LANTERN FESTIVAL février 9, 2009

 

 

 

 

Fleur lotus

 

 

During the Chinese New Year, there are a lot of celebrations in Hong Kong, Jerome and I went to one of them last night. I can you tell it was a long trip to go there. Firstly, we took a bus from our place for 45 minutes but we got off a little bit earlier : I forgot to tell you, here you can not spot you. Why? Because quite simply, nothing tells you where you are… A little bit annoying, isn’t it? Then, we looked for a taxi driver who could drive us until our destination but no one of them seemed to understand… Finally, we found one who brought us to the right direction.

Cygnes

 

 

 

We arrived at 6.45 pm in the Waterfront Park Of Tai Po. Tai Po is a area located in the middle of  New Territories. To be honest, when you arrive at Tai Po, it is as if you were the Chinese border. What do I mean? There is no tourist or expatriates there.

cascade

 

 

 

We visited at last a beautiful Waterfront Park which was specially decorated for the Lantern Festival. We discovered colourful lanterns by night.

Folkloric dance

 

 

After we assisted a ceremony : the Dance of Lion. But we prefered to leave because of the crowd and I am not an addict of chinese songs…

I WANT TO TELL YOU : I FEEL WELL octobre 5, 2008

4th month pregnant

I apolize, it is been a long time, I did not write some news from Singapore for my personal blog. Booooooooooouuuuuuuuuuh! I am not a good girl I know. But for my defense, the last few months was very intense on emotional, family, professional and social environment.

First of all, the most important thing that I have been waiting for years is happened : a baby. The day I discovered my pregnancy on the test stick I asked myself : “I think it is not the real world, it is so incredible that I can not believe it.” Many woman know this feeling when you want something so much and you get hard time to have it. It is not a whim but it will help you to blossom as a women. Then, when this wonderful thing arrives at last you can not imagine because it is a miracle of life. It is happened : I am pregnant!  First month : I was in very good shape then the second tiredness, urge to sleep and morning sickness emerged. But the third, I was very lucky (i think about Marie, one of my cousin who is 5 month pregnant and only know ) because even if I was tired I was better. Now, I am 4 months pregnant, I am feeling very well  : my girlfriends are right the second trimester is fantastic and the best   I am expecting a little boy : the delivery is due on March 9th 2009. What is his name? or what are his numerous names? Nathan. Then, Joseph, Bernard (the name of Jerome’s dad) and Fabrice (the name of my father) at last! The reason? Do not ask me, ask to Jerome…

As you know, Jerome and I will move to Hong Kong. We do not know yet for how many time but we are leaving Singapore in 2 weeks and half. A new life again so different from Singapore!

Regarding the work, many surprises this year, an unexpected conversion, I wondered : “What am I able to do?” I can assure you when you are a social worker is very hard to change the field : you must start again and consider a training. Writing on my personal blog helps me to be confident. Then I wrote on the website “W3SH”, a trendy web magazine, I learned a lot. I created a fashion blog last June, my favorite past time, even if I take time each day. It is but useful. My reward is to know tha t everyone can find an advice or just laugh or spend a good time. What I am the most proud is to write for the website “Cosmopolitan”, it leaves a chance to develop a new skill and may be I am starting a new career…

CREPE PARTY mai 19, 2008

 

You have to know that the French products as cheese, yoghurts and wine are really expensive in Singapore. Sometimes, we can not resist and buy some of them.

Thus, Jerome and I decided to organize a crepe party at our condo yesterday afternoon. Jerome and I worked together : I prepared the paste saturday evening and Jerome did the crepe. OK, the tasks were not  very  fair but Jerome is very talented and patient for that unlike me… He did at last 60 crepes, very good job!!!

We invited some friends who live for the most of them in East Coast, near our house. Our crepe party took place near the swimming pool of our condo. All was perfect. The weather was sunny. The crepes were DE-LI–CIOUS WITH Nutella(of course!). It was so pleasant to spend time with our friends.

What I like here, you have a lot of facilities in order to spend time outside : swimming pool, BBQ, gym room. It takes me just 2 minutes to go down it is so convenient. Otherwise, the drawback is I become more and more lazy…

Great! We plan a BBQ in the next weeks with some friends.

 

 

 

 

UNLUCKY CHINESE NEW YEAR! février 8, 2008

 I decided to go to see a friend of mine for the Chinese New Year in Hong Kong.  Actually, Jerome is currently in France and it was an opportunity to see this celebration.

I was so happy to go to HK. Unfortunately, my stay gone bad. First of all, my friend told me that he took the plane the next morning in order to see his wife. I thought he was joking but I realized he was not. I was so surprised and dissapointed because if I knew that before I wouldn’t come. I don’ t know how but I stayed very calm. As I did not want a bad atmosphere before his departure, I told him: “do not worry, I am a big girl”. I took on myself even if I was a little nervous inside.  I wanted to be positive and maybe for reassuring me… YET, I WILL BE LONELY IN THIS CITY! HELP!

