All Saints' Day Holiday: Oct 25 - Nov 6
Christmas Holiday: Dec 20 - Jan 5
Winter Holiday: Feb 21 - March 9
Spring Holiday: April 18 - May 4
Monday, September 29, 2008
Q & A letter to my parents (which basically sums up my past few days in more detail)
(In italics are parts of my parents' letter to me. And yes, it was numbered.)
Hi Pa/Ma,
I've played with the clock and I still can't quite figure out how to adjust the time; the beeping at every button i push though quickly eats away at my patience too so that could be a reason why I haven't figured it out yet.
1)What did you eat for your three meals?
1) So far I've been eating simple stuff, haven't cooked much. Mmm beef ravioli and some pasta sauce, croissant and coffee, pizza, sandwiches etc. I started to really crave hamburgers though. Want to send a cheeseburger over? ^_^ I haven't completely ventured out to try all the food possibilities here yet especially because since it's a small city everything closes down between 12 and 2 for lunch break. And when I mean everything, EVERYTHING.. eesh, I'm starting to imagine how fun it must have been for icia in New Mexico. Least everyone there spoke english though! So yeah, by the time I get hungry and I don't have anything in my fridge and i wander out, lots of things close. I know now that I shouldn't go out around those hours. It's sooo annoying. EVERYTHING!! =(
2)What is the best time to call you with the tel.# you had provided Papa Mama?
2) My host mother's in Canada until the 18th, my host sisters live elsewhere but pop in every once in a while because their children go to school near here, my host brother is pretty much out all day, so I basically have the house to myself. Which is good and bad. VERY lonely after a while though. So i go out and wander around town or take the train out to Paris, but even so, traveling alone is quite lonely. Mm.. I can't give mama/papa a good estimate of what time to call me. I'll usually be home around 6pm on (9am for CA) and I've been waking up around 8am too (11pm but that might be too late for mama/papa) I'm looking into buying a prepaid phone plan here, but I'm waiting for someone to come with me just so they can talk about the specifics since I don't know all the terminology yet. (Man, today looking for a surge protector was sooo difficult! I even looked up what a surge protector was in french first, but the guys at the store still didn't understand what it was. I was starting to think that they don't use surge protectors at all.. which then would have saved me and the guys at the store who were trying to help A LOT of confusion. *edit* I just asked my roommate about surge protectors and he says that the electricity here is pretty stable so I won't need one. I'll look into this further.)
3) if you feel lonely, did you email your doggy brother or doggy sisters? (Good buddy buddies, in Chinese "Goh Hsung Goh Dee",) Tell them get over there to visit you some time.
3) I've spoken to some of my friends since I've been here but it's rather limited still. Which is I suppose also a good thing. A number of them are on during the mornings or in the evenings so I get a chance to talk to them on Skype. Then there are those who are never online to begin with, mainly my socal friends. Funny how my norcal friends are so addicted to the internet with Silicon Valley being right there. =) Ask Shanley about Skype and then Mama/Papa can use it too instead of long distance calls.
4)When does your teaching work start?
4) Tomorrow my supervisor (maybe, I'm actually not quite sure what she is to me) will take me to my school to get a tour around and then orientation will be on Oct 2nd which probably means either we start that following Friday or the following Monday. Either way it'll be soon which will be great because the less occupied I am the unhappier I become. =T
5) If stupid French people jokes about your last name "CHIEN", tell them you are a flying dog flying across the Atlantic Ocean to kick their butts, so what?!
5) =) No one's made any comment of my last name yet. My host family (of the ones I've met so far) are rather pleasant. If they've said anything about my last name then I haven't heard it to my face (or they've said it in french and too quickly for me to understand. In that case, it serves me right to not be good enough in french to have a retort at hand ^_^) Though at the store today (what seems to be the french version of a Costco or Sams Club) the moment I turned into an aisle a woman who was saying something to her friend saw me, immediately stopped mid-sentence, turned and whispered something to her friend and both started staring. Very strange. If you're going to whisper and talk behind my back at least be more discrete about it! Eesh. Honestly I don't care if they say anything since I didn't do anything, but geez.. freaking obvious!
6) Practice more of your French. In Chinese "Shu Dao Yong Shieh Fang Heng Shaou", meaning, Hate once learnt too little when now come to use it. Like your French language.
