Les Tickets Restaurant

With a social system that can be perceived as invasive, bureaucratic and information intensive, the rewards are often immeasurable. Despite the mounds of documentation, seemingly random questions and countless office visits, it is not surprising that one can feel that their individuality and personal privacy are infringed upon. Take for example, the transfer of an international licence over to a French licence. Obvious enough is the need for a copy of the international licence and verification of driving status by the governing bureau. But is it absolutely necessary to require proof of residency for the first 6 months of licensing?
 

While the process of qualifying for the benefits of the generous social, medical, educational and employment systems may seem daunting and downright irritating, some of the most innovative and appreciated payoffs are the rewards. The employment advantages themselves are numerous and globally recognized. With 5 weeks starting vacation, and a 35 hour full-time work week, French workers are already at an advantage in the areas of physical and mental health (less stress placed on the workday), leisure and lifestyle (the ability, encouragement and expectation to enjoy time away from work), and equality in the workplace (these are standard practices that require specific contract amendments to modify or alter). I should mention however, as with any system there are always loopholes and exceptions. For example, my current employment is contract based, in which I fall under a CDD (contrat à durée determine), which means that I unfortunately, do not enjoy 5 weeks paid vacation or the security of a permanent contract; although I am paid a percentage on each paycheque to cover for vacation and holidays, and I enjoy a flexible self-determined work schedule.

 

Additionally, French workers are also further rewarded through the implementation of Les Tickets Restaurant . While the rules and regulations governing these are specific, generally speaking, if an employer is unable to provide a cafeteria or lunch room on site then they are required to offer restaurant vouchers, which are a tax free incentive for the employer and an added bonus for the worker, who only pays no more than 50% of the value of the voucher from their paycheque. In my case, as long as I work at least 6 hours in one day, I am eligible to request a ticket resto for that day, by keeping a tally of all eligible days. At the end of the month half of the amount of each voucher is deducted from my pay and my employer pays the remaining difference. I then receive a booklet of vouchers worth €7 each (of which €3,50 is deducted from my pay).These vouchers can then be used at restaurants and for ready to eat groceries, with many establishments allowing payment with as many as 2 or 3 vouchers. The vouchers are good for the entire year and can be used for lunch, dinner or at the local grocers. So in essence you can enjoy a nice meal with a glass of wine, or pick up a baguette and viennoiserie at the local Boulangerie knowing that you have only paid for half of the purchase! Plus with an automatic paycheque deduction it is often unnoticed and not missed!

With a multitude of social advantages in France, the simple difficulties like language and unrushed attitudes are easily minimized, and the simple pleasures of daily life are emphasized by the generosity of a world class social system.

… Perhaps my view will change come tax time…? J

Épidémie de gastro

So I am apparently not alone in my recent stomach maladies. Turns out that my good American-French friend Emily, and her out of town guest have also fallen ill with the dreaded gastro! Both are completely independent and unrelated to my recent bout, but may be even worse. For the last several days I have yet to return to 100% appetite, energy or general well-being. Despite some general nausea, pressure around my breastbone and lots of sleep I am still somewhat sluggish and the sight of food is unappealing (this may be the most puzzling and the most appreciated J).

Funny enough is that in France anything gastro or stomach related is met with the dreaded outstretched palms of distance, or fingers dramatically crossed in a X with a fearful expression of, ‘please don’t infect me’. It is perhaps one of the most common illnesses to afflict just about everyone in France at least once per year, and it is still met with intense fear and panic. Mind you I can’t blame anyone since there is nothing worse than feeling sick to your stomach, so I can relate. But it is still odd, at least culturally, since in North America the common cold or a cough incite the mass purchasing of hand sanitizer and Kleenex, coupled with dirty looks and the unsympathetic covering of faces in the vicinity of someone with the sniffles.

So over the past couple of days when someone at work asks how I am and I say that I am much better and that it was a mal au ventre, I unintentionally elicit both sympathy and panic that I may be harbouring a greedy infecting bug ready to infest. Now I doubt I had or have the flu, and if anything it feels more like a long winded stint of heartburn or indigestion, although I am starting to question that too as my body is still not back to normal… perhaps it is a mild case of food poisoning or my body rebelling against the deliciously decadent French diet? Whatever the cause, my waistband is happy and my grocery bill is nil for this week!

I have also included a link to another gastro related blog sent to me by a French friend with international roots and experiences! (anomalies-of-french-life-la-gastro) .

Je suis malade :(

I can’t tell if I am a suck or if my infrequent periods of illness create miserable company? Yesterday morning, just before 3am (anyone notice a pattern?), I woke up with the most annoying pressure and pain around my sternum, coupled with a pulsating headache and a touch of nausea, only made worse by lying on my side. Propping up my head, I went back to sleep only to push snooze and repeatedly change the wake up time on my alarm, before finally sending off an email, en français, to my boss to say I would not be in.

Despite the landline ringing repeatedly with the same private number and ongoing telemarketing calls, I eventually succumbed to answering in an annoyed gruff bear voice to tell the phone company representative, “Il n’est pas là!” (“he is not here!”), in reference to my cousin. Good for me though, as I always refuse to answer the phone if I don’t know the number, in avoidance of an awkward conversation in French.

In between watching some French TV, which is probably the 5^th time I have turned on my TV in the past 15 months, and random self diagnosing WebMD searches (likely intense heartburn or maybe a hernia, but probably not a heart attack), I tucked myself in for more slumber, comforted by the warmth of my water bottle, and slept intermittently until 4pm!

Still feeling pretty horrible, fueled only by a small piece of cereal bread with butter and jam and a vanilla yogurt, I made the short but laborious walk up the street for my weekly English teaching lesson with a friend’s daughter. Within a half hour that nauseous, want to lie down, feeling resurfaced and I knew I was not yet out of the clear. By 7:30pm I was once again in bed where I slept until 7:30 am!! I wish I could say that it was uninterrupted and dreamy, but unfortunately it was not, but at least in total it is probably more than I actually sleep in a week.

It is now 9:15 am the following morning and I am getting ready to head off to work, surprisingly still tired with a touch of nausea and a lack of appetite (this is a nice change of pace and I wouldn’t mind if it stayed around for a while J ). I guess I shouldn’t complain though since I really can’t remember the last time I was actually sick with something other than a cold or ear infection. And truth be told, good for me in taking care of myself and not going to work yesterday, as one of the biggest lessons I am learning, and continue to learn, is one of self care and self attention!