4 Chapter 4: The Preparation
Sabrina Dubois' POV
It was Wednesday when I went to the States Embassy in Paris. It took me more than 5 hours to get from Nice to Paris for my interview. I was nervous as hell as I was stepping into the foreign land of the United States. I waited for my turn to be the interview. I hope I have all the documents needed, I thought. I was rummaging through my papers with my sweaty palms when my name was called.
"Ms. Dubois! Ms. Dubois! Counter 3 please!" the guard told me as I was arranging my papers. I thanked him and went to the counter. A sweet young lady, around my age, was greeting me at the counter.
"Hi, hello there. Good afternoon. May I know your name, please?" she asked sweetly.
"Dubois, Sabrina Dubois," I said in English as I looked at her. She smiled sweetly at me before looking through my documents.
"Okay, Ms. Dubois. May I know the name of the company that offers you this job?" she asked, not looking at my face.
"Live Corp Industries. Their base in Chicago, Illinois. I will be working as a researcher in their laboratory." I said sweetly about my job before she asked any further.
"Okay. Well, do you have any family or relatives in the States," she asked before looking at my job offer letter.
"No, It's my first time in the States as well for relatives, my family never been outside of France," I said, laughing at my own comment. The young lady just looked at me briefly before taking my passport and said to me sweetly.
"One moment please," She said before going inside behind the door. I waited for her for almost 15 minutes as I looked around me as people walked by and got off from the counter. Then, I saw the young lady coming back, empty-handed.
"We will notify you when your visa is ready, and it will be delivered to your house. Thank you for coming. Have a nice day," she said as she was gathering my paper works and give it to me.
"You too. Thank you," I said as I was taking the paper and put it in my bag. I waved at her as she was smiling at me, waving back. I went out of the Embassy to get a cab to go home. I took the train for another 6 hours ride before I arrive at the Metro station as my dad was waiting for me there. It was a hectic day, yes, but at least now my work has done before my departure in November.
We arrived home at 9 P.M. as my mum was chit-chatting with my sister around the dinner table. I greeted them both as I kissed them on the cheek. My dad was sitting at the head of the table when my mum served my dad dinner like me as well. We ate lightly as we were talking about today events and also about my application for the J visa. I told that I was nervous waiting for my turn and later resolved as the lady that interviewed was sweet and nice.
We ate a little more before my mum and sister went to turn in early as well as my dad. They had a busy day tomorrow as I was the only one still unemployed. Well, until November that is. I took the dishes and put them in the dishwasher before turning in myself as well.
The next day, I was woken up by the ring bell of my house. I woke up groggily before took my coat and went to see who it was. Surprisingly, it was the mailman.
"A mail for Ms. Sabrina Dubois?" he asked.
"That's me. Thanks," I said as I was signing the mail and took the parcel that he gave. I went to the living room to sit on the couch before opening the parcel. I tore it apart before my passport falls on the floor. I picked it up and looked inside. The J visa was already in. I was shocked but also relieved that I will be leaving for the United States earlier than I expected. I went to my room to boot up my laptop as I want to email my company that I can start working as soon as I got my ticket flight. I sent it and went to take a shower.
After a few hours in my shower, because it is wash day and waxing day, I went out to blow dry my hair. I went out, wearing a fluffy maroon towel around my body and it was secure loosely. I went to pick up the blow dryer when my laptop dings, an indication that an email just went through. I went to my laptop to read it.
"Dear Ms. Dubois. Congratulation on your J visa. Here is the itinerary of your flight ticket. We hope that you can make it next week as we are short on the faculty. Have a safe flight and we will see you then!" I read it. Then, there was an attachment of the itinerary of my flight ticket and other information. I stood up to straighten my back and went to blow dry my hair.
As I was drying my hair in the bathroom, my mind wanders as how fast the process went through and many possibilities went through my head. I shook that thought away and went to pick out the outfit for the day. I choose a paisley dress and a cardigan in case the wind outside was cold. I texted my dad, my mum, and my sister that I will be doing some shopping for my leave. I went to put on my sandals and went to lock the door before heading out.
I went to get some of my stuff at the shopping mall of Nice Etoile. I bought some smart casual clothes and a blazer for formality. I also went to look at some of the luggage to pack my things in. I ended up buying big luggage as I will not bring a lot of stuff from France and rather just bought some furniture when I was in the States. I just bring the essential needs like clothing, undergarments and some toiletries.
I went home around 7 P.M. when my mum and my dad were off from their work. I went to my bedroom to put the stuff before changing into my leisurewear before heading out to the kitchen to help my mum make dinner. Today's menu was smoked salmon quick quiche, bouillabaisse, beet bourguignon, and lemon soufflé pudding. When it comes to cooking, my mother's cooking was always the best and seeing that I will be gone next week, she made a delicious dinner like the one we had during Bastille Day, the national day of France. I went out to set the table as my sister went to get the food to put on the table. My father came in and sat at the head of the table as we also took our seats. He prayed for food that was given to us and also the reward that we get for today. We said Ameen before taking the food and passed it around the table.
"So, Sabby, what the company said when you emailed them?" My mum asked me as she passed the beet bourguignon.
"They said that they already had the ticket for me to fly on Monday. I thought it was too fast, but they really need the workers immediately as they are short-handed right now," I said as I put the beet bourguignon down.
"So you will be gone this Monday or next week?" my dad asked.
"This upcoming Monday," I said as I scooped some smoked salmon quick quiche onto my plate.
"Wow, you finally start working. I'm so proud of you," my sister made her snide remark, I glared at her as she was just making face at me.
"Well, good thing too. You need to start working, Sabby, or you might not get yourself a husband. I remembered I first met your mother. It was a rainy day and I," my sister and I cut our dad off, "bumped into her in the hallway as your paperwork tangled together and you touch her hands and sparks fly," we giggled we finished our lines as my father looked at us.
"You tell us a thousand times that enough already," my sister commented.
"yeah, enough already," I added.
"You need to know, girls, that even though you are now big independent women, you still my babies. Remember that. Nobody, I mean NOBODY, makes my little angels cry," my dad said before taking our hands into his. We smiled sweetly at him before my mother interrupted.
"So, Sasha, when is this boyfriend of yours will ask us in hands of marriage? I hope he is serious as you are with him," my mother said. Sasha just stared at me for help but I just ignored her as I was indulging the smoked salmon. I hate to be you right now but your problem, sis, sorry...
"Well, he will come. Anytime now. I have been giving hints to him as we were on our third dates..." the rest of Sasha's blabbing wandered off as I was thinking about him and that time when we touched. It sparks electricity between us. I was playing with my food when my mum was blabbering about me and dateless. My dad cleared throat that made my mum shut her mouth. We continued to eat for the rest of the dinner. It was the grandest dinner that I will ever have before my departure to a foreign land, and I can't wait to go there.
