Registering as a resident

[the marleys]

Hi Rosie and Hew,
So pleased to hear your French Journey has started, I'm sure the climate change has proved quite challenging. Still, we are hopefully on the verge of spring if the daffodils are anything to go by.
We have also had problems with understanding residency. Before moving here I searched online and it was full of people who said they just muddled through. I even found a social worker based at Montmorillon to help me with forms. She was fantastically kind and filled in all sorts of forms for me. Sadly though she didn't' understand the system for foreigners and so five months later I don't yet have a medical card (carte vital). This card seems to be the gateway to everything else. I now know that nothing could start to happen without officially translated birth certificates etc. Which I was never was asked for. Therefore, I couldn't begin to offer anyone advice on how to get through the paperwork as I have tried and found myself going in circles. Just be sure if anyone offers advice that it is current. I love living here. It is a beautiful country full of kind, generous people and we are slowly finding our way.