Yesterday (it means the day when my friend left), I decided to go to visit the design and decoration shop in order to see the products for my future on-line shop. I thought the shops would be closed just the holiday day the 7 of February. I found a deserted town : all the shops closed until my departure next tuesday (second bad surprise). How do I do now?

But it only begins. My friend gave me the phone number of one friend. I called her to know if she was available in the evening. She would call me back in the evening after she would have dinner. So, as I wanted to see the “Night Parade” on Tsim Tsa Tsui. I took the MTR and went alone. But I arrived at the third very bad surprise : my hand phone was stolen there. I realized that on the way back. First reaction : I was completely petrified and so angry. On my way, I needed to talk to someone and I turned to young officers. I started to tell my story to one of them and another one then another one etc… There were 6 or 7. I think they were as lost as I am especially when I cried telling them : “I have no friends here and I can call nobody”. Thinking back to this last sentence, I felt just a little pathetic…

Enough is enough, I am leaving tomorrow from HK to my dear Singapore. At last! I can not stay anymore here! I could not change my way back ticket so I had to buy another one. You can imagine the price for the New Year…. (glups)

However, I learned some customs. Here they are.

During Chinese New Year, the habit is to give a “hongbao” to children and single people to bless them and wish them well. What is a “hongbao”? It is a red packet filled with new dollars notes. What does it symbolise? It represents good fortune, good wishes for the coming year from the giver, married couple. It is better not to offer the sum of 4 SGD (2 euros) because this number is considered as unsuccessfull. As far as I am concerned, I hope that parents are much more bit generous because it is just once a year…

ONE YEAR MORE… janvier 2, 2008

 I have done a big step towards the serious world. I turned 30 years old on December 20th.
It was a strange feeling. It was a shock for me. I realized the next years will be full of responsabilities. I thought everything I have accomplished. In my head, a big questioning.
When I was young, I thought I would be a “business woman”. I dreamt to be a working girl in New York City at the head of a big company. OK, it didn’t happen yet but I need this dream to get by. Why not?

I blew my candles : the”3” and the “0” with my family last Thursday evening. My husband, my mother and two of my brothers were at my mother’s home for this celebration. When Jérôme brought the cake and I have seen these two big numbers, I said to myself : “Oh-my-god! Here I am, I can’t come back in the past. Is it the real world? I am not going to be 30 years old, am I?”
I didn’t want to loose the face : I decided not to show my distress. So, I smiled as usual.

Yesterday, I celebrated my birthday with friends. I planned to celebrate it in a French restaurant “le Dépanneur” in Paris ( very good cooking, service and the price of the menu very reasonable).
It was so FANTASTIC to see again my friends, Fred (one of my brother) and my cousins. I can tell you the crisis of the day before was almost forgotten. My friends are very important in my life. In Singapore, the “Ladies’ night” missed me : It was time to come together!
I had the impression not to have left them. I appreciated every moment of this party with each person. My morale has risen for months. Nothing better can happen to me!

In resume, the transition to the thirties made me think to the direction my life will take in the future. What choice ? A lot of projects stay without answer for this moment.  A turning opens to me. A second expatriation, a new job, a new way of life, a new network, a new language…
I am optimistic and full of motivation and determination. Would it be enough?

 

 

GO BACK TO FRANCE janvier 2, 2008

 After 4 months in Singapore, I go back to France to spend Xmas with my family for 2 weeks and half. What a good new! I am so glad to see again my family (my parents, 3 of my brothers) and of course my friends!

In this time of Xmas, I need to be with my family and share this atmosphere that I love so.

I was greeted by my mother like a “queen” : THAT IS GREAT!

At last, I can appreciate to eat good cheese, good bread, good red wine and above all my little “pêché” : the “macarons”. MIAM! MIAM!

You are going to say that I am crazy but I love the cold weather. Therefore, I am lucky because since a week, the sun shines everyday.

I celebrated Xmas on December 24th with my mother, my brothers and my husband. This day seems to me as magical as I was a child. I am always stayed a little girl in my mind. This moment is very important because it is the only one where we can be together. It is a real pleasure to give and receive.

I was invited by my mother-in-law the Christmas day. We had lunch with Jérôme’s sisters, their husbands and their children. We were eight adults and four children. My mother-in-law, Mummy, prepared a wonderful table and meal. It was delicious! The best is always at the end of the meal : I mean the “bûche” (second “pêché”). I am so greedy.
Spend Xmas with my family and my husband’s family is my greatest gift. So see you in 1 year…