Hari ke-19-21: Langkawi Island

Day 1: Telaga Tujuh waterfall. The waterfall is not that interesting, but the French wanted to do the jungle trekking. Initially we planned for 1 hour of trekking, but eventually they went all the way up to the peak to the Gunung Mat Cincang to view the whole Island. On the way back to the hotel, they stopped for swimming in the sea, and we managed to damage the rental car.


The fishing village on the way to the Telaga Tujuh waterfall.


A bunch of monkey were greeting us on the way.


Telaga Tujuh waterfall



Some of the magnific views they saw on the peak of Gunung Mat Cincang.

Day 2: Pulau Payar snorkelling. Japanese restaurant at night.


The area where we did the snorkelling.


Baby shark


This is the view from our hotel.


Sunset from the hotel.

Day 3: Mangrove tour and Langkawi cable car.


The monkeys were waiting along the island to get peanuts. This monkey is getting peanut with her baby and then swim back.

Hari ke-18: Kuala Lumpur

Places visited:
Chinatown
Central market
Railway station
National mosque
Sultan Abdul Samad building
Merdeka square
Masjid Jamek
KLCC

They were not dared to buy anything in KLCC, seeing the price in those chic boutiques, but at the end they spent a lot in Isetan, a Japanese department store. Fabien managed to find his Mao's collar suit, a Chinese traditional cloth and a pair of shoes. Everybody was happy. I realised that they really enjoy shopping due to their powerful currency.

Hari ke-17: Wedding photo session

We managed to have the marriage registration done in the morning. The photo session begun around 12pm, after 1 hour of makeup. We had 1 wedding gown, 1 night gown and 5 traditional costumes. The family managed to come to see the shooting for the last traditional gown. We selected 21 photos out of 91 that were taken. It wasn't as tiresome as I thought, but I was quite disappointed with the outcome of the photos.

The family went for the massage and each of them really enjoyed it. They spent 2 hours 30 minutes doing massage, body scrupt and facial. My sister had them tried Leong Tao Fu and she felt that they don't really like it.

During the night, we visited the Chinese new year market in Klang town center. The French were given the status as VIP, as the organisers offered them some Carlsberg and first row seat for the concert.

Hari ke-16: Visited Melaka

We left at 6.15am and had roti canai as our breakfast. We arrived in Melaka around 9am. It was a good idea to leave early, as the weather was still nice in the morning. Our first stop was the red house, then the St'Paul church. Some of the French were interested in looking at the architechure and history, so we spent more time in these two places.

We had the famous chicken ball rice as lunch. I don't think they liked it that much. It must be hard to have to eat something so different for them for every meals.

In the afternoon it was so hot. We went to the Sam Pao Temple and Hang Li Poh well. We continued our journey to A Farmosi for the safari, but it costs RM38 for me and RM62 for foreigners. They felt that it's too expensive so we left.

The highlight today was that they tried durian. It would be fun to see their face expression when they had the durian in the mouth. The result? I had to eat most of the durian.

At night my neighbore treated us the bah kut teh. We wanted to visit the Indian street, but the French were stucked in the first Indian shop and spent around 2 hours choosing clothes and buying stuffs. It seems that they are more interested in shopping then visiting. :-)

Hari ke-15: They arrived

My French family finally arrived. They were impressed by Emirates Airlines, eventhough the departure was 2 hours late and one of the members' luggage will only arrive two days later.

So, the introduction session begun. People were hestitating between shaking hands or kissing. Then gifts offering. The French has problem remembering who's who as my family is so big.

Headed to shopping. They bought some stuffs. They feel the stuffs here are cheap.

During the night, they joined my siblings' year end company dinner. They were shocked when I told them it was going to have 9 dishes. Some of them dared to try each of the dishes and insisted on using only the chopsticks. My FIL was disgusted when he saw my family put the wine in the ice box and one of my sister was drinking wine with ice in it.


There were so tired but they have to wake up at 5.30am the second day for a day trip to Melaka. Poor thing.

Hari ke-14: Preparing the red envelope (ang pao)

Preparing the red envelope (envelope stuff with money) is an art. You need to know how much to give to people by the level: close family, distance family, friends, neighbores. Then you need to remember the envelopes: Which one has how much inside. Some people distribute to everyboy who say "kong xi fa chai" (happy new year) to them, so just give to close family. Then, if someone offers your kid certain amount, you need to give back to their kids equal or more.

