This morning when I stepped out of the residential building, there were patches of snow on the grass as well as the carpark! So I ran back to my room and took my Pentax. I took a few quick pictures of the surrounding and then returned to my room to keep my digital cam. It was a mistake because as I walked on to my office, there were more snow on the ground and I should have taken pictures of that. But I was too lazy to go back and it was already almost 10am, quite late for work. The snow here of course was nothing compared to that of hui’s place but still it is snow. I went to the department to return my DVD (and to borrow a new one) but found the door closed. There was a notice saying that it would reopen next Monday. No DVD this week for me then. Hope they won’t penalize me for returning one week later.
I spent the entire morning all the way until lunch uploading my pictures. I had switched to using Jiehua’s photo album which is more convenient to upload and invite friends. I also took a look at his latest album and I am really envious of him. He is now staying in an apartment with 3 Spanish guys (I think the 3 Singaporean girls are still around also) and is having lots of fun. It reminded me of a French show I watched called “Spanish apartment” in which a French went to Spain for attachment or exchange. There he stayed with some Spanish, a German, a Briton, and an Irish I guess. It would be easier for me to make friends if I were to share an apartment with other people (preferably students) rather than a tiny room to myself. He even made himself together with his flatmates a decent dinner for CNY. Don’t really want to think about my CNY right now. I received an email from Mr. Giant (his name is Marwan actually) with a list of animes that he has, nicely categorized. I asked him to bring me “Cowboy Bebop” which I have not heard of but it has English subtitles. Then I sent an email to Jean-Marie telling him that I can’t play soccer on Thursday but asked him to still keep me posted for future games. The reason is because after some thoughts, I think I would need that 6 euros per week for my weekly trip and hence I don’t think I can play every week. Once a month perhaps. Moreover, the 3 weeks mini Europe tour at the end of my IA would need a lot of money too. But I didn’t tell him that. Anyway, the game for this week would be at 1030pm and that was too late. By the time the game finishes, I wouldn’t have bus back. However, if there is someone willing to send me home, maybe I would consider playing.
At lunch time it was just me, Nicholas and Vincent. The old restaurant was still closed and so we went to the one that we had been going to for the past 1 week. It was surprisingly quite empty, with just a few people eating. Now I only take the main dish, the side dish and a dessert because of the lesson learnt last time. But I see people taking quite a lot and they only gave 1 ticket. I wonder why was I asked to give 3 tickets last time. Probably because I was a foreigner. Anyway, think I would find out tomorrow from one of the guys. Back in the office, I looked at hui’s skiing pictures and his blog on his skiing trip. It looked really fun and I wished I could be there too. Previously I was still thinking if I would want to give it a try because it is so cold and seems quite dangerous. After reading his blog, I think I would give it a try when I go Grenoble in June, provided there is still snow in the mountains for me to ski. But as described by him, it was super cold, even for him. This would be my biggest deterrent.
I was reading the soccer news and just realized that Chelsea is out of 1 of the cups. That means Jose Morhino’s mission of getting all 4 silverwares was gone. I am not really a Chelsea fan but I think they played very well. Anyway, after slacking for two third of the day, I spent the last part finishing up my work. I had finished with my report and my implementation of my supervisor’s new idea was also completed, with just a little problem. I have also read hui’s report and feel that his job scope is very profound and professional. Mine seem too simple, just some programming with graphics. After that, I chatted with hui again and asked if he had linked up with the 5 Singaporeans in his city. He said he haven’t and doesn’t sound enthusiastic in meeting them as they always go partying and spend a lot of money. To both of us, it seemed like students on exchange tend to spend more than students on attachment. I guess probably because they are always with other students and hence would always be having fun. Unlike those on attachment whereby they have to work Monday to Friday. Moreover, the colleagues I am with here are long past their student time. Another reason I thought would be because what I am spending now is entirely on my pay here. Although I can ask my parents to bank in some more money into my account, but this is not I want. I want to tell people when I go back to Singapore that I survived the 5 months in France solely on my own hard-earn money. But I also want to tell them I had enjoyed 5 months here, not just work. So it is really between enjoying and saving and I think I should strike a balance between both. Hence my plan is to go sightseeing and play soccer occasionally here while saving on food and other unnecessary stuffs which I would be able to find back in Singapore.
PS: After some calculations, I have lowered my target of saving S$6000 to S$5000. The most I can save up to would be S$5500, this of course includes the spending on sightseeing, not just on rent and food.
