Finally I received my friend’s reply about the Paris trip. She said that as she didn’t tell her friends about me joining, it would be better if she meet me next time. I really wasn’t hoping too much on the trip because it was a bit too rush. Moreover, I would surely spend a lot of money there with them and anyway I would be there again in July. But I was still disappointed. And it is almost confirmed that I wouldn’t be going to Berlin and hence don’t think there would be a chance to meet her in Europe. Not that we are close friends, we aren’t in fact, but it is a rare opportunity to meet someone you know in a place so far. After checking my emails, I went on to work until I was satisfied with the progress. Then I went to Mr. Giant’s office to borrow his phone to call the Thai Airways again. While waiting for the line to get through, I saw some Japanese characters written on a piece of paper pasted on his wall. I asked about the paper and he said those are the Jap alphabet (I have cleanly forgotten!) and he is currently taking some Jap classes. Wow! A French taking Jap classes! I asked if it was because of the Jap anime and he said partly for that and partly for something else. Before I could catch what that “something” else was, the line went through and I was talking to the operator.
I wanted them to put me on waiting list not only for the 11th but also for 9th and 10th. However, he said I cannot do that and I can only choose one day. Greedy me. But with one or two more days more, my tour would be more flexible. Now, it is pretty tight. After the call, I went back to work and suddenly looking at my codes, something triggered in my brain. I realized that all that I had done for the coding was wrong!!! Clear-cut it was the wrong method and I felt that I had wasted 2 days of work. But still I have time to rectify. Everyone here is always busier than me and so as usual I had to go and ask them for lunch and wait for them to finish their works. I went to find Mathieu because today was his last day and he was the only one who was freer than me. He said he would burn a DVD of anime for me. One of them is “Samurai Champloo” consisting of 26 episodes but he got only 24. Another was a funny anime which is just 6 episodes. He said that tomorrow he would take the train to Nimes where his gf lives which is beside Montpellier, a big city in the southwest France. On 1st April, he would go to Grenoble and stay there until October. It was the last time he was having lunch with us.
After lunch, on the way to the cafeteria, we saw children, lots of them having picnic on the field. It really lightened my heart to see them so carefree, enjoying themselves. Mathieu said he worked in a nursery before and had lots of fun playing with small children. I told him some of my bad experiences when I was a relief teacher before I was enlisted. Both of us felt that kids are more and more pampered nowadays. At the cafeteria, I tried ordering coffee and tea for everyone and somehow succeeded. The lady boss smiled when I speak in French and the guys applauded when I completed my sentence. Really very malu. But when she asked how long I would be staying here, I said 2 months. I thought she was asking me how long I have been here. After correction from the guys, I told her I would be here until June. We found a table at the smoker corner as Sebastien always needs a light after lunch. He took out a packet of cigarette leaves, a piece of paper and a stub. With nimble fingers, he rolled everything into a cigarette and took a puff. He wasn’t the only one doing that. A guy at another table did the same. Beside our table, there were people playing international chess. I could tell they were serious players from their solemn expressions and the timer clock at the side. They asked if I know how to play international chess and I said a little and told them I am better in Chinese chess. Then they asked me about the difference of the 2 games.
After coffee, I went to Mathieu’s office to collect the DVD of anime. He then showed me the pics he took when he was in Japan two years ago. Some pics of scenery, display of cosplay (people dressed up as Jap anime character), Ultraman, his Jap friends, etc. Maybe a trip to Japan would be a good idea for my graduation tour. Last week I was still chatting with a friend about my grad tour and was thinking of going to Greece. But I guess it would be very difficult to find people to go with me as I think not many people are interested. Well, I still have a year to plan. Back in my office, I was trying to solve the problem using a different approach and it turned out to be simpler than the one I used before which was completely wrong. Then I checked on those PEs offered in year 4 and made a quick choice of them. My focus was on graphics because that is the closest field to what I am doing now. Also, I joined CE because I was motivated by the CG that my army friends had done in poly. But then, I didn’t do well for a module in graphics in year 2. I think I got B or C. I do not feel that after this IA, my programming level would increase a lot. But I know my mindset would definitely have changed. In the past, I gave up easily on those subjects which I know I can’t do well, esp. hardware. Now, I think I have become more confident and determine. But better not to say too much and too soon here. Wait I dabao next sem then very funny liao.