Today's task was to figure out who need to get the angpao. The wedding car driver, the others driver who will fetch the bridesmaids, the woman who accompanies the groom to fetch the bride, the people who are designated to open the wedding car door, the bridesmaids, the cameramen, and then during the tea ceremony. It must be fun for the French to distribute out the angpao and receive the angpaos.

Tonight went out for gathering with highschool friends. We have upgraded the meeting place, from mamak store consuming RM3 to a highend restaurant consuming RM20.

And my French family are on the way to Malaysia.

My busy days will begin soon.

Breakfast & Lunch: Curry chicken
Dinner: Korean mee

Hari ke-13: Facial

Went to pick up the wedding bouquet flower, additional invitation cards, travel agent then 2 hours of facial. After lunch, went to the post office, shopping mall then headed home. A jewelry seller came later and we spent sometimes going through her jewelries. I do not fancy any kind of jewelry so it was pretty boring for me. It's just that people prefer to offer me jewelry than plein money.

Breakfast: Porridge
Lunch: Pan Mee
Dinner: Curry chicken
Supper: Meesua soup

Hari ke-12: Meeting the hair dresser and makeup artist

She's so beautiful. My friends recommended her. RM488 a package, include hair dressing and makeup.

Breakfast: Roti Canai


Lunch: Hokkien mee
Dinner: Porridge

Hari ke-11: Car deco

Went to look for the wedding car decoration materials. The price differences was huge between one shop to another. I hate to do the bargaining so it was all up to my mother and sister. I managed to buy 88 gift cover with a Chinese character meaning "happiness". I'm thinking about giving it out for the guests who attend our wedding in France.



Breakfast: bah kut teh
Lunch: fried rice
Snack: sugar can
Dinner: fried long beans, fish, white lotus soup

Hari ke-10: Eating the whole day

I continued my power point presentations and the dialogues for the hosts, while my mother and aunt busy preparing foods for me. During the day I ate fried sweet potatoes, taro cake, lotus soup, guava, fried fish, fried vege and corn soup. There's no clear line between the 3 meals.

Fried sweet potatoes


My father made some Chinese peanut cookies.

First pan fried the peanuts.


Then spread the sesame seeds on a flat table.


Melt the sugar and mixed it with the peanuts. Fried till the combo become sticky, put the combo flat on the table and use a roller to roll it.


Cut the cookies into square shape.

Hari ke-9: Stayed at home

I was so tired of the shopping yesterday that I decided to stay at home, preparing some power point presentations. But of course the food tour will not stop.

Breakfast: Fried noddle with curry sauce + popiah


Lunch: Sweet potatoes soup

Dinner: Red wine chicken, lotus soup and sweet potato's leaves


My mother put some of this in the soup. Yummy.

Hari ke-8: Shopping in KLCC

We went to Suria KLCC for shopping. It was full of peope. I was so tired. Some of the clothes are so expensive that I don't know who can afford to buy them. One Chinese collar red top selling RM6500???

Breakfast: Ubi kayu
Lunch: Mixed rice in KLCC. So expensive RM9.25


Dinner: Pan Mee

Hari ke-7: Dealing with the government agencies

I went to the marriage services office again, and this time she finally accepted the translation made in France. I don't know why she was so strict last time, this time she was easy with me, even agree to process our registration everyday after 3pm, not what she initially said only on Thursday. Anyway, that just made my day! No more hassle between embassies to ask for endorsement.

In the afternoon we went to the transportation department to declare that I have lost my license. I need one more so that I can surround the old one to the French prefecture in exchange of a French driver license. It was full of people and I was really scared when people were pushing each other.

The newspaper talked about that in Malaysia, we can process our passport within a day. Why does France take at least 2 weeks to issue a passport? My sisters were shaking their head, couldn't believe that a first world country will lose to a third world country, as we complaint all the times that our government services are so slow that we will never catch up with the first world countries. We didn't realise that in certain areas we are more efficient.

Breakfast: Dry wantan mee


Lunch: Fried noodles
Dinner: Vegetarian porriage (it's the 15th of lunar calendar so my parents eat only vegetarian foods).

