the random oracle

French bureaucracy is reknowned for its sluggishness and unresponsiveness, but every once in a while it can move with startling speed.  When I arrived in Paris and went to sign my employment contract, I was greeted with a piece of paper addressed to M David XIOA, who was a Chinese citizen, and whose contract ended August 31, 2009.  Needless to say this would not fly with the French government when I apply for a residence permit, so the whole thing had to be redone.

The kind ladies who were responsible (both for the problem and for fixing it) told me that it took over 3 months to get the original contract, so it might take another 3 months to get it fixed.  I told them that this would not work: I needed to apply for my residence permit within 2 months of arriving.  They told me they’d see what they could do.

Lo and behold a short 5 days later I had a new corrected contract, signed and all.  It goes to show you that when you put a fire under their seat the French are able to hop into action and get things done.  Now if only I could open a cell phone contract…