Went to work early in the morning before 9am so that I can check my subject registration. Wayne helped me do the registration in SG and I got everything I wanted. Next semester would be quite “xiong” for me as I have 3 night classes, 2 ending at 2030 and one at 2130. Thinking about life in SG, I find that I have to rush and do a lot of things back then and still I find that time is not enough. When I was in hall, no matter how fast I do my stuffs, it would be 1am soon, which is very late for me. Here in France, it seems like everything has slowed down. It is as if I have 30 hrs per day. I work at a relaxing pace, I walk slowly, I eat slowly, and yet I felt I have done and learn a lot of things. Well, just some weird thoughts.
At lunch, a lady joined us and she is a new member of our team. Her name is Carole. She is French and so everyone at the table was speaking in French. Suddenly, she asked about my work here and I explained to her. I explained in just 2 sentences, smiled at her and continued with my food. Somehow, for don’t know what reason, I didn’t feel like talking to her. Haha. PMS. Feeling bad, I told her I just did the presentation to the team and too bad she came a little bit late. Still, I don’t know why I wasn’t interested in knowing her. For lunch, we had veal. I have not come across the word “veal” until Mr. Giant told me it means the young of a cow. It was called something else in French. But really, one new English word for me. But quite disgusting to eat a baby cow. I just used the MS Words thesaurus and it says “animal protein” and can be any meat.
After lunch, I went to the bank to ask about the closing of my bank account. I asked the lady if I can speak in English. She replied in French, “yes, but I will answer in French.” Kao. This I can understand but it was really too direct. Anyway I gave it a try and asked her if I can close my account one month after I leave. She replied in French and I told her I don’t understand. She didn’t make any effort to try in English or refer me to other English speaking personnel. She just kept explaining. Luckily, there was a customer behind me who speaks English. She helped to translate for me. In the end, the info I got was that I can close it one month after, but on that day when I told them to close it at a future date, I have to surrender my card and check book. It is also possible to transfer the money to POSB bank. I wanted to do it on the spot there since I got an English-speaking customer to help me. Then I thought I can’t do that as I will most likely need my card when I go Germany. It will be more convenient.
Back in the office, I thought about the bank issue and felt that there were still some things I needed to clarify. In the end, I ask Laurent to call to the bank for me to ask about the procedure of international transfer. He helped me enthusiastically and this was what I got: I go to the bank to close the account and return the card and check book. Tell them to close it at a future date. When I am back in SG, check if the 130 euros deposit is in the account. Then, fax a letter to the bank telling them to transfer the money to POSB bank by giving them the details. This is a lot of trouble. Laurent said don’t worry. If I can’t get my money back in SG, just email him and he will go down to the bank and settle for me. Thanks buddy. But the best solution is INSA pay me back my 130 euros now!
So, at around 4pm, Laurent and I went to INSA. He needed to settle some admin and apply his CAF while I needed him to ask the lady there for me. In the end, Laurent was too tied up with his admin and I had to speak to that lady myself again. She said in a defensive tone that she will see her superior tomorrow and asked me to come back at around 11am tomorrow. She also told me that I cannot leave earlier than 17 June. Not sure if that has anything to do with my money. But tomorrow I will have an answer. Please let me have my money back so that I can avoid a lot of trouble closing my bank account. Towards the end of the day, I finally finished my second draft of my paper and sent it to Anatole.
I stayed back in the office to surf the net for awhile and chatting with my twin “sister”. She wished me a Happy BDay in advance. Same to her. Back in INSA, I went to the kitchen to cook noodles and saw this tall Indian guy drinking beer. I have seen him before in IRISA and knew he is one of the few new Indian guys who just came. While I was waiting for the water to boil, he talked to me in English. Soon we were chatting and 2 of his Indian friends came. One of them was from my project team because I remember seeing him during my presentation. His name is Mustafa, the only name among the 3 which I can remember. And of course the reason is obvious. When I said I was from a uni in SG, they all said NUS. Wah Lew! Then I told them NTU and they have not heard of it. Then I said Nanyang and immediately it rings a bell. I think NTU should really change back to its original name Nanyang University. Anyway, I always say I am from “Nan Da” and not “Nan Yang Li Gong Da Xue”. So we were chatting quite happily in the kitchen for about 30 min. It is nice to know more foreigners here but still it would be better if I can know some Singaporeans. But quite pointless now since I am leaving soon.