Fruits between meals: Durian, rambutan, jambu air

Day 6: Distributing the invitation cards

It was a public holiday in Malaysia. My family went to distribute the invitation cards. My mother is still hestating whether or not to invite some of the guess. We expect a total of 320 people for the wedding bouquet, which is considered a moderate amount among the Chinese community here.

My nieces came over and together we prepared the powerpoint presentation to be shown during the dinner. They had so many crazy ideas that we were laughing so hard the whole day.

Breakfast: Yee mee

Lunch: pohpia and yam cake, bubble tea


Dinner: Chicken rice

Day 5: Shopping for Jewelry

It's in the Chinese tradition for the family to offer the bride some jewelries, especially from the parents. Sometimes it's from generation to generation, from grandmother to mother to daughter to grand daughter. Since I'm not a big fan of jewelry, my family finds it hard to choose a good wedding present for me. Well, they have already chipped in some money for the wedding, and I really don't want them to spend too much. But everybody was telling me that I'm the youngest in the family so there's no more money spend after me.

The translation issue is getting worst. The Embassy of France in Malaysia won't endorse the translated copy from France. They only endorse the translators who have registered with them. That means we might need to do the translation again in Malaysia. To be endorsed by Embassy of Malaysia in France, the document has to be legalised first from the The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in France.

I managed to drive today. I reminisced the time when I was the driver among friends and was very brave on road. Right now I was too gotten used to the broad roads in US that I'm too scared to drive on tiny little roads in cities in France and some part of Malaysia. Besides, the Malaysian drive on the left hand side with the steering on the right hand side. I always got confused.

Lunch: KFC


Dinner: rice with fried fish, corn soup, fried green leaves...

What is this?

This is what I ate the first day I arrived. New species of seafood.

Day 4: Ear piercing; Weather: Hot

Since most of the wedding accessories come with earrings which require the pierced ears, I decided to have it done today. Most of the girls in Malaysia already done it in their childhood, but I was always not keen on it. Today I was forced to. It was a little bit painful, and I hope the ears won't swollen in the following days.

I spent about 77 euros for a Qi Pao (Chinese traditional cloth), a pair of jeans and 7 tops. It was a nice feeling that I managed to find many clothes I like without paying too much. I went to the Soldes in France and I'm always disappointed. France is considered the country of fashion but I really can't appreciate their tastes.

Foods eaten: Nasi lemak, Yong taufu, cendol, lotus soup, fried fish and fried greenbean.

Day 3: Facial; Weather: Hot; Mood: pissed

Facial is a very important part for the future bride to be, but I'm not very keen on this. It was all arranged by my sister, the appointment, the location. It took 2 hours, I was sleeping most of the time except when she "clean" my face with a tool.

I reserved a bridal photo session. I hate those bargaining, price comparing process. It's wasting time.

Went to the marriage registration office and was told to prepare many stuffs which wasn't shown in their website. The only do this every Thursday so it's really not convenient with our full schedule and trips here and there. When I heard that my FIL paid 52 euros each to translate our marriage cert and birth cert, I was so pissed!!!!! French to English for some certificate, how hard is it, and they are charging an arm and a leg! The worst thing is I still need to go to the French Embassy in Malaysia to get it stamped to justify that it's a correct translation! So piss, I could have done this directly with the Embassy and they will charge only RM66 (around 13 euros). I don't know why my in-laws decided to find a translator in France without telling me, don't they know this is an awefull country to buy services???

Day 2: Still eating

We spent the morning eating bah kut teh, my hometown speciality of a combination of pork+bone+chinese herbs and the drink is usually some tea. My sister's baby slept on her arm and she has to eat with one hand. RM19 = 4.2 euros for 5 adults and 2 kids as breakfast, I will say that it's pretty cheap! Well, this dish is very filling so we didn't have lunch until the night.

Late morning went to see 2 friends from university. I enjoyed the atmosphere, we just talked about whatever we like and in the language I most familiar. No constant brain running about possible mistake in grammer or feminin masculin errors.

Late afternoon, we went to a Buddhist association, Chi Tzi for a greeting/blessing card for the new year. I was bored but then I'm not a very patient person to listen to religious ceremony. This association has done a lot of good works in poor countries, helping victims of natural disasters in every corner of the world, no matter what religious. Helps should be distributed to whoever need them.