Shu: book
Dao: come to
Yong: to use
Shieh: the moment
Fan: so as; then
Heng: to hate
Shaou: little.
6) Not to worry, I'm practicing my french. I'm understanding more and more of each conversation i hear. It's still a bit difficult when they speak fast, but it's getting there. Again, technical terms and specifics are rather hard seeing as I didn't learn everything in class, but of those I've talked to, they've been really friendly about helping me. My host brother's very patient with my french too. He understands a bit more english than his sisters so it helps significantly in conversational progression.
6b) Papa's translation sucks! I'm still staring at it and I don't quite understand it. Tsk tsk, what bad grammar! ;-)
On a happier note, things are looking up. Though, fall and then winter are around the corner things might take a quick turn to more grumblings from me. A California girl only has so many warm articles of clothing!! >_< But again in light of that, it seems as though I've been wearing less clothes than the french. I'll be walking around in a t-shirt and jeans with a jacket in my backpack while everyone else is still wearing those jackets! Dunno... perhaps I still need to adjust to the climate?
ps.
What I need so far:
- sushi
- warm beaches
- california sun
- cheeseburgers
- american tv shows!!!
Hi Pa/Ma,
I've played with the clock and I still can't quite figure out how to adjust the time; the beeping at every button i push though quickly eats away at my patience too so that could be a reason why I haven't figured it out yet.
1)What did you eat for your three meals?
1) So far I've been eating simple stuff, haven't cooked much. Mmm beef ravioli and some pasta sauce, croissant and coffee, pizza, sandwiches etc. I started to really crave hamburgers though. Want to send a cheeseburger over? ^_^ I haven't completely ventured out to try all the food possibilities here yet especially because since it's a small city everything closes down between 12 and 2 for lunch break. And when I mean everything, EVERYTHING.. eesh, I'm starting to imagine how fun it must have been for icia in New Mexico. Least everyone there spoke english though! So yeah, by the time I get hungry and I don't have anything in my fridge and i wander out, lots of things close. I know now that I shouldn't go out around those hours. It's sooo annoying. EVERYTHING!! =(
2)What is the best time to call you with the tel.# you had provided Papa Mama?
2) My host mother's in Canada until the 18th, my host sisters live elsewhere but pop in every once in a while because their children go to school near here, my host brother is pretty much out all day, so I basically have the house to myself. Which is good and bad. VERY lonely after a while though. So i go out and wander around town or take the train out to Paris, but even so, traveling alone is quite lonely. Mm.. I can't give mama/papa a good estimate of what time to call me. I'll usually be home around 6pm on (9am for CA) and I've been waking up around 8am too (11pm but that might be too late for mama/papa) I'm looking into buying a prepaid phone plan here, but I'm waiting for someone to come with me just so they can talk about the specifics since I don't know all the terminology yet. (Man, today looking for a surge protector was sooo difficult! I even looked up what a surge protector was in french first, but the guys at the store still didn't understand what it was. I was starting to think that they don't use surge protectors at all.. which then would have saved me and the guys at the store who were trying to help A LOT of confusion. *edit* I just asked my roommate about surge protectors and he says that the electricity here is pretty stable so I won't need one. I'll look into this further.)
3) if you feel lonely, did you email your doggy brother or doggy sisters? (Good buddy buddies, in Chinese "Goh Hsung Goh Dee",) Tell them get over there to visit you some time.
3) I've spoken to some of my friends since I've been here but it's rather limited still. Which is I suppose also a good thing. A number of them are on during the mornings or in the evenings so I get a chance to talk to them on Skype. Then there are those who are never online to begin with, mainly my socal friends. Funny how my norcal friends are so addicted to the internet with Silicon Valley being right there. =) Ask Shanley about Skype and then Mama/Papa can use it too instead of long distance calls.
4)When does your teaching work start?
4) Tomorrow my supervisor (maybe, I'm actually not quite sure what she is to me) will take me to my school to get a tour around and then orientation will be on Oct 2nd which probably means either we start that following Friday or the following Monday. Either way it'll be soon which will be great because the less occupied I am the unhappier I become. =T
5) If stupid French people jokes about your last name "CHIEN", tell them you are a flying dog flying across the Atlantic Ocean to kick their butts, so what?!
