OFII Doctor's Examination for Visa

Keep those thoughts and prayers coming...they worked for us yesterday in Rennes when we appeared at the OFII office (Office français de l’immigration et de l’intégration) for our medical examination....we did not think we were going to have a chest x-ray, but, yes, we both had one!  Then to see the nurse for weight and height....and then to the doctor for health history and examination of lymph nodes all over and even questions about how much wine we drink...did you know that (French) women should drink less than 2 glasses of wine per day and one day a week, you should abstain!  Never heard that one, but will take that into consideration!  All practitioners were women and spoke very good English.  

The doors opened at 1:30 (our appointment time) and about 20 other people entered the building and signed in with the receptionist.  They were mostly Russian (or Polish) and a few Chinese and us.  We were taken into the exam first, and the others went into a room where they were lectured to by a woman (in French).  We were told that we didn't have to come back after our year's stay, but they did.....not sure what that was about.  

The exam was rather quick, Shirley first, and the blood pressure was a little high....Tom told the doctor that there is something in the U.S. called "white coat syndrome"...and she said that was also true in France — blouson blanche!  So, we passed the exam and were given the attached stamp for our passports.  Beautiful!  Such nice, sweet people we saw and they were so encouraging...wanted to know how we were doing in France.  NOW we have to take everything...even the signed copy of the exam approval (which are not reproducible) to the Mairie in Nevez....where we went a few weeks ago to check on our additional 6 month approval.  They are waiting for our proof of income since being in France and other items, so please keep those thoughts and prayers coming.  So, now we have another year's approval to stay from OFII, but  need the 6 month extension of our visa.....Thank you!!!!!!!

Mairie in Rennes

After our doctor's visit, we decided to head to the hotel which we found on the iPhone and luckily, we found a girl who worked there just leaving, who checked for our reservation.....we didn't have one there....there were 3 Appart City hotels in Rennes and she gave us instructions to find the other one....about a mile away.  So, we checked in and then went off to IKEA a day early, which was a good idea because the drive home today would have been very hard since IKEA makes us both very tired!!!!!  So, after 2 1/2 hours at IKEA, we decided to go to the E.Leclerc giant grocery store (an hour there on our feet) to get something to warm up at the hotel....got Paella at the deli and warmed it up in the microwave at the hotel....delicious!  

After a good night's sleep, we walked around the old town of Rennes, which we had never seen before...beautiful half-timbered houses.  It was quite cold, so we stopped at the Brioche Doree for a sandwich and tartiflette....and hot chocolate!  Yum...and then got on the road for home and then stopped in L'Orient to look at a few stores before arriving home....a long day, but Tom found the energy to vacuum and clean out the inside of our car...which was full of sand and bread crumbs!!!!!!  Really looks great now!  Ready for visitors!!!

Brittany Parliament in Rennes

Rennes street with half timbered houses

Parliament Square

Ancient Rennes Town Wall with Roman portions