A little fashion show at home. It's the clothes huntings session for ladies before the Chinese New Year. My sister was showing her shopping victories. I was enjoying my time with my nieces and nephews, thinking of evil games for my husband on the wedding day. Our best of the day was to spread a layer of bread with sambal (spicy chili sauce), a layer with wasabi and one more with durian (he hates this fruit). I would love to see his face when he gets to eat this! haha

Dinner ended up in a restaurant with speciality of red wine village chicken. Of course it's yummy!

Arrived home: Day 1

So, I arrived in my belove home!

It's 5.25am (10.25pm French time and 3.25pm Texas time). I had slept for 7 hours and couldn't sleep anymore.

The trip started badly. The train was 50 minutes late due to the snow. My flight was scheduled to take off at 2.30pm, and I was supposed to arrive in the airport at 12.20pm by train. I arrived at 1.10pm instead. But the check in was smoothed bcos I had check in online. Bravo Emirates! No queue and no pain. The security check in was fine, just they confiscated my bottle of mineral water. A guy lost his bottle of perfume, too bad, it must be quite expensive!

I liked the foods with Emirates, they served my favorite fish porridge.

I had 3 hours transit time in Dubai. I had an impression that I was in a refugee camp, bcos there are bunch of people sleeping on the floor! I had never seen this before. Most of them are Arabian guys. I managed to take a nap in the quiet room with a comfortable chair. I think not many people can stand this airport if they are deeply convinced that Arabians are terrorists, there are bunch of them here.

Then, I'm quite confused about the ethicnity in Dubai. The flight attendances consisted of white, yellow and brown. In the duty free shops (open at 1am with crowded customers), most of the cashiers are yellow or brown, I almost thought I'm in Malaysia.

When we almost touched down in Kuala Lumpur, the flight attendance gave me the arrival form to fill eventhough I told her that I'm a Malaysian. At the end she gave forms to all Malaysians. I was convinced that I didn't have to fill the form to enter my own country, and I was right. I just put my passport in a machine and put my thumb in the designated spot, and I was off to go. It's technology area man, should have less paperwork whenever possible.

Food tour is already started and I will post some pictures tomorrow. Got to try a new species of seafood.

Going home

The luggages are done. I'm in the mood to go. Will arrive in Malaysia this Saturday. Hope everything goes well: no late train, no strike, no bad weather preventing the flight from taking off.

à bientôt!

Get paid

Well, I got around 500++ from attending the French class. I don't know it's over how long, but it's probably the month December where I didn't miss a class. 21 hours a week. In January I didn't go much, so don't think will get as much.

My husband said go buy something you have been eager to own. My answer: a job :-)

I think I will give it to my mother, I owed her too much.

How should they call each other

My mother in laws asked me how she should call my parents. I said the same generation, call by their name.

Yesterday on the phone, my mother said they should call each other "aunty and uncle". That's how she call the other in laws. She told me that she would never manage to pronounce the French name.

Already, my parents' name are so difficult to call by the French, I don't know whether they accept to call my parents "aunty uncle", or to be called "aunty uncle".

In this issue my mother in laws has put more efforts, at least she has written down every name in my family (18 peoples) and intend to call them by their name. My mother, she doesn't even want to try.

The cute nephew

It was just 8 months ago, he only managed to say: "Papa, mummy, ..."

Yesterday, he was so talkative that he kept grabbing the phone from my mother. He was so eager to talk to me, still remember how I did exercise with him.

I'm so amazed, the differences are so huge. He managed to speak so well now.
"Koko has gone to or or."= Brother has gone to bed
"Koko hit me. "
"Popo hit me."= grandmother hits me.
"I want to drink neng neng" = I want to drink milk.
"I want to take aeroplane."

I have told my husband to learn Mandarin from my nephew, hopefully he manages to take up some phrases with this young kid.

Busy busy

I have been skipping classes for a while, something I never did when I was in the University. One thing is that the classes are not that interesting, second thing my 5 weeks trip to Malaysia is approaching and there are so many things to coordinate between here and Malaysia

Mainly researching on the places I can bring the guests to, and do all the reservations and questioning. I realised that it must be very hard to be a travel agent, as everybody has their own needs, and they have so many questions that I don't know how to answer.

