Archive for July 2007

One bright idea day, I finally decided to process my French nationality after 6 years of France. I received my official declaration yesterday after a year & 15 days. Nothing theatrical, no officials from the French Tribunal nor an oath taking & photo op. Just me & the nice lady, in between us a glass window while we exchange valuable documents, instructing me on what to do next for my identity card. Voila, je suis française, ou plutôt devenu française par mariage (I am now french, or rather became french by marriage).

Not once did it cross my mind to be living somewhere else but my birthplace nor did I dream of spending my life with someone who comes from another land, fourteen thousand kilometers away from what I ever knew. I never imagined to have another nationality other than my own. But here I am, bounded by my choices, circumstances & opportunities, my life evolving in certain ways I didn't expect. My newly acquired nationality is significant because it is only after seven years that I feel more at home in my adoptive country.

First, Monsieur le President Sarcozy actually shoved me into doing it. He really make butts move, especially for the estranged. The 2003 Philippine Republic Act N° 9225 on retention & re-acquisition of citizenship is the icing but the cherry on top of the cake is that both countries recognize dual nationality. And that is le top for there are only a few countries* who do.

As required, it is all about integration. In paper, first I was asked bills that indicate "mr & mrs" to prove the authenticity of our marriage. Since 2003, Sarcozy attempts to minimize fraud marriages. Then I was asked to submit documents showing mine & my husband's professional activity in the past years. It will indicate your willingness & ability to obtain employment thus showing you speak the language with ease to find a job. I suppose it can somehow show that you are a taxpayer & won't be dependent of the governement's social welfare since France is very generous on that even to non-citizens. After, I was convoked by the Police Nationale for a 6 page question interview of my life as a married couple in France & to verify my oral & written French. Questions range from how we met to my educational background. From our weekend activities & associations I joined to knowing my neighbors. I was even asked to write a few words in French. To my relief, the police announced that I am well integrated. In the year of waiting, we didn't have phonecalls nor visits to my happiness.

But what does it really mean to be integrated? It is not only about speaking French or being a taxpayer & on being in harmony with your new environment. It is about the sensation of being home. In accepting the change & trying to live with it because like one travelled American* client told me, no matter how long you have lived in another country, you will always be an outsider. Like even after 20 years, I will always be la Philippine to those who know me & la Chinoise to the rest of France. I would always consider France as my second home & it will always be different from my true home. I may be French in paper & have proven integration but I will always be strange, like France will be to me. And to quote Kala* when I asked what is integration for her, "It is to recognize you are different but you still try to assimilate yourself into your host country's culture without losing yourself & without forgetting where you came from."

But the thing with being part of two nations is when I'm in France, I miss the Philippines & my old habits so bad. Then when I'm in the Philippines, I miss France in a way. Like I miss our apartment & my habits I consider still young. The irony of being in two places. But one thing is absolute - in France, like in the Philippines, there will always be something new to discover because everything changes as we grow old. People & things move. As we adjusted in our new home, we'll likewise adjust to the changes in our old home.

I have just one true home but the Philippines & France have a different sense of home to me now.
Only after 7 years.

*the website is not updated since the dual citizenship act of the Philippines have been passed in 2003
*my American client is originally from Texas, moved to New Mexico & have lived in Germany for 9 years as an Opera singer
*Kala & I processed our nationality at exactly the same time. She just received her nationality (at least by the French embassy in Qatar) a week after mine. Congratulations, frenchie sister!
*we'll then process our Filipino nationality very soon, of course!

My summer mcjob* is to hand out & collect keys, reply to inquiries, provide tourist information, attend to complains & assure that all our 83 apartments are ready & perfect for each of our guests. Aside from all the perks metioned on being a receptionist in a residence-hotel, the best part is encountering an assortment of characters - all in holiday mode. A view of the residence - the children's playground by the pool.

The cool vacationers. In total holiday mode. Won't be affected by a slight hot water problem. Does not ask for anything nor complain unless really necessary. Detached from other vacationers, they're almost unnoticed. Vacation really means vacation: stress-free.

The cool but...vacationers. In almost total holiday mode but some things are just getting in the way like the gardener watering the plants in their apartment's balcony at before lunch. Comes to the reception a bit shy to complain but complains anyway. "There was a guy watering our plants this morning in our balcony & we were a bit *chuckles* uncomfortable but hey, it's no problem. Just telling you..."

The benevolent vacationer. Pleased & enjoying where they are & at the same time wishes everybody to have the same pleasure by indicating slight holiday imperfections. "We noticed that the window shutters are rubbing against the garden lamp. It's not really for us but for you & the other guests."

The Brady Bunch vacationer. Does not matter if they're 10 or 4, they can produce the same effect. They are too excited that they are bursting with fruit flavors. Can gather people to play swimming pool volleyball even if it's prohibited. A regular at the reception, flipping through tourist leaflets in search for action. A vacation means group activites.

The grumbler vacationer. In search for the perfect holiday but refuses to pay the price for it. There is always something to spoil it. The grumblers really grumble without shame. You always think, "What now?" when you see them coming to the reception.

The my money's worth-getter vacationer. Every cent is worth a perfect holiday. Every complain is tagged with, "I paid €€€s for this holiday!" They are normally grumblers too & they are the worse kind. They think that they can do anything like bringing food by the pool when it's well indicated that it's prohibited, and when told, they can make your head fly.

An assortment of people gathered within an area of 3.2 ha will always have one of each kind of vacationer. Apparently, most of these types are French. I suppose, there is something about being on holiday in homecourt. But for every grumbler, we have at least two cool vacationers, add in a few cuties for my colleague. And the season is just beginning, now the ability to distinguish but not to handle difficult ones just yet. What joy. I just send my colleague because she's a toughie.

Then I realized that we're cool vacationers & I'm my money's worth getter to my husband. I think we make a good package as clients.

*mcjob - low-paying, low-benefit job in the service sector. From the book Generation X of Coupland.

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