Getting organized

OK so I might spiral into a sordid world of panic if I do not organize the million steps I need to take before getting to France. So here is my (monstrous) to-do list:

I. Home
a. Get a notarized copy of birth certificate and a notarized French translation
b. Collect things to bring as teaching aides/write lesson plans
c. Look into cell phones--bring England phone?
d. Find out if you need to pay taxes on French earnings (1 800 829 1040)
e. Make photocopies of arrêté
1. Leave one with family
2. Pack one copy and the original
f. Get teaching assistant visa
1. www. diplomatie.fr/venir/visas/pdf/visalon.pdf
2. Send original arrêté, but put sticky note on it saying you want it back
g. Buy plane ticket
h. Set up OMI health appointment
1. Send a copy of the letter from the OMI (hopefully provided in your arrêté) to the address listed on letter
i. Buy health insurance
j. Talk to bank
1. Ask about best way to get money into French bank account (get check for amount made out in euros?)
2. Ask for a letter of recommendation to the French bank
3. Order euros for cash on hand
II. Leave for France with:
a. visa
b. passport
c. certified copy of birth certificate and French translation
d. lettre de présentation
e. arrêté de nomination
f. photocopies of all the documents listed above
g. several passport photos
h. several envelopes
i. credit card, euros
j. insurance
k. plane ticket
l. cell phone
m. $1200-1500
n. all of the documents that your académie sent you, including address and phone number for your school
III. France
a. Get health appointment with OMI
1. Appointment should be set up for you: if not send another copy of the letter from the OMI to the address listed; if you do not have this letter, just wait…they’ll find you.
b. Apply for carte de séjour
1. Go to Prefecture (1 Place de la République, Blois)
2. Bring:
--arrêté de nomination
--justificatif de logement
--passport w/ visa
--birth certificate and French translation
--medical certificate issued by the OMI
--several passport photos
3. If not given carte on first visit, ask for récipassé—receipt placed in passport, proves you are in the process of getting the carte
c. Get bank account before going to orientation
1. Bring:
--passport
--justificatif de logement
--carte de séjour or récipassé?
--letter of recommendation from US bank?
2. Make sure:
--There are no fees due to the fact that you are not staying for more than a year
d. Buy cell phone SIM card and top-up cards
e. Ask contact person at school how to get advance on first paycheck (must be done before 10 October)—make sure you have a RIB from your bank account
f. Contact the “Intendant” at your school—in charge of processing paperwork for your numéro de sécurité sociale, paycheck
g. Register with the US embassy: https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/
h. Go to orientation (Wednesday, October 4, at 9:30 am, in Orléans--the exact location will be available from your school in France when you arrive).
i. Once you receive the carte de séjour
1. Activate your numéro de sécurité sociale: go to local MGEN office (11, RUE ALSACE ET LORRAINE, open Monday-Friday 9-5)
IV. In the event of sickness:
a. Doctor
1. Choose any doctor to go to
2. After appointment, ask for paperwork for insurance reimbursement
b. Medicine
1. Buy in pharmacie, not grocery store
V. Miscellaneous
a. Academic calendar for Orléans-Tours: indicates last and first days of class (aka go!)
1. Return of teachers: Friday, 1 Sept.
2. Return of students: Monday, 4 Sept.
3. Toussaint: Wednesday, 25 Oct-Monday, 6 Nov
4. Noël: Saturday, 23 Dec-Monday, 8 Jan
5. Vacances d’hiver: Saturday, 24 Feb-Monday, 12 March
6. Vacances du printemps: Saturday, 14 April-Wednesday, 2 May
7. Beginning of summer vacation: 4 July