Questions like these: Where, how to exchange money? What to bring? What to wear? Should we have this vaccin? Where to stay? How to address your family? How do we participate in your wedding? ... Sometimes I don't have the answers so I have to call my family, or the travel agency...

Conclusion: I care more that they will enjoy the trip to Malaysia than my own wedding. Afterall, they come all this way to Malaysia, I have they will feel their money worth. :-)

Lost again

I lost my fourth game in the badminton match. But I felt good bcos we played well and my new partner is quite strong. We will make a good team.

At the end of the game, I shaked the hand of one of the girl, and she looked a bit shock. I didn't care bcos I really don't want like kissing people after sport, all those sweats isn't it disgusting? But I have no choice with the second player bcos she approached and kissed me. Yak.

Let it go

I applied for "Assistante Export Import", a course run for 11 months and will have 3 internships including one in a foreign country. I was in the waiting list, then they told me I got accepted.

I was not happy bcos a cruel fact is in front of me: I will be absent for 5 weeks due to my trip to Malaysia, will they accept that?

My husband said there's no way in France you are allowed to be absent from school for so long, his school didn't even let him go for one week when his parents wanted to bring him for vacation.

I went to see the coordinator, and she said no since the beginning. But she will reserve my place for next year.

This is a result of poor planning, my own fault. I don't know why already I put my wedding in Feb, a period where I can't enter University the Sept before bcos in Feb all Universities will start for their second semester already, and then most of the training courses start before Feb.

Basically for this 5 weeks vacations plus wedding, I will waste one school year. Oh what a stupid mistake.

Our bank

As usual my husband took a long time to finally remember to call the bank. And I finally have the courage the call the bank myself. Two persons called for the same purpose, but there's two outcomes.

My experience, I was happy bcos throughout the whole conversations the woman understood me. But, she told me my card wasn't in her system. There's nothing she can do so I need to go to any bank in Nantes to check it out.

From my husband, my card will be working today. They just activated it. They did a maintenance job and my card disappeared from the system. They fixed it already. So it will work.

I don't know what I should feel about it, but the card better work today. I don't like to hear the rejection from my bank again when I pay.

A debit card incident

On Wednesday, the "sales" day where the whole France is crazy about their semi-annual big time sales, I went out to do shopping like every French girls. Since all the shops were crowded, I decided to just do regular grocery shopping.

I got all I wanted and proceeded to the cashier. And then it happened. In front of everybody, my debit card rejected my transaction twice. I have only one debit. So embarrased. The cashier hold all my grocery, and I have to rush to the nearest bank to withdraw money. And it said my card has problem and I need to contact the bank. At the end, my husband came to rescue, but imagine the damage.

Unlike in US, where we can have many credit cards for free, most of the bank services in France cost. So it's not unheard that people only have one card. I know now why people bring their checkbook with them at all times. It's to prevent when your card turn against you and you know for sure you have enough money inside.

Steam inhaler

My mother in-laws taught me how to use this thing. Her equipment isn't that high tech, so we need to boil hot water, and add Balsolene, an oil inside it. Then, I breath through it, the steam really help me breath better, after around 5 minutes, I feel I can breath normally, without the annoying cold.

sick

When the weather turns cold, it's the time for me to get sick. Basically I can't stand the heater. Luckily I brought some medicine with me: Panadol (Tylenol in US) and some Chinese medicines.

The Departed

We went to watch "The Departed" tonight. It's a movie produced by Brad Pitt. He bought the right to reproduce this movie in English, as it's origin is in Cantonese called "Internal Affairs".


Here is the English version played by Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio.


Here is the Cantonese version played by Andy Lau and Tony Leung.

I just want to say, that Andy Lau and Tony Leung look a lot more handsome. Just my personal opinion.

Bonne année Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

We had a party in Rennes. Everybody went to shop for food, and prepared them together. At the end, we were so full with the appetizer, that we didn't have much space for the super good taste duck! Sorry, the French don't eat much turkey.

Christmas meals

The Christmas celebration started on 24 December, including the happy moment of present opening.

The French emphasis a lot on the presentation. So here's their table setting.


We started with a present from our grandmother. Good chocolat inside!


