Culture Shock from moving in France, part 1

Today was a deep frustration with French culture day. I don't have them often, but I've noted that I've more of them in these 8 months in Marseille than I probably ever had total before that. It was bad enough that I feel the need to break this post into two, since really it is two whole separate stories.

Culture shock from moving in France, part 1.

You know that word 'bureaucracy'? It comes from the French and their absurd love for paper-pushing. I've gotten pretty used to it and have even learned how to, at times, circumvent it. In fact, I think it may be (apart from God's grace and favor) how I got my apartment: I submitted an application with a billion more papers than was required, and the agent was amused by that. Anyway...

Here's an example of the circular paper-chase in France that makes life difficult: to get a bank account in France, you have to have an apartment and papers to prove you live there. To get an apartment, you have to have a bank account. Voila! The headache.

So...I signed the contract for my apartment a month ago. I still don't live in it because (a) there's no furniture, (b) there's no gas to heat the water, and (c) there's no appliances.

I can't get internet without a copy of the contract...which I have not received yet.

I can't get appliances without a copy of the internet, electricity, or gas bill...and I don't have two of those set up yet.

I can't get a stove until the gas is turned on so that the man who installs the stove will set it up to function with the gas...but the man who turns on the gas needs me to have an appliance already so that he can make sure the gas is working.

One big headache.

So today I went to purchase my fridge and washing machine. In America, if I were to walk into a store with lots of money to spend on two major appliances, you don't think they'd turn me away, right? That's where culture shock comes in...walking in with a "in America" mentality.

I picked my fridge and washing machine, got my whole account set up, chose a delivery day, had all the paperwork they required of me to purchase the two appliances and went up to the check out to pay.

I needed my French bank card, the series of numbers for my French bank account that lets them autodraft the money out, a canceled check (why they needed all three is beyond me), plus an ID. I presented all of that, and then began the drama.

"Oh, this is a foreigner's visa." (As if she couldn't tell I was a foreigner from my accent...)

"The address on this foreigner's visa and on your check is not the same address as the one you want it delivered to...I need to put this address in the system."

"Well," I responded, "I don't want the appliances delivered to that address. I want them delivered to this new address. I am in the process of moving, hence why I am buying these appliances."

"But you don't have any proof that you live at this address." In my head, I thought, "So?" But I ask instead, "Do you need a copy of the rental contract?"

"Oh no! No, no, no, a rental contract is nothing. It doesn't prove anything. We need a copy of an electricity or internet bill."

"But I haven't received those yet because I just signed the contract. I haven't even moved in...I don't even have a fridge or a washing machine. I just got electricity last week. They haven't sent me a bill."

The woman proceeds to treat me with that infamous French rudeness that isn't her being rude, but it sure felt it in that moment. She tells me that I need to go to the electricity company and ask for a justificatif that proves I have an account with them for that new address.

So I leave the store, willing back tears I'm so frustrated, cross the street and head over to the electric company, where I stutter over the word justificatif about 14 times until the man finally figures out what I'm trying to say. He prints out exactly what she asks for, and I even ask him to use an official stamp and sign it, just to prove it's real and I didn't make it up.

I take it back...and she doesn't believe it's real and calls the electric company to verify it.

Are you kidding me? This store doesn't want my gazillion of dollars because they think I'll prank them and have a fridge and washer delivered to someone else as a joke? Why in the world do they care if I live there or not? Aren't they in the business to make money, and ought to, thus, take my money!?

I left the store in utter shock. They refused to sell me a fridge and washing machine because I can't prove that I have an apartment. I have to wait for either the electric bill or my new checks to come from the bank, whichever comes first.

I'm still shaking my head in wonder. Check out the follow-up post on the other event to leave me baffled at moving in France.