This morning I woke up feeling refreshed and energized. Last night I had the best sleep ever since I came here. Even though there were people partying along the corridor after midnight, blowing those toys that would make a sound and extend outward. I didn’t wake up in the middle of the night shivering like I did before. Last night’s soccer game was really tiring and I developed a cough because of the cold air that I breathed in. But this morning, the cough was gone, though my muscles were aching all over my body, I felt just great to have worked out. There were some incompletion in my yesterday’s journal. Sitting in Vincent’s car was quite terrifying as he likes to maneuver curves at high speed and step on the brake at last minute. But he was still a safe driver.
After some washing up, I went down to the quartermaster and asked to send my bedsheets for washing. It is a service provided here and we can send our bedsheets for washing every month. And yes! I have been here for a month now. The lady can’t understand English and hence I have to point and use some gestures. In the end I managed to get a new set of bedsheets. Tonight I would have another good night sleep. At 1010am I went to the admin office to pay my rent but it was still not opened. So I went back and read a chapter of my “San Guo Yan Yi”. I didn’t read it last night because I was too tired. After that I went back to the office. Prior to this, I asked Jeremy to write for me 236.97 euros in words and in French so that I can write my own cheque today. But before that I still verified with the admin lady and she said it was perfect. When she asked can I speak a little bit French, I said “un peu” (means a little) and she was delighted. I guessed the French always felt happy if you speak French to them, provided you speak correctly.
On the way to office (the guys here call it the lab), I passed by those mobile houses. Mathieu said they were called “les gen du voyage”, meaning “the people of travel”. These people would stay at a location for a few weeks and then they would be on the road again. They rely on some government welfare fund but their main source of income comes from the odd jobs that they do. I find this kind of life unstable but I see that the people are quite contented with their way of living. Maybe they find it carefree. I reached the office at around 11am. Wow! Don’t think I can come to work at this time in Singapore unless I am the boss. I felt fortunate to have come to Rennes and not gone to Grenoble because hui has to wake up at 630am and report to work at 830am. At 630am it is still pitch dark. And it is so cold there. Rennes suits me better because it is nearer to England and there are a lot of medieval buildings, streets, castles and palaces in this region. One good thing for hui is he gets to see snow and to ski. For me I see greenery everywhere but that’s ok because I love the nature.
I left for lunch on my own because most of the people who played soccer yesterday didn’t turn up. The rest of the people either went home to have their lunch or went to the cafeteria. But it was ok because I haven’t eaten alone for a long time and it felt good to eat a slow meal without rushing. Normally when eating with the guys, I have to rush my food and for the whole afternoon I would feel very full and uncomfortable. Even when I return to my room in the evening, I would still feel full because the food is not digested properly. When I eat alone, I would feel hungry at around 4pm as the food has already digested. After lunch I worked on my code and after I had done enough, I emailed my supervisor just to keep him updated so that it would be easier to brief him when he returns on Tues. I chatted awhile with Jack on msn and glad that he is back in Singapore and is looking for a job here. I didn’t get to see him before I came here because he was back in his hometown Sarawak. Hope I can catch up with him when I return. But he said he has also applied a job back at home. I said maybe I would fly over to visit him during the September one week break. It would cost me about $500 for a 2 way flight. I have begun to enjoy traveling now and most importantly, I feel that the money is worth spending on catching up with old friends. In the past, I was always quite lazy and less enthusiastic for gatherings. Then I heard good news from hui that there are 5 NUS students going to his place Grenoble for some kind of exchange and they would leave at the end of May. He has already linked up with them on msn through the help of his Singaporean supervisor. It is really wonderful to have company in a foreign country, especially there are 4 girls in that group. When you are alone for a short while, it gives you time and space to reflect and think. But if you are isolated for too long, it becomes unhealthy. Hope 5 months isn’t too long for me.
The soccer guys are circulating emails asking if we want another game next Thursday. Yesterday I thought of rejecting and would play just once a month because it is too expensive. Partly because it is also very tiring. But today I changed my mind. I felt that if I were to back out now, I don’t think they would ask me anymore. So I should play constantly for the beginning and later when I feel that my budget is running low, I would slowly fade away. If I play frequently in the beginning, I think I would leave a better impression of being sporting and “on”. So I would play consecutively for 4 weeks and see how it goes. I went to find Sebestian and Mr. Giant to borrow Naruto from them. Mr. Giant said that the first few episodes were with Pascal but he can lend me other anime. He said he would send me a list to choose from. Hope he would remember. Although most of the anime he had are with Japanese audio and French subtitles, I still wouldn’t mind because it would still be entertaining.
