Week 37

In this week’s blog, I share an update on my driver’s license exchange, talk about some challenges to my organizational skills and celebrate Canadian connections. As always, I’ve included a song and some photos.

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License update

Last week I talked about the frustration I was experiencing trying to exchange my driving license. I was a little concerned about running out of opportunties to fix mistakes that weren’t mine to begin with. Early this week, I received a message to initiate the final step! I was instructed to take photos, front and back, of my Ontario driver’s license and then mail in the original. I expect to receive my French license shortly.

I was surprised to find myself emotional when I went to the post office to send off my Ontario license. There was a finality to it that I didn’t expect. Of course it’s not final final – I can always get another one if I move back to Ontario. But it seemed oddly symbolic of my leave-taking.

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Organizational challenges

I seem to have two switches when it comes to being organized. Full on and full off. I’m full on when I use technology. My digital calendar is coloured with tasks, phone calls I need to make, coffee and lunch dates, outings and much more. If it’s not there, it likely won’t happen.

In Canada, I had the luxury of using software that kept me on track when I was working and I used a similar product to stay organized for everything outside of work. I was religious about saving documents from emails to designated, well organized folders.

In France, I find myself struggling to stay organized. Nearly everything is done by paper. I have folders with originals and copies of everything from all administrative documents for my move here to all health records and financial records. It feels overwhelming because I can’t always find what I need even though I think I’m organized. My goal in the coming months is to scan everything and save it to digital folders, then try to stay on top of it.

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Canadian connections

I’ve spoken a few times about Canadians I’ve met here. It’s always fun to go through the ‘connections challenge’. Where did you live, where did you go to school, do you know so-and-so? This week I spent part of a day in Montpellier with a couple who are originally from Winnipeg. While our lives hadn’t crossed there, we discovered a once-removed connection that goes back to my very early years in southern Manitoba. So fun!

Also this week, I joined a large group of Canadians for a lunch which was hosted by a couple who lives here half of the year. The group included some who are here full time, some who are part-timers, and some who are visiting. It was nice to be able to share experiences from both here and back home. I left me feeling grounded.

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Photos

As the weather warms up, the Saturday market is getting busier and people are out enjoying the sun!

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Song of the week

I’ve had Once Upon Another Time by Sara Bareilles on repeat this week. I love the nostalgia in her words and her voice is so beautiful.

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À bientôt .