France/America couples

[Joy&Josh 0]

Thank you guys, I hope it will be as easy for you as it was for me to get your visa. The only thing you need is patience. A lot of it.

Congratulation Joy and Josh!!!

When are you going to fly to the US?

I will try to fly on January 20th, at least that's what I told them at the embassy, since I want to spend the holidays with my family and then I have to ship my stuff to the US (I still need to find a solution for that...) and say goodbye to everybody.

This paper 156K is so weird... Why are they asking everytime to see it when obviously you're a girl?!

It is form DS-157 actually, and I did ask that question. The answer was pretty vague, I was just told that the K1 visa is very special, a hybrid between an immigrant and a non-immigrant visa, and they just like having as many forms as possible (!). It was my understanding that soon everybody will be asked that form, but in the meantime it's not mandatory.

youhou congrat Joy!!

I also had the handwritten message saying "+98euros mandat cash si payé avant le 1er décember ou 107 après le 1er décembre". And I received the letter on the 2nd..

When I gave my payment receipt to the lady taking care of my case, she said something like "Oh, you were lucky to pay on November 29th... The fee went up on December 1st". Little did she know that I had to make a run for it on a Saturday morning!

Joy

[lucie&damon 0]

I am craving CARAMBARS! Any chance I can find that somewhere in the USA?

I found a few websites where they sell some but with the shipping costs, it would probably cost less if my parents bought some for me and sent them here. Although I am not sure how much it would cost to them.

I WANT SOME CARAMBARS!

And congrats on the interview, Joy

Regarde ça! la gourmande qui se reveille!

I've never seen carambars here. It's a shame. I did find a "Lion" once in a shop nearby and it was on sale!lol

I think it's a good Xmas gift to ask you parents

[lucie&damon 0]

I will try to fly on January 20th, at least that's what I told them at the embassy, since I want to spend the holidays with my family and then I have to ship my stuff to the US (I still need to find a solution for that...) and say goodbye to everybody.

To ship all my stuff, I can even say all my life, to the US. I did it with a company called "bagage du monde". I used a huge "malle" full and heavy for 250 euros I think. You can choose the date you want it to arrive at the airport and U just have to pick it up when you arrive.

http://www.bagagesdumonde.com/

Good luck!

Oh, and just to give you an advice... don't loose the key of the malle like I did. Damon had to use a hammer to break the lock!

and of course a week later I finally found my key

[Pam&Josh 0]

Hi everybody!

I had my interview today at the Paris embassy. Everything went fine and I will receive my visa within a week.

Congratulations Joy!!

Enjoy your time left in France!

I am craving CARAMBARS! Any chance I can find that somewhere in the USA?

I found a few websites where they sell some but with the shipping costs, it would probably cost less if my parents bought some for me and sent them here. Although I am not sure how much it would cost to them.

I WANT SOME CARAMBARS!

I also think that Carambars could be a good X-mas gift!!

It is my 3rd X-mas in America, and my sisters always send me a box with French goodies, like madelaines, chocolate, mikados or also some fraisous(bobons sucrés à la fraise)!!

It became like a tradition for X-mas, and I am very excited, I should receive my big box next week!!

[Cecile and Bryan 0]

I am craving CARAMBARS! Any chance I can find that somewhere in the USA?

I found a few websites where they sell some but with the shipping costs, it would probably cost less if my parents bought some for me and sent them here. Although I am not sure how much it would cost to them.

I WANT SOME CARAMBARS!

I also think that Carambars could be a good X-mas gift!!

It is my 3rd X-mas in America, and my sisters always send me a box with French goodies, like madelaines, chocolate, mikados or also some fraisous(bobons sucrés à la fraise)!!

It became like a tradition for X-mas, and I am very excited, I should receive my big box next week!!

madeleines sound good too! I'm definitely going to have to do something like that. Do you know approximately how much they spend on shipping?

[Cécy 44]

My family came for the wedding so they packed their suitcases with presents (Christmas and more) there will be books for Christmas (waiting by the X-mas tree) and for the past years both for my birthday in July and X-mas, my dad sends me a package full of Dark chocolates from Lindt, Cote d'Or and Poulain 1848.

J'adore.

This year thanks to the suitcase, I also got 2 big jars of French Nutella. Oh the Joy, oh the Pounds I'm going to gain if I can't stay away from it.

I love European Chocolates. I'm so glad my parents can send me those treats.

Not sure how much they spend on the shipping though. You could probably get an estimate on the website of La Poste.

[Cecile and Bryan 0]

This year thanks to the suitcase, I also got 2 big jars of French Nutella. Oh the Joy, oh the Pounds I'm going to gain if I can't stay away from it.

Can't you find them where you live? Here they sell Nutella in international stores, but also at Target!

[lucie&damon 0]

This year thanks to the suitcase, I also got 2 big jars of French Nutella. Oh the Joy, oh the Pounds I'm going to gain if I can't stay away from it.

Can't you find them where you live? Here they sell Nutella in international stores, but also at Target!

yeah, me too I can find nutella in every stores and also I can find avery kind of Lindt chocolate...that I looooove!

[lucie&damon 0]

My parents aren't going to send me anything this year, because whenever they send sth it never arrives or sometime it arrives but like 2 months later.

For example, it's a tradition that my parents send me a Xmas calendar. They sent it in early Nov. I received it yesterday!!! Plus my parents paid lots of money in order to be mailed within 5days!!

too late!I'll keep it for next year!

[Cécy 44]

This year thanks to the suitcase, I also got 2 big jars of French Nutella. Oh the Joy, oh the Pounds I'm going to gain if I can't stay away from it.