5) =) No one's made any comment of my last name yet. My host family (of the ones I've met so far) are rather pleasant. If they've said anything about my last name then I haven't heard it to my face (or they've said it in french and too quickly for me to understand. In that case, it serves me right to not be good enough in french to have a retort at hand ^_^) Though at the store today (what seems to be the french version of a Costco or Sams Club) the moment I turned into an aisle a woman who was saying something to her friend saw me, immediately stopped mid-sentence, turned and whispered something to her friend and both started staring. Very strange. If you're going to whisper and talk behind my back at least be more discrete about it! Eesh. Honestly I don't care if they say anything since I didn't do anything, but geez.. freaking obvious!
6) Practice more of your French. In Chinese "Shu Dao Yong Shieh Fang Heng Shaou", meaning, Hate once learnt too little when now come to use it. Like your French language.
Shu: book
Dao: come to
Yong: to use
Shieh: the moment
Fan: so as; then
Heng: to hate
Shaou: little.
6) Not to worry, I'm practicing my french. I'm understanding more and more of each conversation i hear. It's still a bit difficult when they speak fast, but it's getting there. Again, technical terms and specifics are rather hard seeing as I didn't learn everything in class, but of those I've talked to, they've been really friendly about helping me. My host brother's very patient with my french too. He understands a bit more english than his sisters so it helps significantly in conversational progression.
6b) Papa's translation sucks! I'm still staring at it and I don't quite understand it. Tsk tsk, what bad grammar! ;-)
On a happier note, things are looking up. Though, fall and then winter are around the corner things might take a quick turn to more grumblings from me. A California girl only has so many warm articles of clothing!! >_< But again in light of that, it seems as though I've been wearing less clothes than the french. I'll be walking around in a t-shirt and jeans with a jacket in my backpack while everyone else is still wearing those jackets! Dunno... perhaps I still need to adjust to the climate?
ps.
What I need so far:
- sushi
- warm beaches
- california sun
- cheeseburgers
- american tv shows!!!
Day #5 in France
It's cold and foggy here and I can barely see the other side of the river.
Finally, some pictures! It's about time right? =)
Finally, some pictures! It's about time right? =)
Saturday, September 27, 2008
The first few days
It's now day three in my French escapades and I must say, how lonely it is to travel on your own! After a very frustrating first day in which I landed, realized I was missing a luggage only to find out that it was left in DC, then with the help of the very helpful baggage claim representative, found the bus I was supposed to take to Creil, then to reach my place only to find no one there, and that no one would arrive for the next 45 minutes while I go about in my broken french trying to find someone who had a phone I could borrow, and then finally get in to my place once the lady arrives with her daughter, only to realize that I don't understand about 75% of what's being said at me, so I smile and nod like an idiot, then unpack and sleep and rest and whatnot, and then a second day where my second luggage finally comes! but unfortunately it has no handles anymore (thus its extended stay in DC), and I find out that I need multiple papers before I get my official stay in France "carte de sejour", and then I sleep more, finally, I realize on my third day here that traveling alone off in a very distant country is downright lonely and sad. =( It's nice for a while, but then you realize that there's no one to enjoy it with you! Alas, the downside to this choice I've made...
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Countdown
2 more days until France! I suppose I should be completely done packing by now? And completely ready to fly over and start new? Eesh.. I'm completely not...
Thursday, September 18, 2008
On Packing
How on earth am I supposed to pack 7 months worth of life into two luggages? Especially with winter clothes to bring along??
*sigh* Packing for France seems to be an adventure in itself.
Countdown to France: 6 days
*sigh* Packing for France seems to be an adventure in itself.
Countdown to France: 6 days
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
My Last Weekend in the Bay Area
"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings."
~Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
The past weekend up north was spent with close friends doing some things that I love: dancing, rock climbing, going to museums, and above all, eating. I felt bad not having anyone and everyone who would be able to make the weekend’s adventures with me, but honestly I loved the intimacy of the small group. I enjoyed sitting at a small table and talking of silly things. I loved how there would only be one conversation at the table. I loved the quality time. I wish I could have had more little outings.
Thursday night held the fun and excitement of the Latin dance. To be swept up in the arms of a man and led through spins and turns and the wonderful sexy appeal of salsa is completely mesmerizing. With rich music filling the crowded dance floor and the eager dancers anxiously trying to grab some prime dancing space, one’s body can’t help but begin to sway to the strong beats. A twinkle in the eyes, a smile playing on the lips, hips swaying with the sounds of the guitar and the trumpet, and the room is filled with a sensual desire for another song, another dance. Ah, it was amazing to see how many wonderful salsa dancers were strutting their stuff on the dance floor enjoying the atmosphere and the company of fellow salsa fanatics.
