all and named. She read the agreement and said that it seems that we both agree with everything. With our positive answer, she informed us whereas she will ratify the request on May 19.
And we left the office.

DONE!

Now I just have to wait the lawyer call to have the final order.

I feel better now, i can breathe. I'm completely able to immigrate in the U.S.A with my little love.

Look at that!!!

Woohoo, Let the sunshine in!!!

I was so bad the other day when I said that we lose the seasons. But I was kinda depressed by the immigration wait and the cold weather made the things worse.

So. I know I didn't post yesterday. I was not lazy. I was just really busy. I have my 2 daughters this weekend and we have a lot of fun. Yesterday we had a great walk under the sun, we did some shopping, we went to a Japanese restaurant  and we did skating. Great time!

OK, I know, right now my blog is more a kind of diary, but... not a lot to say about immigration. Just a good news, with the others Visa Journey members we saw this last week that the CSC seems to be back in work. Guys and girls, cross your fingers and toes to make my approval come SOON!!!!

Oh yes, it's quite normal after my "lazy" post to write now something about me working when I will be finally at home. I mean with my Love in the U.S.A.

That's something about what I worry a lot.

You know, I work now since 7 years for the same company. It's a little company. We're not more than 15 peoples including the managers. I know everyone really well. It's quite like a "family" even if its a work with work relationships.

I'm the one who is there from the start of the company. So, if you see what I mean... at work, I'm at home.

I even don't remember the last time I reviewed my resume.

Even if I had to search a new job in France it will make me afraid. 'Cause even if I have now a big knowledge about my kind of work, I have no diplomas.

I left school when I was 15 years old. All my knowledges is what I learned by myself.

And you know, even if I'm not so bad in English (for someone who learned by herself), it's not so good to. As you can see, I make a lot of mistakes, about grammar, conjugation... and my vocabulary is quite limited. And also, reading, writing... it's one thing... speaking and listening is totally different.

I understand when Richard talks really well now, but not all the time. When I'm tired, I have to pay more attention about our talk, or sometimes when he starts to speak too fast. It's OK as I told him that I don't understand and so, he repeats or explains me what he wanted to say.

I try to figure out how will be a job interview in that case. And even I'll get a job, how will be the first days, learning new things in a completely different work culture that what I know.
A new job is always kind of challenge, that is more than a challenge. For me it looks like I'll have to climb the Everest.

Will see, I have time before I'll have really to think about it. But It's scary me!

I receive every day my horoscope in my mail. The only reason I read it, it because they always or almost promise me really strange things.

Like the one I received for today... he he ... they are completely mad I think.

Today, you will get great advantages to have been born under the pisces sign ! Follow the stream without seeking to fight against the elements! If this day were a movie, it could have as a title "All can happens!" : From meeting an escaped crocodile or to be kidnap by the gentle Martians, who would bring you back to your house at the end of the day... You will have understood it, the word of the day: dont take care about coherence, it does not have there!

But unfortunately, no crocodiles or E.T at this time... The wierdest thing today was when one customer call me to have some IT support, and after 5 mn he was telling me all his divorce story and kept me on call something like 30 mn... I had nothing else to do so why not... But I'm not the SOS Broken Hearts Line!

My Love told me that his parents visited the blog!!!!

I feel so shy now...

At this time we don't had the opportunity to meet each other, like my Love don't met my parents right know.

So it makes me feel really shy, I don't know what to say...

That's scary me!

I have to tell you why.

I have a kind of little obsession about my weight. I'm right now OK with that, I manage it pretty good.

BUT.
Let's talk a bit about my childhood.

My parents come both from big families of factory workers. They both are born during the Second War.

So, when I was a child I used to hear stuffs like :

You have to finish your plate.
We can see that you don't know what hungry mean.
etc... etc...


Nothing bad, I understand that. And by the way I use to finish my plate and also I really like food.
Which is not a real problem in France.

Restaurant are expensive, so you don't go to eat outside so often. And by the way, even if they use big plates you'll not have a lot in your plate. And even, I really take care.

In the U.S.A, restaurants are really less expensive compare to France, plates are big and really fill of food. I don't know, for example, if I order a salad in the U.S.A, the size will be maybe 4 times than a French Salad. And it comes with side orders, beside that you may refill as often you want your drink.

And now, i have to keep in my head that leitmotiv : never finish your plate, never finish your plate. Awwwwww I will need a therapy!

