In the meantime, I forgot my passport that day, so I came back later in the week to show them the passport. Amazingly enough, the bank was closed from 12:00-1:30, and when I arrived with time to spare at 1:27, there were already a line of people waiting. Looks like I’m not the only one feeling the pains of French efficiency. I took my place in line, but out of the corner of my eye, I spotted the original woman that had helped me set up the account. I stepped out of line to go talk to her, but the woman behind the tiny desk quickly reprimanded me “SI VOUS PLAIT!!!” and then she probably said “wait your turn behind the line!” Feeling like a scolded dog, I went back. Upon my turn, I explained that the woman I was TRYING to go see had set up the account for me originally, and I needed to show her my passport. The woman behind the desk proudly exclaimed that it was HER to whom I should show my passport. Whatever. I showed it to her, and once she saw that bold blue jacket and the American eagle, I could see her face morph into a smug grimace of crude satisfaction. “THAT EXPLAINS HER CROSSING THE LINE!” She made the copies and then I asked her when the bank account would be ready and when I would be able to use a bank card. Her “you are so inferior to my country’s culture” face came back, and replied “I mean YOU need to verify your address and show your student card [blah blah] AND THEN it will take 3 or 4 days of course…” Oh what a terrible, impatient, rude American I am! I had to restrain myself from giving her a piece of my mind….