Paperwork!

We're making progress on our paperwork. Debra registered Lisa at school on Tuesday; there were lots of forms and photos. We're in process on bank accounts; Deb started Wednesday but there are a couple more forms due (certificate of residence, then they mailed a certificate which arrived Friday but we weren't there to sign for it, it would have been at the Post Office on Saturday, but she updated her address with the bank, and the registered letter arrived Saturday morning). Deb and I got our University IDs Thursday; it only took about 10 minutes. I got David's certificate of admission Thursday (that he passed his English exam). Today we got our certificate of residence for our temporary apartment which we need to finalize the bank account. Also we used it to register David for school with the mayor's office; they gave him a form that he can attend school, and a form for his school canteen lunches (though we still have to figure out how to pay). I think there's light at the end of the tunnel!

Overall, there's probably twice as much paperwork as in Canada, but people are so much more efficient. And everyone likes to predict how long things will take. The school said, "you should get the canteen form by Thursday" but when we registered at the mairie's office (the next day), they said the following Monday. So maybe they're not exact.