Even when we was going to watch a movie! We bought pop-corn.... Oh god it was so Yummy besides French pop-corn! You know why? 'Cause they top it with melting butter!  And all the fat goes directly in my butt! And you know what??? You can refill as often you want for a ridiculous price!

OK, when I was there it was for vacations, so it was not really an every day life way to eat. But I really have to take care about the food.

I want to stay slim and gorgeous for my love

what's scary me about going to the U.S.A

I have to create this category, 'cause I gonna to post about some things who makes me a bit afraid.

You know there is some big differences between life in Europe and life in U.S.A.
So, there is some things who makes me a bit afraid.

I think it's something normal, and as I'm someone who worry all the time for everything and nothing, it's even more normal for me.

Nothing bad, nothing that I can't manage. You'll see.

First post for that category this afternoon.

What's new today.

Nothing about immigration... so... It's normal.

What else? About my last week to do list.
Almost all done! Just I was unable to go to the doctor on Friday. Some problems on my metro line (they said fire), it took me 2 hours to get back home. It was to late for the doctor.
I will go tomorrow.

About this week, right now I don't know. Only 3 working days, I hope the weather will be nice at the end of the week.

And as a Monday, i feel down, I miss my Love...

Since yesterday I think about photos...

And now, I'm thinking that I need some new stuffs...

grrrrrrrr and I said in my to do list that I'll don't go shopping. And I have to follow my to do list.

'Cause now I want that!

SIGMA 12-24 mm F4.5-5.6 DG EX HSM Canon

and that!

SIGMA 100-300 mm F4 APO DG EX HSM Canon


:((
Tell me why I have a so expensive passion?

Ok, I have to forget it.

Calimero mood

In France we use to have as I know drive thru only for some fast food (burgers, pizza...).

In the U.S you have it for almost everything. It surprises me a bit.I saw drive thru for Starbucks, Pharmacy, for sure for food also. I'm sure I forget some!




But, what surprised me more is the Bank's Drive Thru!

I remember, the first time I saw it, we was Richard and I in the car, and he told me that he needed to get some cash. And so, He drove to a drive thru, when I understood what it was, I was thinking that's a great thing!

In France, peeps parks their cars in sometimes really dangerous way, just to stop in front of an ATM. We need that kind of thing, even I think that its better to park the car in a safe place and walk to an ATM.

'Cause the bad thing about those drive thru is that American people never walk. As a lot of Parisian people, I don't have a car, and I walk all the time.
Walking is good for health. I hope I will never lose that good habit.

Even if I don't know when I will move a this time

I must think of certain things and i still have to keep me busy as possible!

Not so bad. Beside what I have to do as usual every day, I will be pretty busy.

Up and down, up and down... and down... and down...

Its how I feel today. I feel like it will never append. I know its not true but its so long... too long.

63 days today that we sent our petition and it will be something like 60 days more before we'll hear something from the U.S.C.I.S.

I know it. But, even if I know it, I hate that it takes so long. It hurts so bad being far apart.

You know, it's not being far apart and you know when you'll be in your love's arms.

No, we don't know when...

Maybe I feel bad today, 'cause it's Monday. Back to work on a rainy and gray day. I hope I'll feel better later.

I see "La vie en rose".
'Cause I love my Love and my Love loves me. Even he's far from me right now, I have many things to feel his love.

Like notes. My Love use, every time we have to leave each other, to writes a lot of notes with sweet words and hides them everywhere.

If its him leaving Paris, he hides notes everywhere in my apartment. If its me leaving Chicago, it will be everywhere in my luggage (in my socks, pockets pants, lingerie etc.) or in my purse and coat.

I mean, not 2 or 3 notes, no no, its every time something like 20 or more notes. I have tons of them. And i still find notes in my apartment.

He use to also put some of his perfume on my cellphone teddy bear, yes i have a little teddy bear hangs on my cellphone (a gift from my Love). And every time I answer to a call, I can smell my Love just beside me.

It's like his night calls, its a lot of little things, but these little things makes me feel so loved. Thank you my Love being you.

I love you the same!

And I miss you so much!

I feel too weak today to post something interesting. After 2 days with my daughter at work, believe me working and taking care about your child in the same time is something highly tiring and stressful.

I'm tired, exhausted...

Today was not more quiet. Really busy day at work, lot of things to do. I work as IT support and I think that all the worst users conspired to call today.

Fortunately tomorrow is the last day! I really need to get some rest.