[whataretheysaying] Mary Madigan: Now go away, or we shall taunt you a second time..

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Posted by Mary Madigan:
Now go away, or we shall taunt you a second time..
http://whataretheysaying.powerblogs.com/posts/1169171808.shtml


   My nephew is a scholar of languages. He's studying Italian, French and
   Arabic. He loves the French language, French culture, food - so he
   decided to spend a semester in France.

   France loves the French language, culture and food. They love
   themselves so much, they're willing to go to great lengths to spread
   their culture throughout the world.

   You'd think they'd enthusiastically welcome pro-Francophone students
   to their country, especially students who grew up speaking English,
   the language of the "hissing snake in the Garden of Eden".

   [1]chirac 

   You'd think that, but you'd be wrong. When my nephew tried to apply
   for a three month visa to study the French language in Franch, his
   application was sent back to him two times, delaying the process for
   weeks - the second time pointing out a mistake that the consulate had
   missed the first time.

   When he decided to drive for hours to the [2]French Consulate in New
   York (and when his family walked out in the cold to help him get
   there) he was turned away from the door. According to their new
   policy, a visa applicant can't enter the French consulate without
   first making an appointment using a specific form on their website.

   The consulate cannot be contacted by phone, email or la post
   d'escargot. You can't even do a silent pantomime in their window. You
   may only use the web. And then you may only visit them in person at
   the appointed time. And even then, there is no guarantee that the
   situation will be resolved.

   marcel

   So my nephew and his family had to walk for miles in the cold, trying
   to find a travel agent who would resolve the situation. Travel agents
   who had previously been willing to make arrangements with picky
   Brazillians and communist Chinese recoiled in horror when they heard
   the words "French consulate".

   "We don't deal with the French consulate" they said, not for any
   price.

   My nephew may be starting school a week late as a result of this
   policy.

   [EMBED]

   If anyone out there has ever successfully dealt with this visa policy,
   please let me know how it's done..

References

   1. file://localhost/files/whataretheysaying-chirac.jpg
   2. http://consulfrance-newyork.org/