Meredith's diet (Part II)

It should come as no surprise that school lunch isn't free. What is surprising is that there is a fee structure associated with the lunch, including five different rates depending on the family's financial situation. After dropping Meredith off at school one morning, Bill came home and handed me a flier. [I should note that he seems to receive a disproportionate amount of school paperwork.] In order to qualify for a reduced price lunch, one must present oneself with all manner of documentation at the caisse d'école (not the same as the office that we had visited previously), including three months of pay stubs, a tax return, etc. Of the 6 documents required, we had zero. The sheet Bill received specifically stated that no reductions would be granted without all of this paperwork. Undaunted, and with the knowledge that such absolute statements on paper normally mean very little in person, I headed to the caisse with my passport, the letter informing me of my fellowship, and the lease. [It's astounding to me how many times I've needed to use the lease as an official proof of residence -- I never once needed to use it in New York!] The woman at the caisse finished her cigarette, then came to the window to hear me out. She examined my documents, filled out a form by hand, and asked a few questions. In particular, she was interested in knowing how we were covering the rent, since it was more than my monthly fellowship stipend. I said that my family in America was helping out, and thought that for sure this would do us in. She told me I'd hear by the end of the week. Yeah right, I thought. And yet, lo and behold, the letter arrived and informed us that we qualified for the "second tier"! So instead of paying 3 € (euros) 50 per day, we pay 2 € 80. When our checks finally arrived, I was able to pay the principal.

The snack (le goûter) however, is paid separately, and in cash only. An announcement went up on the bulletin board saying the snack should be paid this Friday. No where, in all the paperwork we have received from the school or in any of the postings in the foyer, has there been any mention of the cost of the snack. I waited my turn to see the principal with some cash in hand, she looked up Meredith's attendance at the goûter and announced that for the month of September, we owed 12 €, or less than 1 €/day. Pas mal, as they say around here, pas mal du tout (not bad at all), especially considering Meredith really does eat her snack every day!