Champagne + yummy food + warm fire = nice Christmas night


My mother in-laws made this foie gras with apple, yummy.


Oyster is on the menu.


Langoustin on the menu.


We couldn't wait until the end of the meal to open our presents, which are already sitting besides our shoes (it's in the French tradition to put a shoe under the Christmas tree, and everybody will put the present beside the shoe), so each person goes pick up a present for everybody. For the first round, we got some cookies, second round we offered the present, third round we got more presents... these are some of my presents, including the Orang Utan...



More seafood, the scallop from my father in laws.


More presents flew in, from now on we will have our own chairs!


Dessert: The Christmas cake made by my mother in laws.


This year's meal was definitely lighter, so we didn't feel that full full. It's was great bcos we need to have some space for the second day Christmas lunch. haha

Christmas day lunch: Entree


Chicken and chestnut, a must for the lunch.

Christmas Deco

My brother in laws took his time to decorate the Christmas tree with the santons (religious statues) and the characters from Brittany.



Jesus is borned

Grandmother and Chinese soup opera

Through subscription to Freebox, I got 14 channels of Chinese program.

My husband's grandmother is here for the holiday, and she was watching the Chinese soup opera with me. She keep asking me what's going on, apparently she loves TV, but the French soups are just too boring. It's very interesting for her to see those people wearing in weird costumes. She's just funny.

Mes belles grand-mères? (My grandmother in laws)

In French, mother in laws = belle mère (beautiful mother), father in laws = beau père (handsome father), sister in laws = belle soeur (beautiful sister), is my grandmother in laws = ma belle grand-mère (my beautiful grandmother)?

The answer is no. When I asked my husband's grandmothers about this, they were laughing and couldn't accept to be called "beautiful grandmother". Even though they are both beautiful and sweet.

Christmas Party

We had a Christmas party in the class today. Imagine those foods from 4 continents: Europe, Asia, Africa and America.



Some desserts and some French cheeses



Foods from different countries



The Vietnameses took their time to decorate their foods



A fashion show from Asia: Vietnamese, Malaysians and Thailand

I had the honour to be one of the host of the program of the day, with my broken French I presented Malaysia as well. The highlight was when the Brazilians demonstrate the Capoeira, something like Brazilian Kung Fu. Everybody had fun!

English Test

After 5 years in USA, I thought that my English level is not bad, or good compare to the French.

Today, I have an English test, and I would say I didn't do as good as I could. Already, I'm confused between when to use "have been" and "had been", and I was tested these grammers thingy in one of the section. I have less problem for the proposition, but at the section about the nationality, I couldn't remember how a person from Copenhagen is called? Man, you need to know all the cities in Europe to be able to answer these questions.

Then, translate an article in English to French. The article was about being vegetarian in UK. Phew, my French is so broken that I wish the English professor who will correct it will know immediately that I'm a foreigner.

The next section was to write an essay, and I chosed to write about France and the French. But, I didn't have enough time, so I only wrote like 8 lines while it requires 15 lines.

The last section is the most rediculous test I have ever seen. We were given a floor plan of a company, and staff D, E, F, G, H were indicated where they seat. The question is to place Mr A, B and C, among all the empty desks on the floor plan. There are a bunch of empty seats and I have no idea where these misters should be placed! There is no other indication for it. I saw two boxes with a human picture in it, so I put them there, but I guess those human pictures indicate toilettes now. Phew. I asked a French girl and she said she had no idea either and she just left it blank. No wonder they all finished the test before me.

Go take a course and get paid!

France is a socialist country, so it exists many benefits for the French and it's permanent residents.

I hate people who abuse and rely on the benefit system, but it can really help people who are seriously in need.

For example, as an unemployed resident, you get a transportation card from the townhall, then you can go anyway in the city for free, by using the public transportation system. It's easy to go for job interview, or training classes. You won't hide yourself at home to try to save some money, instead you can still enjoy life like the others.

Recently, I found out courses that are designed for the unemployed. You need to pay some fees, but you will get paid every month, from the unemployment agencies. For example, I found this export import course, 10 months for 900 euros, but each month you will get paid around 600 euros. This course require the student to do an internship oversea for at least 5 weeks, and I'm not sure whether the student will get paid for the housing and expenses overseas. Anyway, the woman I talked to said that there exist a fund specifically for the foreigners, so there should be no problem for me to get paid.

