Blessings

I really like this song sang by: Laura Story


Blessings

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

Filipino - French Marriage PART IV

Here we go... It's been a year now, since I wrote something to share with you guys, Ok! 5 years here now in France seems like yesterday, What I will just need to encourage  you readers living in different culture and language will never that easy, but still you should have the courage to face it.

After my one year stay here in France I got already my residence permit for one year, that was renewable every year until 4 years. I need to apply every year but please be aware the 2 months before the expiration of your card, They always asked the same papers,, fee or "timbre" to be bought in the "TABAC" Every time you need to apply your residence permit, always bring your husband with you because you need to sign for something. all of the papers and fomulaire can be asked in the prefecture. You just  fill up and provide the necessary documents. Take note *they will ask for the copy of each documents but always bring the original with you for verification*

Allez bon courage!!!!!   

A year without Blogging "Excuse me"

It's been a year since I haven't wrote anything here, I have realize that I have a blog account just last week when I got a mail, I became so busy. I discover that I found my place here in France. I will try to recover again this page, because I am receiving emails and inquiries.  Though,partly, Facebook also took my time,(funny) blame it to  "FB" I have words, experiences, photos & activities to share. A lot of encouragement to show. Ok! until I work again this week for my Blog...

 

Schengen Visa

The Schengen Visa has made traveling between its 25 member countries (22 European Union states and 3 non-EU members) much easier and less bureaucratic. Traveling on a Schengen Visa means that the visa holder can travel to any (or all) member countries using one single visa, thus avoiding the hassle and expense of obtaining individual visas for each country. This is particularly beneficial for persons who wish to visit several European countries on the same trip. The Schengen visa is a “visitor visa”. It is issued to citizens of countries who are required to obtain a visa before entering Europe.

The purpose of the visit must be leisure, tourism, or business. Upon the issuance of the visa, the visa holder is allowed to enter all member countries and travel freely throughout the Schengen area. It is strongly recommended to plan your journey within the timeframe of the Schengen Visa as extensions can be very difficult to obtain, thus forcing you to leave to stay in compliance with the Schengen rules and regulations. A Schengen visa allows the holder to travel freely within the Schengen countries for a maximum stay of up to 90 days in a 6 month period.

The following 25 countries are Schengen Visa members:
	Austria Belgium Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland

All Schengen countries are in Europe. However, it should not be confused with the EU (European Union). Schengen and European Union are two different agreements between European countries. A total of 25 countries, including all European Union countries (except Ireland and United Kingdom) and three non-EU members (Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland) have signed the Schengen agreement. However, only 15 countries have implemented the common border control and visa provisions.

Important: The Schengen Visa holders are not allowed to live permanently or work in Europe. Schengen Visa holder only have the right to travel as a temporary visitor to the member countries.

Crab Mentality

The crab mentality is a reflection of the famous saying “we all like to see our friends get ahead, but not too far ahead.” That's a colloquial expression for "not wanting others to be successful", it's prevalent in our culture. Sadly, but its true!

This trait is already associated with Filipinos. Well, I can't say that I am proud of it. Instead I try to reflect about it. Way back school days we have this topic in our Social Values class thats was the first time I encountered the word "crab mentality" the term and definition. I had learned this trait is based to the characteristic of crabs.

This describe Crabs in a bucket can easily escape from the bucket one at a time, but instead of doing that they pull each other down whenever one rises to the top - thus insuring their collective demise. At school we called it SIP-SIP sa teacher. When I was working we called it Nagpapapel sa boss. These traits can developed wrong impression to others. This is analogous to the behavior of a person who diminishes or pulls down anyone else who achieves or is about to achieve success greater than their own. Crab mentality: We all like to see our friends get ahead, but not too far ahead. If I can't have it, no one can have it. The root of this is jelousy, greddiness, selfishness and discontentement of you have. Recently, I came across  with few people, who made me realize this fact.I know people work for their own benefit,According to me it is good only to some extend. Every thing that you do to other will exactly happen to you ,no matter at what point of time”.Not everyone is like that but now a days most of them are like this,so it becomes very difficult to calculate and behave with people some times. I feel bad to know that there are people like this.    Why would someone not let other people succeed?  Lesson learned to much familiarity will bring you conflict. So, this moment I put boundaries between friendship, collegues, proffesional environment and private life.  But on a lighter side:  We can put crab-mentality in a more positive way that can be compared to a support group. Try putting the crabs in a basin or pail and observe them in a few minutes. Your first impression upon seeing them pulling one another back to the bottom of the basin is that they don’t want anybody to get out of where they are. This is what we normally think about crab mentality, right?. Keep observing further, you will notice that at the end of the day, no more crab is left on the basin. If you analyze their behavior, it is actually the stronger crabs who are helping the weak ones in climbing up the basin, they are the support group that are actually pulling their colleague up in the basin." Hope this character can be adopted. Negativity as opposed to critical pessimism is an outlook and as such denotes everything as bad.

Filipino National and French Marriage (Part III)

Again! Signing a contract of d'accueil et d'integration means that you have now an agreement with them. Basically your first year here in France they will be the one to provide some of your schedule. You will experience  RDV -meetings . They will tell it to you in month or two in advance.