When it is near 5pm, I wanted to type my report but just got a reply from my supervisor. He complimented me on the great work I have done and he has another brilliant idea for me to implement. So here comes another challenge but I don’t mind because it would give me yet another chance to prove my worth here. I worked until 630pm and left; went back and watched another episode of Band of Brothers. This weekend would be fun and occupied because tomorrow I would go sightseeing and get myself familiarized with the train station. On Sunday, I hope I can go to the city Vitre to see a castle for the first time.
After some washing up, I went down to the quartermaster and asked to send my bedsheets for washing. It is a service provided here and we can send our bedsheets for washing every month. And yes! I have been here for a month now. The lady can’t understand English and hence I have to point and use some gestures. In the end I managed to get a new set of bedsheets. Tonight I would have another good night sleep. At 1010am I went to the admin office to pay my rent but it was still not opened. So I went back and read a chapter of my “San Guo Yan Yi”. I didn’t read it last night because I was too tired. After that I went back to the office. Prior to this, I asked Jeremy to write for me 236.97 euros in words and in French so that I can write my own cheque today. But before that I still verified with the admin lady and she said it was perfect. When she asked can I speak a little bit French, I said “un peu” (means a little) and she was delighted. I guessed the French always felt happy if you speak French to them, provided you speak correctly.
On the way to office (the guys here call it the lab), I passed by those mobile houses. Mathieu said they were called “les gen du voyage”, meaning “the people of travel”. These people would stay at a location for a few weeks and then they would be on the road again. They rely on some government welfare fund but their main source of income comes from the odd jobs that they do. I find this kind of life unstable but I see that the people are quite contented with their way of living. Maybe they find it carefree. I reached the office at around 11am. Wow! Don’t think I can come to work at this time in Singapore unless I am the boss. I felt fortunate to have come to Rennes and not gone to Grenoble because hui has to wake up at 630am and report to work at 830am. At 630am it is still pitch dark. And it is so cold there. Rennes suits me better because it is nearer to England and there are a lot of medieval buildings, streets, castles and palaces in this region. One good thing for hui is he gets to see snow and to ski. For me I see greenery everywhere but that’s ok because I love the nature.
I left for lunch on my own because most of the people who played soccer yesterday didn’t turn up. The rest of the people either went home to have their lunch or went to the cafeteria. But it was ok because I haven’t eaten alone for a long time and it felt good to eat a slow meal without rushing. Normally when eating with the guys, I have to rush my food and for the whole afternoon I would feel very full and uncomfortable. Even when I return to my room in the evening, I would still feel full because the food is not digested properly. When I eat alone, I would feel hungry at around 4pm as the food has already digested. After lunch I worked on my code and after I had done enough, I emailed my supervisor just to keep him updated so that it would be easier to brief him when he returns on Tues. I chatted awhile with Jack on msn and glad that he is back in Singapore and is looking for a job here. I didn’t get to see him before I came here because he was back in his hometown Sarawak. Hope I can catch up with him when I return. But he said he has also applied a job back at home. I said maybe I would fly over to visit him during the September one week break. It would cost me about $500 for a 2 way flight. I have begun to enjoy traveling now and most importantly, I feel that the money is worth spending on catching up with old friends. In the past, I was always quite lazy and less enthusiastic for gatherings. Then I heard good news from hui that there are 5 NUS students going to his place Grenoble for some kind of exchange and they would leave at the end of May. He has already linked up with them on msn through the help of his Singaporean supervisor. It is really wonderful to have company in a foreign country, especially there are 4 girls in that group. When you are alone for a short while, it gives you time and space to reflect and think. But if you are isolated for too long, it becomes unhealthy. Hope 5 months isn’t too long for me.
The soccer guys are circulating emails asking if we want another game next Thursday. Yesterday I thought of rejecting and would play just once a month because it is too expensive. Partly because it is also very tiring. But today I changed my mind. I felt that if I were to back out now, I don’t think they would ask me anymore. So I should play constantly for the beginning and later when I feel that my budget is running low, I would slowly fade away. If I play frequently in the beginning, I think I would leave a better impression of being sporting and “on”. So I would play consecutively for 4 weeks and see how it goes. I went to find Sebestian and Mr. Giant to borrow Naruto from them. Mr. Giant said that the first few episodes were with Pascal but he can lend me other anime. He said he would send me a list to choose from. Hope he would remember. Although most of the anime he had are with Japanese audio and French subtitles, I still wouldn’t mind because it would still be entertaining.
When it is near 5pm, I wanted to type my report but just got a reply from my supervisor. He complimented me on the great work I have done and he has another brilliant idea for me to implement. So here comes another challenge but I don’t mind because it would give me yet another chance to prove my worth here. I worked until 630pm and left; went back and watched another episode of Band of Brothers. This weekend would be fun and occupied because tomorrow I would go sightseeing and get myself familiarized with the train station. On Sunday, I hope I can go to the city Vitre to see a castle for the first time.
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