PPS: When I got back to my room, the entire corridor was dark. Even the light sensors were off and I had to switch on the lights myself. It seemed like all the residents have moved out. Coincidentally, 2 people in IRISA were on vacation this week also. And the restaurant is almost empty today.
I spent the entire morning all the way until lunch uploading my pictures. I had switched to using Jiehua’s photo album which is more convenient to upload and invite friends. I also took a look at his latest album and I am really envious of him. He is now staying in an apartment with 3 Spanish guys (I think the 3 Singaporean girls are still around also) and is having lots of fun. It reminded me of a French show I watched called “Spanish apartment” in which a French went to Spain for attachment or exchange. There he stayed with some Spanish, a German, a Briton, and an Irish I guess. It would be easier for me to make friends if I were to share an apartment with other people (preferably students) rather than a tiny room to myself. He even made himself together with his flatmates a decent dinner for CNY. Don’t really want to think about my CNY right now. I received an email from Mr. Giant (his name is Marwan actually) with a list of animes that he has, nicely categorized. I asked him to bring me “Cowboy Bebop” which I have not heard of but it has English subtitles. Then I sent an email to Jean-Marie telling him that I can’t play soccer on Thursday but asked him to still keep me posted for future games. The reason is because after some thoughts, I think I would need that 6 euros per week for my weekly trip and hence I don’t think I can play every week. Once a month perhaps. Moreover, the 3 weeks mini Europe tour at the end of my IA would need a lot of money too. But I didn’t tell him that. Anyway, the game for this week would be at 1030pm and that was too late. By the time the game finishes, I wouldn’t have bus back. However, if there is someone willing to send me home, maybe I would consider playing.
At lunch time it was just me, Nicholas and Vincent. The old restaurant was still closed and so we went to the one that we had been going to for the past 1 week. It was surprisingly quite empty, with just a few people eating. Now I only take the main dish, the side dish and a dessert because of the lesson learnt last time. But I see people taking quite a lot and they only gave 1 ticket. I wonder why was I asked to give 3 tickets last time. Probably because I was a foreigner. Anyway, think I would find out tomorrow from one of the guys. Back in the office, I looked at hui’s skiing pictures and his blog on his skiing trip. It looked really fun and I wished I could be there too. Previously I was still thinking if I would want to give it a try because it is so cold and seems quite dangerous. After reading his blog, I think I would give it a try when I go Grenoble in June, provided there is still snow in the mountains for me to ski. But as described by him, it was super cold, even for him. This would be my biggest deterrent.
I was reading the soccer news and just realized that Chelsea is out of 1 of the cups. That means Jose Morhino’s mission of getting all 4 silverwares was gone. I am not really a Chelsea fan but I think they played very well. Anyway, after slacking for two third of the day, I spent the last part finishing up my work. I had finished with my report and my implementation of my supervisor’s new idea was also completed, with just a little problem. I have also read hui’s report and feel that his job scope is very profound and professional. Mine seem too simple, just some programming with graphics. After that, I chatted with hui again and asked if he had linked up with the 5 Singaporeans in his city. He said he haven’t and doesn’t sound enthusiastic in meeting them as they always go partying and spend a lot of money. To both of us, it seemed like students on exchange tend to spend more than students on attachment. I guess probably because they are always with other students and hence would always be having fun. Unlike those on attachment whereby they have to work Monday to Friday. Moreover, the colleagues I am with here are long past their student time. Another reason I thought would be because what I am spending now is entirely on my pay here. Although I can ask my parents to bank in some more money into my account, but this is not I want. I want to tell people when I go back to Singapore that I survived the 5 months in France solely on my own hard-earn money. But I also want to tell them I had enjoyed 5 months here, not just work. So it is really between enjoying and saving and I think I should strike a balance between both. Hence my plan is to go sightseeing and play soccer occasionally here while saving on food and other unnecessary stuffs which I would be able to find back in Singapore.
PS: After some calculations, I have lowered my target of saving S$6000 to S$5000. The most I can save up to would be S$5500, this of course includes the spending on sightseeing, not just on rent and food.
PPS: When I got back to my room, the entire corridor was dark. Even the light sensors were off and I had to switch on the lights myself. It seemed like all the residents have moved out. Coincidentally, 2 people in IRISA were on vacation this week also. And the restaurant is almost empty today.
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