Opening a checking account in France

For the fourth time since we got here, we attempted to open a checking account. Why would we even want a checking account, you might ask. Three reasons:

1.              We wanted “chip and PIN” credit cards (more on that later).

2.              We wanted to have some permanence to our cell phone account, rather than buy-as-we-go SIM cards. One must have a checking account in order to obtain a cell phone contract.

3.              To pay our landlady by check, and to minimize transfer costs from our US bank account.

   On our first attempt, we presented our passports and rental agreement to the bank person. “And where do you work in France?” We pointed out that our visitor’s Visa explicitly forbids us from working in France, and that we had to prove that we were able to support ourselves without work. Non. “no job, no checking account, no exceptions”

   On our 2^nd attempt, the conversation was brief:  Non.  We were then advised to try the Post Office. In France, le Bureau de Poste also provides banking functions, and we were told that all we would need are passports and rental agreement proving that we lived somewhere in Paris.

So, our 3^rd attempt at le Bureau de Poste at first went smoothly – until we were asked for our Renters Insurance. We were told the rules are complicated. Renters insurance is required to open a checking account (!?)  We provided him with a copy of our US Renters Insurance policy, and a letter from State Farm stating that the insurance fully follows us to France. Non. The policy must be written in French.

So finally, our fourth attempt:  Our landlady spoke to someone at her bank, and learned that non-residents could open a non-resident bank account IF they could provide passports, rental contract, and proof that they pay taxes in a different country. So off to the bank we went, armed with our documents.

            “Non” we were told. “America has a new law forbidding Americans from opening foreign bank accounts (!!!???).  We explained in our fractured French that we are living here, we have been told explicitly by a member of your bank that such a non-resident account is possible.  “Ah, you actually live here. You are not just visiting.” Right. There was a breakthrough. She relented and transformed from gatekeeper to sales person, showing us pretty brochures of the various accounts and credit cards (they are actually debit cards, but they are called carte de credit.)  We then witnessed the transformation of several board-feet of paper into more fine print than a law firm’s incorporation documents. After 20 minutes of nearly constant printing by the laser printer, we began to wonder how many more trees would have to die for this endeavor.

We did emerge with a checking account, and our chip and PIN cards would arrive at the bank in a few days.  Now we could then move on to Orange (France’s answer to Verizon) to convert our smart phones to French smart phones. We presented our passports, rental agreement, AND our new bank account number and Voilà! We had smart phones with brain transplants!

A word about credit cards:

The rest of the world is way ahead of the US on this one. The magnetic stripe on US cards is old technology. The rest of the world has converted to chip and PIN which is difficult to use if stolen, and difficult to counterfeit. Although most vendors in France have credit card readers that will accept cards with magnetic stripes, many do not. Most ATM machines in Europe will not accept cards with only a magnetic stripe.

The preferred card has an embedded computer chip that not only stores data, but also performs encrypted data processing. We tried unsuccessfully to obtain chip and PIN cards prior to leaving the US.  We were able to obtain a hybrid – chip and sign card (even though there is a PIN). This card has a chip and a magnetic stripe. That means it can be read by all the vendors, but a signature is required rather than a PIN. So if the card is stolen, it can be used with a fake signature. However, it cannot be used in an ATM unless the thief also has the PIN. Soon we will have our French cards, and I will worry a little less about our cards being stolen.

For more information about how credit cards work, check out this description of the technology.

  

We are making headway here.  Today Jessica got a loyalty card at Monoprix, the Paris approximation of Target, and successfully maneuvered self check-out en Français.

Paris Marche Pour Le Climat

At least 100,000 strong in New York City

5,000-10,000 in Paris

21-September, 2014 was the day for folks to hit the streets in major cities all over the world to show strength in numbers and try to effect policy change. This is a cause we believe has critical importance, so hit the streets we did - in Paris!

On a cloudy-bright afternoon in Paris 5,000 to 10,000 folks of all stripes gathered at Place de la République

    

                                  The route

      

She paints and she pedals, generating electricity for the PA system.

The earth is the is the only planet with chocolate.

Preserve her!

Then with high intensity percussionists and their conductor setting the pace, off we went thousands strong down the parade route.

The New Normal

Climate Science History

For the last 10,000 years since the last ice age,

we humans have experienced the Holocene Epoch

with a climate mild enough to allow

civilization and agriculture.

Is the Holocene Epoch coming to an End?

Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!

We already have the technology.

We need the political will, and to

make this an issue we vote for.

To see the full video from which these clips are taken, go to

this excellent production.

Musée Curie

On Friday, we headed to the Latin Quarter to visit the Musée Curie, located next to the Institut Curie.  It is a small museum, full of fascinating exhibits. Detailed explanations of the lives, not just of Pierre and Marie Curie, but also of their equally gifted and accomplished daughters and son-in-law.  The museum is within the former office and laboratory of Marie Curie. The exhibits demonstrate the discoveries of the Curies which, between them, garnered five Nobel prizes in the areas of physics and chemistry.

Jessica and Erica go to Giverny

On Wednesday, September 17, my sister Erica and I boarded the train at the Gare Saint Lazare Station for Giverny to make our pilgrimage to Claude Monet’s famed home and gardens. (Eric was home, nursing a cold)

Once inside, Erica, who is a botanist at heart, never stopped smiling.  Even at summer’s end, the gardens and water lily pond shimmered with beauty. Walking through the walled garden, we delighted in the many different types of flowers on display and their dazzling colors.

 

We toured Monet’s home, taking particular enjoyment in the Japanese prints.




 

I noted that Monet also had a fondness for a bright yellow kitchen with blue accents. 

We circled the water lily pond and garden one more time before leaving. We discovered the changing effect of the midday sun on the water and lilies.  They looked even more beautiful in the bright light.

Before leaving Giverny, we had lunch on the terrace of the museum restaurant (hamburger and fries—very American menu!)  On the train back to Paris we enjoyed a lively conversation with another retired American couple from San Jose who had rented apartments in Paris before and had many helpful recommendations—including the Bastille market, which Erica visited the next day.

We arrived home happy but thoroughly exhausted.

Our First Week

Jessica’s sister Erica has joined us and shares our apartment.

(selfie at Notre Dame)

The three of us have enrolled for language study at the Alliance Française. Generally, the French people have been remarkably tolerant and helpful as we attempt to converse.

Being foodies all, we have had a great time exploring the boulangeries, fromageries, and the wines.

boulangerie

fromagerie

 Our apartment is delightful with an open “cuisine américaine” (American kitchen).

The public transportation system in Paris is one of the best in the world. We are learning our way around the metro, the buses, and the RER (regional trains).

The museums are free the first Sunday of the month, but be prepared for the lines. We went to the Musée d’Orsay 1^st Sunday of September.

Sacre Coeur through the big clock window at Musée d'Orsay

 Jessica and Erica went to the Musée Rodin later in the week.

The Journey

Finally the day came. We headed east for New York in our Penske truck filled with furniture and boxes of stuff for our kids' apartments.

We crossed over to Brooklyn where we spent the next few days.

And where the QM2 awaited us!

And off we went!

A week later we took the train from London to Paris,  

et voilà