Note: Paper works here are so important (you need to keep it)

Ok, let me share you what are the things that I did after having my (Vignette OFII)

I went to translate my birth certificate in French "This is important" the translation of your birth certificate. So better produce photocopies. Do not give original

Carte Vitale

Ok once I have my birth certificate translated. On the same day, I applied for my "carte vitale" What is a carte vitale? This card is the health insurance here in France.  This is free, You will be under the name of your husband. This one is like "Philhealth and SSS  but the good thing about this is you can use it everytime you do your medical visit (OB, Dentist, Optho, etc...)
They will just give you a little participation to pay.
On the top of that once you have Private insurance called "Insurance maladie" sometimes you can just go to your doctor/pharmacy(but make sure you have the Rx) with out paying.Or sometimes, you need to pay first and the SSS and your Insurance company will re-emburse you! Isn't it great?

Permis de conduire

The second thing I did was I applied/changed my drivers license here they called it "Permis de conduire" Having a license here is bit hard to have, So what I can advise you better have it in Philippines so they will just change it here, Your Phil license is valid only for one yr here
I translated my Philippine license into French. Passed it and shoot I have the permit (but off course I need to wait more for the card) but I have the proof now that I can drive.I was surprised that driving license is for life time no renewal. (It is also free)


After a few months I received a letter saying that I need to go in a meeting where they will assess my French  language. it is under FRATE Conseil this organization will be the one to send you to a french lesson that you need to complete your hours. (Me I got 248hrs) Studying under this organization is FREE so you need forfeit it.

attestation de formation civique

I received a letter again that I need to go in a collectif reunion "collective meeting" Since I already signed the " contract" these certain formations are obligatory  and need to complete the certificates. The first one is "formation civique" which they discussed to you the rules and benefits you can have in France;




Next, is the D'Information sur la vie en France.

attestation bilan des competences prof

Meaning life in France. (I can't find a copy of that certificate) The certificate is color green.


Lastly the  "Bilan des competences professional this meeting is "Individual"
which they will validate or assess your professional experiences in your country.
They will give you referrals, what to do and contact agency so you can easily find a job.

 These certificates will be completed before your one year stay in France.

After, I completed the 248hrs of my French class, I did my exam well (passed) and have my diploma in DILF

I registered at pole émploi site. http://www.pole-emploi.fr/accueil/ this is an agency which will help you to find a job or a training formation for your first job.




Now, once you have all the certificates. Two months before your visa expired, you need to demand for new and you will do it at the "prefecture" in your city.

I will write a next blog for how to renew your visa;

Filipino National and French Marriage (Part II)

Ok, I got my visa and my immigration seal time to fly, It was all done in just 7 months. Hello France - Hello new life.

Ok here is the next steps to do:

The French authorities have issued you a long stay visa allowing  you to stay in France under the following conditions.

• Upon your arrival in france, you must make sure that the Immigration Officer at the port of entry stamps your passport with the date of entry.
• If you are transiting through another Schegen state, the stamp must be obtained from relevant authorities in the country of transit. In this case it is understood that you will enter France no later than five days after the date of entry.

Your long stay visa becomes the equivalent of a "titre de séjour" (Residence Permit) in France only when it has been validated by the "OFII" ( office Français de l'Immigration et de L'Intégration). To carry out this  formality, you must immediately upon your arrival in France:

•  Complete the form titled "Demande d'attestastion OFII that you were given with your visa, so that  the "OFII" may contact you for a medical examination, an introductory meeting (Visite d'accuiel) or the appointment to appear in person before the relevant authorities.
• Send this form by registered post with the requested return receipt (Recommandé avex accusé de réception), as soon as you arrive in France, to the relevant office- list enclosed- "Direction Territoriale de L'Office Français de L'Immigration et L'Intégration (OFFII)", whichs has authority over your place of residence in France:
• Attach to the original form all the following photocopies 

1. Passport pages containing information regarding your identity and passport validity.
2. The stamp from the French Immigration officer (or from the authorities of the country of transits), showing the date of your coming through the elevant border
3. And, the visa issued to you at the French Consulate. 

Once the OFII received all your documents, You will receive a receipt confirming that your file has been received (Attestation de dépot de dossier") will be sent to you. This temporary document will enable you to prove the legality of your stay in France while waiting for your file to be fully validated by the "OFII"

You will be called upon by the "OFII" within 3 months of your arrival in France to complete your file.  You will received a letter for (Visite d'accueil). Enclosed to that letter all the papers/documents you need to bring., it also includes there the fee you need to pay. (TAX)  http://www.ofii.fr


The rendez vous (Appiontment for Medical Visit).
This medical certificate will be present to OFII. 

Having all the documents validated and everything was discussed to you during the (Visite d'accueil) you will be asked to signed a contract of d'accueil et d'integration.
 



Once these formalities are carried out, your visa and the endorsement by the OFII (Vignette OFII) on your passport will authorize you to stay legally in France for the entire length of yout French visa.

Since the completion of these formalities may take a while, approximately one month, you must start the process within the first days of your arrival in France. 


Failing to do so within three months, could result in a procedure againts you, for staying illegally in France.

It is important also to know that if you wish to leave France for another Schegen Zone country or travel to your country of origin or last residency, be sure that you have the sticker "Vignette OFII" in your passport, next to your French visa, Otherwise, you will not be allowed to enter France before having obtained a return visa ("Visa de retour Consulaire") from the relevant consular authorities.

-sweetmedic023-