Can't you find them where you live? Here they sell Nutella in international stores, but also at Target!

yeah, me too I can find nutella in every stores and also I can find avery kind of Lindt chocolate...that I looooove!

Oh yes I can find Nutella, but have you tried it? It doesn't taste the same The receipe is different (checked the back) and being in a plastic jar vs. glass doesn't help either.

A jar of American Nutella can stay months in my cupboard without me touching it. A French one is gone in days or weeks.

I can find Lindt Chocolates too, but there are many varieties that can't be find where I live. And well can't find 1848 here.

Edited December 11, 2008 by Cécy

[lili&kai 0]

ah moi qui louchais sur le pot de nutella chez safeway et giant depuis deux semaines... une bonne raison de pas en prendre si ils ont pas le même gout!!

oups I wrote french

it really has nothing to do with the immigration process though.. it was about fooood

talking food, you may find the following information usefull:

"Quelques produits

• Pâte brisée : Pillsbury au rayon frais de la plupart des supermarchés (2 pâtes pré-étalées par boîte) ;

• Pâte feuilletée (uniquement surgelée) ; Pepperidge Farms, également 2 pâtes par paquet ;

• Beurre : pour la pâtisserie, nous vous recommandons le beurre Plugra (Trader Joe's pour le meilleur prix et plusieurs marques de beurre européens sont vente dans les supermarchés gourmets ;

• Fromage blanc : difficile à trouver ici mais le yaourt grec de marque Fage est excellent (Trader Joe's pour le meilleur prix) ;

• Le sucre semoule : superfine de la marque Domino dans certains Giant ;

• Nutella : Costco or Trader Joe's ;

• La baguette: celle de Breadline (DC), La Vie de France (magasin de Potomac uniquement, Marvelous Market (plusieurs magasins);

• La pâtisserie : Poupon sur Wisconsin Ave (DC), Randolph (Arlington, VA), Balducci's ou Marvelous Market…

• Levure chimique : World Market sinon vous pouvez essayer le baking soda ;

• Gélatine : on ne trouve plus les feuilles mais la gélatine en poudre de la marque Knox fonctionne très bien."

it's from a guide for french people in DC.

Lili (and Kai)

This year thanks to the suitcase, I also got 2 big jars of French Nutella. Oh the Joy, oh the Pounds I'm going to gain if I can't stay away from it.

Can't you find them where you live? Here they sell Nutella in international stores, but also at Target!

yeah, me too I can find nutella in every stores and also I can find avery kind of Lindt chocolate...that I looooove!

Oh yes I can find Nutella, but have you tried it? It doesn't taste the same The receipe is different (checked the back) and being in a plastic jar vs. glass doesn't help either.

A jar of American Nutella can stay months in my cupboard without me touching it. A French one is gone in days or weeks.

I can find Lindt Chocolates too, but there are many varieties that can't be find where I live. And well can't find 1848 here.

[lili&kai 0]

great great great thank you Lucie

(ps: petite anecdote: j'avais laissé mes clefs sur mes malles pour envoi au Niger, elles sont arrivées avec les clefs toujours plantées dans les cadenats, intactes!!)

I will try to fly on January 20th, at least that's what I told them at the embassy, since I want to spend the holidays with my family and then I have to ship my stuff to the US (I still need to find a solution for that...) and say goodbye to everybody.

To ship all my stuff, I can even say all my life, to the US. I did it with a company called "bagage du monde". I used a huge "malle" full and heavy for 250 euros I think. You can choose the date you want it to arrive at the airport and U just have to pick it up when you arrive.

http://www.bagagesdumonde.com/

Good luck!

Oh, and just to give you an advice... don't loose the key of the malle like I did. Damon had to use a hammer to break the lock!

and of course a week later I finally found my key

[Cecile and Bryan 0]

I never noticed the difference of taste of the Nutella, but maybe it's because I barely ate it in France, only once in a while.

Thanks Lili for that list. I haven't been able to find 'pate feuilletee' here, maybe i'll look for it again at the store, in the frozen section this time

For the bread, we bake our own baguettes now, it's better

Edited December 11, 2008 by Cecile and Bryan

[lucie&damon 0]

ah moi qui louchais sur le pot de nutella chez safeway et giant depuis deux semaines... une bonne raison de pas en prendre si ils ont pas le même gout!!

oups I wrote french

Moi je l'aime bien qd meme le Nutella ici! Ca ne m'empeche pas tous les dimanche matin de me faire un Nesquick avec des tartines de Nutella

[lucie&damon 0]

"Quelques produits

• Pâte brisée : Pillsbury au rayon frais de la plupart des supermarchés (2 pâtes pré-étalées par boîte) ;

• Pâte feuilletée (uniquement surgelée) ; Pepperidge Farms, également 2 pâtes par paquet ;

I tried that, but I think the crust is too thin and tasteless...So I do my own now, it's very easy to do. Now I make my own flamenquiche or tarte au poireaux ou aux tomates etc. ...j'adore!!!!

here's a good link for crust:

http://myfrenchcuisine.blogspot.com/2005/0...om-scratch.html

great great great thank you Lucie

(ps: petite anecdote: j'avais laissé mes clefs sur mes malles pour envoi au Niger, elles sont arrivées avec les clefs toujours plantées dans les cadenats, intactes!!)

Ben dis donc tas de la chance!

I never noticed the difference of taste of the Nutella, but maybe it's because I barely ate it in France, only once in a while.

Thanks Lili for that list. I haven't been able to find 'pate feuilletee' here, maybe i'll look for it again at the store, in the frozen section this time

For the bread, we bake our own baguettes now, it's better

How do you bake your own baguette? do you have a good recipe to share?