After salsa comes indoor rock climbing. What a wonderful feeling it is as you are faced with a wall to climb, ponder possible routes, test them out and rethink your methods, and ultimately reach the top. It was so much fun just climbing those walls and watching my sister, Mark, and Howard climb them as well. I definitely want to be able to climb the harder ones soon. Though I’m sure that a few more inches to my height would definitely help a lot with the tougher routes. =)
Then comes the Chihuly exhibit at the de Young museum! Such an amazing collection of artifacts and paintings there, and the observation deck gave such a wonderful view of San Francisco. Unfortunately the view of the Golden Gate Bridge was obstructed by the Presidio. Man, glass blowing seems like such an amazing skill. To be able to manipulate glass like that and create such colorful and artistic creations is amazingly breathtaking. Chihuly’s glass chandeliers were so beautiful though I still find his “boat of scraps” rather amusing. “Ah, I don’t know where these fit in to my final masterpiece, but it’s too good to waste! I’ll put it in a boat and make it another display in my exhibit! Awesome!” Though I’m sure that’s not the exact thoughts that went through his head. ^_~
Mmm.. even still with all the things planned, there were still many gaps during the days, and what better way to fill in the gaps of my days than with food! Boba! Sushi! Xiao long baos! Italian! Mediterranean! Ice cream! Mmm.. ice cream! Yum yum! =) I must say, some of my best times are with food. Satsuma sushi, Sushi Tomi, Zibibo, Kingfish, Verde, Su Hong, Shanghai Dumpling King, Banana Leaf, Paxti, Fuki Sushi, Tofu House, Gelayo Gusto, any yummy sushi place… *sigh* deeee-lish!
Alas, even through all the merriment and food, the grey realization still hung over our heads. In a few days I would drive down to LA and then a few days after that I would be leaving for France. While all the dancers are dancing merrily about the dance floor, their arms constantly entangled in time with the music, I knew that this would be my last dance with my salsa partner for several months. I would not have my boba runs, froyo runs, foreign/indie movie outings, vespa rides, and random group outings with the many friends I have made and come to love. Mm.. the need to busy myself with distractions is again upon me.
Countdown to France: 8 days
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings."
~Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
The past weekend up north was spent with close friends doing some things that I love: dancing, rock climbing, going to museums, and above all, eating. I felt bad not having anyone and everyone who would be able to make the weekend’s adventures with me, but honestly I loved the intimacy of the small group. I enjoyed sitting at a small table and talking of silly things. I loved how there would only be one conversation at the table. I loved the quality time. I wish I could have had more little outings.
Thursday night held the fun and excitement of the Latin dance. To be swept up in the arms of a man and led through spins and turns and the wonderful sexy appeal of salsa is completely mesmerizing. With rich music filling the crowded dance floor and the eager dancers anxiously trying to grab some prime dancing space, one’s body can’t help but begin to sway to the strong beats. A twinkle in the eyes, a smile playing on the lips, hips swaying with the sounds of the guitar and the trumpet, and the room is filled with a sensual desire for another song, another dance. Ah, it was amazing to see how many wonderful salsa dancers were strutting their stuff on the dance floor enjoying the atmosphere and the company of fellow salsa fanatics.
After salsa comes indoor rock climbing. What a wonderful feeling it is as you are faced with a wall to climb, ponder possible routes, test them out and rethink your methods, and ultimately reach the top. It was so much fun just climbing those walls and watching my sister, Mark, and Howard climb them as well. I definitely want to be able to climb the harder ones soon. Though I’m sure that a few more inches to my height would definitely help a lot with the tougher routes. =)
Then comes the Chihuly exhibit at the de Young museum! Such an amazing collection of artifacts and paintings there, and the observation deck gave such a wonderful view of San Francisco. Unfortunately the view of the Golden Gate Bridge was obstructed by the Presidio. Man, glass blowing seems like such an amazing skill. To be able to manipulate glass like that and create such colorful and artistic creations is amazingly breathtaking. Chihuly’s glass chandeliers were so beautiful though I still find his “boat of scraps” rather amusing. “Ah, I don’t know where these fit in to my final masterpiece, but it’s too good to waste! I’ll put it in a boat and make it another display in my exhibit! Awesome!” Though I’m sure that’s not the exact thoughts that went through his head. ^_~
Mmm.. even still with all the things planned, there were still many gaps during the days, and what better way to fill in the gaps of my days than with food! Boba! Sushi! Xiao long baos! Italian! Mediterranean! Ice cream! Mmm.. ice cream! Yum yum! =) I must say, some of my best times are with food. Satsuma sushi, Sushi Tomi, Zibibo, Kingfish, Verde, Su Hong, Shanghai Dumpling King, Banana Leaf, Paxti, Fuki Sushi, Tofu House, Gelayo Gusto, any yummy sushi place… *sigh* deeee-lish!