Unfortunately, the class starts in January, and I need to be absented for 5 weeks in February to go to Malaysia. This trip is fixed, with 11 more French all excited to go with me, so I can't pull it out. Tant pis pour moi.

Nantes at war!

Yesterday when I was walking downtown Nantes, I saw some smokes scattered around, with firecrackers sound everyway. I thought that Nantes is at war.



Che, it was only a strike organized by the fire fighters.



It reminded me of Chinese New Year in Malaysia. I saw one fire fighter lighting a fire cracker that looked like what I used to play in Malaysia. I love the convivial atmosphere like this: for celebration, not for strike. A strike is annoying when everybody is doing it at anytime at any cost of others.

My first Christmas tree

I have never planned to have a Christmas tree at home, bcos it takes some space and it's not a big deal to me.

However, when my father in laws gave us this, we were really excited. My husband missed his Christmas decor, it was a nice moment decorating the tree. The second day, my father in-laws came with the bulk lights, and the tree becomes very beautiful.

In the French tradition, a Christmas tree comes with la créche, the scene when Jesus was born. It usually have some sheeps, the 3 kings, the virgin Mary and her husband Joseph, and some characters I don't know. The baby Jesus is supposed to be added in on Christmas day, but we put him there already. We are not that religious anyway. My father in-laws actually modified the whole scene last year by adding some boats as if Jesus was borned in an harbour of Brittany.

It's not bad to have some decor. I'm just too lazy to do the Christmas shopping, thinking of gifts that will please everybody. They should probably learn from the Chinese, just give the red envelope (with money inside), so that people will save the money in the bank (instead of receiving gifts that he/she doesn't like or won't use), or use the money to buy what they need.

I start to understand why I'm so practical, the Chinese tradition has sure been seeded and grown in me.

Hunting for apartment

We have kind of decided to buy an apartment, instead of waiting for me to get a job and then buy a new house. My husband is quite sad to let go the idea of a house with a garden, but there is no other choice.

So, the hunting process started. With him working in Rennes, I have to do everything by myself. I search through the Ouest France website and sent emails to several agents, but only one replied me. Apparently the agents here don't work well with email. I have to visit them one by one, not something I'm looking forward to.

I'm not very motivated by this task, mainly bcos I don't like the apartment in France. I hate those corridor and tiny rooms and closed kitchen. I loved my big bedroom and closet in Austin. All my friends in Malaysia bought their apartment or house newly built, and I know I could afford one myself if I work there. It's just sad to realise that this country's salary is so low that to own a spacious apartment you will need two salaries.

Disappointed

I found a super good course with the Chamber of Commerce in Nantes. It's in the field of International Business (Export). From their site, I'm qualified for this course, and it's remunerated, which means I might be able to have the class for free. One of the requirements is to be able to speak English and a second language. I thought Chinese will do. This course is interesting because the students will have 3 weeks of courses in the center, then 2 weeks of practical training in a company. Every 3 months they will have a mission in a company. By the end of this course, the students will have the theorical and practical part cover.

Last Friday I went to get more information, and realised that they added more requirements, which are different from what I saw in the website. Basically, the applicant needs to have worked at least 3 months in France. Too bad, but then I thought that I can try to argue about this. The person in charged had left work at 5pm, and I was told to come back Monday at 5pm.

So today, I went, and the person in charge refused to see me. The receptionist was on phone with her, and I was told that I need to have an appointment. Worst, second language for them mean either Spanish or German. The receptionist said that I shouldn't even try since I don't speak neither Spanish nor German.

It's a very discouraging country. No matter how many languages I speak, it's still not good enough for them. They really try to make my life miserable. With the boombing business relationship with Asia especially China, Why can't they accept someone who speak Chinese to do this course?

Joyeux anniversaire

I'm 30 today. My parents in-laws come to celebrate with me. They gave me a check to buy a pair of boots which I have been looking for a long time. I have never worn any boots before and I don't really like the feeling of wearing it (when I try them). But, instead of wearing jeans all the times, it's good to wear some skirts. In this time boots are very useful to cover the legs during the winter.

I hope I will wear more variety of clothes in my 30ths.

I desperately hope I can have a clearer future for my career.

Happy birthday to me.