As I have written before, graffiti in Spain and France is more stylized, more artistic, and more structured than what I have seen in Atlanta. Instead of just a tag, these are closer to artwork to me (artists, please forgive my pedantic tastes) and more social commentary. There are also positive graffiti images, which is a refreshing change. Here is a sample of what I saw.

Some sights below include the Notre Dame behind some buildings on the Seine, several ministry buildings adjacent to bridges, the Eiffel Tour, and the (much smaller) Statue of Liberty at the Pont de Grenelle. Quite an enjoyable experience!

Below are a few dishes from a meal in Montmartre and a river tour cruise sponsored by the university holding the residency. The first is a crêpe du fromages, or cheese crepe. Very fresh, and quite tasty. After walking around Montmartre (more pics of that shortly!) I was definitely ready for a meal.

This was a cold vegetable soup with a couple of almonds and some blanched vegetables submerged beneath. The main dish consisted of braised vegetables over a deliciously-seasoned buckwheat, followed by a dessert that was a soft sponge-based rectangle of a chocolate and fresh mint-flavored confection.

After classes tonight, there is a cruise on the Seine for the residency participants. I’m looking forward to sharing some pictures of the event!

To me, traveling that way is only possible if I focus on the end goal, which is seeing some of my dearest friends and experiencing new adventures. I left Sunday afternoon for New York’s JFK airport, which connected me to the plane to Paris, France. It was an uneventful ride, and I watched three movies to pass the six and a half hours I was on the plane. The first, Bridesmaids, was pretty funny, and a nice way to start the trip. The other two (Hansel & Gretel and Dark Shadows) were more time-killer and mindless entertainment than anything else.

Upon arriving in Paris, I needed to wait for my friends who would be arriving four hours later. I found out that they would be arriving in Terminal 1, which was several terminals away from my arrival terminal. In Charles de Gaulle airport, such a dilemma is only rectified by a really long walk and a tram ride. And a cup of coffee, a croissant, and three hours of reading to pass the time.

After my friends arrived, we went to the house that we had rented, and we all took a nap after we got settled in. I’ll send more pictures of this place, but it’s quite lovely! We went out to find a grocery store and a restaurant, and ended up driving to Versaille and eating at Chez Lazarre, a nice little place. Here’s my review on Yelp. However, we got there as the restaurant was closing, and the staff was an interesting collage of restaurant workers. The food, however, was delicious! You can see how much was left!

P.S. Gentle readers, if you thing that this blog is anything BUT stuff about my trip to Spain, then you are largely right… right now. Trust me, we’ll get to the Spain stuff really soon. I just have to get there.

Of course, there will be pictures and words as the residency progresses. This is almost a “last hurrah” with my friends before I leave for Spain, and I am thankful for the opportunity to travel with them again.

I’m getting pretty good at packing for trips!

Consider, gentle reader, the concept of a VISA. Normally, you would stay somewhere, say, Spain, for three months or less, which a USA passport gladly permits in many countries. If you choose to stay longer, then there is paperwork to complete. Figuring out what that paperwork is, how to complete it, and where to take it is a wonderful little scavenger hunt that often goes in circles. (Want an example? Check this out: http://goo.gl/XbhPW) You have to be patient, be tough, and be persistent.

I had originally decided to move to Spain and finish my paperwork for a long-term Visa there, but recently decided otherwise. I am now in the process of preparing for two-day trip to Miami to get a “long-term residency, non-lucrative visa” attached to my passport. Unfortunately, since they need to take my passport, I have to wait until I return from Paris later this month (actually, the beginning of August) for a school trip.

The problem is that I have a flight scheduled and a hotel scheduled for leaving September 15, certainly not the longer 3-6 month approval period suggested by the consulate web site. AAAAHHHHH!

Here are some of the things I need  (and several copies of each):

1. Completed Visa application
2. Passport-type photos glued to the applications
3. My passport and a copy of all pages
4. Personal ID (Drivers’ licence)
5. Background check from the FBI or police (English, Spanish, translated, notarized)
6. Health certificate from my doctor (English, Spanish, translated, notarized)
7. Proof of sufficient finances (Bank statements? Pay stubs? Other stuff?)
8. Proof of accommodation (Notarized letter from a friend? Letter from me explaining reason for staying longer than 90 days?)
9. Proof of health insurance with full coverage in Spain
10. Authorization of residence application (Form EX00) and 5 copies
11. Authorization of original residence fee (Form 790 Code 72)
12. Visa fee… I think it’s $140, but a friend says that they take cash, too, not just money orders

I have scheduled my appointment, and have started gathering all of these items. I leave in a week for Paris, so I have to get as much done as I can now.

Suddenly, I find myself with more travel than I expect. In January, I was in Spain. In February (albeit early in the month), Michael and I travelled to Mobile for their much calmer version of Mardi Gras. This month, which happens to host both of our birthdays, we decided to go to Charleston, SC. As soon as I can steal the photos off of Michael’s camera, I will post a few from the trip.

Next on the agenda of this runaway train toward my goal of moving to Spain? Let’s see…

• In April, I am presenting at the American Educational Research Association’s annual conference with one of my tribe members, Tawnya. She and I are working on a research project that considers the ability of English-language learners to work in an online environment to learn science. Trust me, you’ll get the full summary soon! The conference is in San Francisco, which means Tawnya and I will be staying with Darin and Brian, at their house in Novato. Break out the rum! As an added bonus, Michael will be joining me on this trip, and I am sure will come home with a camera full of nifty images!
• In May, my youngest daughter graduates high school. I’m very excited for her and what her next steps will be toward her own career. I’m very proud of her!
• In June, I have been hired to speak as the keynote presenter for the Kentucky Association of School Administrators in Lexington. This is the first time that I have worked with this group, and I am excited to meet new people. I am hoping to connect with Steve, a friend who lives in Cincinnati. He and I have stayed in tenuous touch since we were in grad school together, taught at Melbourne High School together, and actually worked at the same company twice, but never at the same times. We recently had a chance to say hi in person when he visited my district in the Atlanta area. He and his beautiful family would make that trip awesome.
• In July and the first few days in August, I am completing my final residency for my PhD program. After that point, I should be working quite diligently on my dissertation. I am very excited, because my tribe is going, and Tawnya, Darin, Brian, and I are renting a house on the outskirts of Paris instead of staying at the residency hotel. Did I say Paris? I meant Paris, France. Aside from airport experiences, I have not been in Paris since 2000 or 2001, and I am really looking forward to travelling with my tribe again!

That leads us to the line in the sand. Since returning from Valencia earlier this year, I realized that the timing of my move to Spain was really up to me. Okay, I knew that before, but it was suddenly MUCH more clear. I have decided that my moving goal date is September 15, which is a little less than six months from this posting. I’m still getting used to the idea, but it feels pretty good at this point.

Suddenly, the year seems very short! Oscar Wilde’s quote comes to mind: “Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination.”

To be honest, making this decision is really giving me some relief. After several years of thinking, planning, hoping, and changing, I am glad to have a date to use as a focus point for my move.

My next post will feature some Charleston, SC pics. Woo hoo!