Alas, even through all the merriment and food, the grey realization still hung over our heads. In a few days I would drive down to LA and then a few days after that I would be leaving for France. While all the dancers are dancing merrily about the dance floor, their arms constantly entangled in time with the music, I knew that this would be my last dance with my salsa partner for several months. I would not have my boba runs, froyo runs, foreign/indie movie outings, vespa rides, and random group outings with the many friends I have made and come to love. Mm.. the need to busy myself with distractions is again upon me.
Countdown to France: 8 days
Monday, September 15, 2008
Back in LA
After an extremely long drive, I'm back in LA with all my belongings. First off, I'd like to say that I'm rather impressed with the fact that all my stuff fit into my car. My little '92 Honda Accord. =) How you have been good to me. After two years in the wonderful Bay Area, I've managed to accumulate quite a bit, and thanks to Goodwill who has so kindly taken some of my belongings, and to Howard for keeping a little at his place, all the rest of my stuff is now back in southern California with my parents. Now to sort it all out and figure out what I want to bring with me, or rather, what I can bring with me.
Secondly, I'm so glad my sister came up to help with loading my car and keeping me company on such a long drive back down. Well, being 6 hours, I suppose it wasn't tooo bad. Google says it should take 5hrs and 51 min, or 7hrs 4omin in traffic, so my time was rather good. =)
Thirdly,
... I'll finish later; I'm exhausted.
Secondly, I'm so glad my sister came up to help with loading my car and keeping me company on such a long drive back down. Well, being 6 hours, I suppose it wasn't tooo bad. Google says it should take 5hrs and 51 min, or 7hrs 4omin in traffic, so my time was rather good. =)
Thirdly,
... I'll finish later; I'm exhausted.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Countdown #2
to LA: 2 days
to France: 12 days
oh what an idiot.. i can't believe i counted incorrectly, leaving for LA on the 14th not the 13th. eesh... suddenly i'm hoping that time went by a bit faster and the 24th was here already..
to France: 12 days
oh what an idiot.. i can't believe i counted incorrectly, leaving for LA on the 14th not the 13th. eesh... suddenly i'm hoping that time went by a bit faster and the 24th was here already..
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
On Traveling
In a few days I'll be down in LA again and then to France, leaving behind all the people that I saw on a regular basis for several months. As nice as it is to travel off to France as I've always wanted to do, the idea of changing my daily routine and my weekly activities is rather scary. With the help of others around me, I have created a very comfortable environment in which I can gladly call home. The people I have seen and the things that I have done have been so source of happiness and contentment. But alas, now I am giving up the comforts of my Bay Area home to travel overseas and start afresh. Given, it isn't an unusual occurrence -- it has been done before: college, post-college, and now -- and it's definitely something many, if not all, people experience several times in their lifetime. Though no matter how many times it gets done, the act of uprooting oneself from a place that is comfortable and being transported into something unfamiliar and different will always be, in a sense, jarring. Upon arrival in France, I fear many things, including starting over, adjusting, getting along with people, and especially getting lost. (Plus, what will I do without my beloved sushi and boba drinks?? >_<)
Ah, the trials and challenges of starting somewhere else.. But then again... what is life if not full of new experiences and adventure? What are we humans if not thrill seekers and travelers and seafarers and adventurers? Alas, the world is ours for the taking, and now, well... =)
- countdown -
to LA: 3 days
to France: 14 days
Ah, the trials and challenges of starting somewhere else.. But then again... what is life if not full of new experiences and adventure? What are we humans if not thrill seekers and travelers and seafarers and adventurers? Alas, the world is ours for the taking, and now, well... =)
- countdown -
to LA: 3 days
to France: 14 days
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
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