Arriving

My little TV on the plane

I landed in Paris at 8 AM in darkness and clouds.

Having not slept for 19 hours, I was looking forward to my next flight, a short one, and getting to my apartment to rest. The plane ride here was miserable. I could not get comfortable, and when I finally did fall asleep it was only to be broken by someone needed medical assistance. Then, the flight attendants woke up the passengers at midnight to give them breakfast. I groggily ate my fruit, and bread with jelly (strawberry thankfully). I drank some coffee. I saved my muffin and my orange juice for my flight to Clermont-Ferrand. The next thirty minutes passed by slowly. We waited to debark the 777 flight, operated by Air France, only to be escorted to a shuttle bus that brought us to a terminal. In the terminal, I headed towards Connecting Flights. By this time, I had 45 minutes to make my connection to Clermont. Fast forward through customs (so easy... slightly ridiculous), and to finding my connection.

I went from the main terminals (2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, and 2F) to one that you have to shuttle to. I'm running around in what seems to me to be circles, and I find (thankfully) a southern hick who has gotten directions to 2G. We go out together into the world. Only to be placed on ANOTHER shuttle and taken to the terminal. Where I arrive with 15 minutes to spare until my flight only to find out I had to go through security. Again. I looked like an idiot, because how was I supposed to know I was going to go twice, and had 3 different plastic bags of liquids. The lovely security/TSA woman just said "it's ok, next time you'll know". I left half of my electronics in the bags, and threw my boots off. They had pity on me, and I appreciated it.

After running to my gate (5 minutes left until departure), I arrive only to discover that nobody else is there. No one. Just me, and the flight attendant/desk attendant. I am worried. Then, 3 minutes later OUT OF NOWHERE these people start crowding around me, obviously going to CF too.

Finally we get on a plane. The size of my room. Literally. 19 rows. 3 seats per row. It was almost as small as the plane I took from Chicago to Des Moines, Iowa a couple years back. I was, of course, over the wing and therefore unable to get any sleep.

As we are flying over France, all I can see are clouds and clouds and clouds. I literally thought I was going crazy. Was it snow? Was it all mountains? I might not ever know because then I saw in the distance, clear skies and land. And it was Clermont!! What wonderful timing too... I had arrived.

Clermont is surrounded by mountains!

My mentor, David, picked me up at the airport and drove me to Michelin HQ. Where we walked around outside and I tried not to be tired. After lunch and walking, yes walking, my 47 lb suitcase and carry on to my apartment, we set out again. To show me how to get to work tomorrow morning. And explore via feet. I'm exhausted, I don't want to speak in French because my brain is just not working, and to top it off, I look like I don't know what I'm doing.... BECAUSE I DON'T!

After figuring out where the nearest market is for bread, eggs, etc, we headed back to Michelin HQ (Where they have an area that is a greenhouse... I want to go in but you must have special certifications/security clearance... I'll post pictures soon). I do paperwork, discover I need my birth certificate for my residence permit, and listen to a lovely woman talk in French, of which I understand little. I have now been up for more than 24 hours, and it's showing. I'm yawning, I'm non-responsive, and I can't understand what I am saying.

I go talk to ANOTHER person... thankfully in English. He is the director of Career Management for the IE department in France. Which is awesome because I need a career.... His name is Phillip. And I like him. I also was supposed to meet with a man named Laurent, but I just realized I didn't.

I then went to an insurance agency. Where I signed some paperwork in French that basically said if I kill someone I do not have to pay $1 million, just a fraction of it. And then I took myself home, to my apartment. I need to go get some groceries, but I can't find it in me to do it right now. However, I did discover that there is a Dominoes pizza in the square near my house. Mother would kill me.... but still.

Unpacking is hard, but someone has to do it!