Near 5pm, Mathieu came and bid me goodbye. I said I shall see him in 3 months time in Grenoble. Really hope there would be time to meet up with him when I am there because although I had only known him for 2 months, he was the one that I talked most with. I wonder if I would feel sad when I leave IRISA in June. I think I wouldn’t, knowing that I would be going on a tour thereafter. But who will know. With 3 more months left and plenty of soccer games to play and café breaks, maybe I would form some bonds with the guys here. And talking about game, tonight’s game would be at 10pm. Hope Nicolas would send me home after that although there is still bus after 12mn.
I wanted them to put me on waiting list not only for the 11th but also for 9th and 10th. However, he said I cannot do that and I can only choose one day. Greedy me. But with one or two more days more, my tour would be more flexible. Now, it is pretty tight. After the call, I went back to work and suddenly looking at my codes, something triggered in my brain. I realized that all that I had done for the coding was wrong!!! Clear-cut it was the wrong method and I felt that I had wasted 2 days of work. But still I have time to rectify. Everyone here is always busier than me and so as usual I had to go and ask them for lunch and wait for them to finish their works. I went to find Mathieu because today was his last day and he was the only one who was freer than me. He said he would burn a DVD of anime for me. One of them is “Samurai Champloo” consisting of 26 episodes but he got only 24. Another was a funny anime which is just 6 episodes. He said that tomorrow he would take the train to Nimes where his gf lives which is beside Montpellier, a big city in the southwest France. On 1st April, he would go to Grenoble and stay there until October. It was the last time he was having lunch with us.
After lunch, on the way to the cafeteria, we saw children, lots of them having picnic on the field. It really lightened my heart to see them so carefree, enjoying themselves. Mathieu said he worked in a nursery before and had lots of fun playing with small children. I told him some of my bad experiences when I was a relief teacher before I was enlisted. Both of us felt that kids are more and more pampered nowadays. At the cafeteria, I tried ordering coffee and tea for everyone and somehow succeeded. The lady boss smiled when I speak in French and the guys applauded when I completed my sentence. Really very malu. But when she asked how long I would be staying here, I said 2 months. I thought she was asking me how long I have been here. After correction from the guys, I told her I would be here until June. We found a table at the smoker corner as Sebastien always needs a light after lunch. He took out a packet of cigarette leaves, a piece of paper and a stub. With nimble fingers, he rolled everything into a cigarette and took a puff. He wasn’t the only one doing that. A guy at another table did the same. Beside our table, there were people playing international chess. I could tell they were serious players from their solemn expressions and the timer clock at the side. They asked if I know how to play international chess and I said a little and told them I am better in Chinese chess. Then they asked me about the difference of the 2 games.
After coffee, I went to Mathieu’s office to collect the DVD of anime. He then showed me the pics he took when he was in Japan two years ago. Some pics of scenery, display of cosplay (people dressed up as Jap anime character), Ultraman, his Jap friends, etc. Maybe a trip to Japan would be a good idea for my graduation tour. Last week I was still chatting with a friend about my grad tour and was thinking of going to Greece. But I guess it would be very difficult to find people to go with me as I think not many people are interested. Well, I still have a year to plan. Back in my office, I was trying to solve the problem using a different approach and it turned out to be simpler than the one I used before which was completely wrong. Then I checked on those PEs offered in year 4 and made a quick choice of them. My focus was on graphics because that is the closest field to what I am doing now. Also, I joined CE because I was motivated by the CG that my army friends had done in poly. But then, I didn’t do well for a module in graphics in year 2. I think I got B or C. I do not feel that after this IA, my programming level would increase a lot. But I know my mindset would definitely have changed. In the past, I gave up easily on those subjects which I know I can’t do well, esp. hardware. Now, I think I have become more confident and determine. But better not to say too much and too soon here. Wait I dabao next sem then very funny liao.
Near 5pm, Mathieu came and bid me goodbye. I said I shall see him in 3 months time in Grenoble. Really hope there would be time to meet up with him when I am there because although I had only known him for 2 months, he was the one that I talked most with. I wonder if I would feel sad when I leave IRISA in June. I think I wouldn’t, knowing that I would be going on a tour thereafter. But who will know. With 3 more months left and plenty of soccer games to play and café breaks, maybe I would form some bonds with the guys here. And talking about game, tonight’s game would be at 10pm. Hope Nicolas would send me home after that although there is still bus after 12mn.
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