At lunch, a lady joined us and she is a new member of our team. Her name is Carole. She is French and so everyone at the table was speaking in French. Suddenly, she asked about my work here and I explained to her. I explained in just 2 sentences, smiled at her and continued with my food. Somehow, for don’t know what reason, I didn’t feel like talking to her. Haha. PMS. Feeling bad, I told her I just did the presentation to the team and too bad she came a little bit late. Still, I don’t know why I wasn’t interested in knowing her. For lunch, we had veal. I have not come across the word “veal” until Mr. Giant told me it means the young of a cow. It was called something else in French. But really, one new English word for me. But quite disgusting to eat a baby cow. I just used the MS Words thesaurus and it says “animal protein” and can be any meat.
After lunch, I went to the bank to ask about the closing of my bank account. I asked the lady if I can speak in English. She replied in French, “yes, but I will answer in French.” Kao. This I can understand but it was really too direct. Anyway I gave it a try and asked her if I can close my account one month after I leave. She replied in French and I told her I don’t understand. She didn’t make any effort to try in English or refer me to other English speaking personnel. She just kept explaining. Luckily, there was a customer behind me who speaks English. She helped to translate for me. In the end, the info I got was that I can close it one month after, but on that day when I told them to close it at a future date, I have to surrender my card and check book. It is also possible to transfer the money to POSB bank. I wanted to do it on the spot there since I got an English-speaking customer to help me. Then I thought I can’t do that as I will most likely need my card when I go Germany. It will be more convenient.
Back in the office, I thought about the bank issue and felt that there were still some things I needed to clarify. In the end, I ask Laurent to call to the bank for me to ask about the procedure of international transfer. He helped me enthusiastically and this was what I got: I go to the bank to close the account and return the card and check book. Tell them to close it at a future date. When I am back in SG, check if the 130 euros deposit is in the account. Then, fax a letter to the bank telling them to transfer the money to POSB bank by giving them the details. This is a lot of trouble. Laurent said don’t worry. If I can’t get my money back in SG, just email him and he will go down to the bank and settle for me. Thanks buddy. But the best solution is INSA pay me back my 130 euros now!
So, at around 4pm, Laurent and I went to INSA. He needed to settle some admin and apply his CAF while I needed him to ask the lady there for me. In the end, Laurent was too tied up with his admin and I had to speak to that lady myself again. She said in a defensive tone that she will see her superior tomorrow and asked me to come back at around 11am tomorrow. She also told me that I cannot leave earlier than 17 June. Not sure if that has anything to do with my money. But tomorrow I will have an answer. Please let me have my money back so that I can avoid a lot of trouble closing my bank account. Towards the end of the day, I finally finished my second draft of my paper and sent it to Anatole.
I stayed back in the office to surf the net for awhile and chatting with my twin “sister”. She wished me a Happy BDay in advance. Same to her. Back in INSA, I went to the kitchen to cook noodles and saw this tall Indian guy drinking beer. I have seen him before in IRISA and knew he is one of the few new Indian guys who just came. While I was waiting for the water to boil, he talked to me in English. Soon we were chatting and 2 of his Indian friends came. One of them was from my project team because I remember seeing him during my presentation. His name is Mustafa, the only name among the 3 which I can remember. And of course the reason is obvious. When I said I was from a uni in SG, they all said NUS. Wah Lew! Then I told them NTU and they have not heard of it. Then I said Nanyang and immediately it rings a bell. I think NTU should really change back to its original name Nanyang University. Anyway, I always say I am from “Nan Da” and not “Nan Yang Li Gong Da Xue”. So we were chatting quite happily in the kitchen for about 30 min. It is nice to know more foreigners here but still it would be better if I can know some Singaporeans. But quite pointless now since I am leaving soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment