DEDICATION TO FANNY AND CORINNE mars 15, 2009

magazines

 

 

 

 

Though this post, I would like to say : “THANK U SO MUCH” to 2 incredible girlfriends : Fanny & Corinne. The first one is an ex-colleague she is a social worker who worked at Beaujon Hospital with me. Now, she has been living at Montreal with his boyfriend, Louis since last January. The second one (it will make me smile but I have never meet her), she lives in Singapore and she is a faithful reader of my fashion website Flizboutik (a good reason to become one of my friend!). I only know her by the wonderful magic of the net!

As you can notice, both live abroad and like this life : we share the love to travel and discover another country. They know that I am spending hard time with the birth of my wonderful son : feeding, bottle feeding and its necessary organisation, stress, lack of sleeping. Time flies and I have much to learn as young mother. However, I can tell you it changes my life and I am filled, proud of my son and veryyyyyyyyyyyyyyy happy.

Thus, Fanny and Corinne sent me from Canada and Singapore magazines : Biba and Cosmopolitan in French. They are very caring and I appreciate a lot. How could I not?

I hope to find a little moment (as soon as possible) to read your magazines…

THANK U AGAIN MY DEAR FRIENDS

WELCOME TO TUNG CHUNG AREA! novembre 16, 2008

big buddha

I love the actual weather in Hong Kong : it is so nice, not too hot as in Singapore or not too cold as in Paris (even if I like the December’weather in Paris…).

Jerome and I have decided today to visit the “Big Buddha” attraction in Lautau Island. Lantau is the largest island, it is twice bigger than Hong Kong Island. We left from home at 9 am and we took the MTR at” Central Station” (10 minutes by walk) until the terminus “Tung Chung” station. It took us 30 minutes. Then, we waited about 45 minutes long from “Tung Chung Cable Car Terminal” , you can guess it is crowded. After we took a ride to Ngong Ping Village around 25 minutes. The round ticket trip costs 155 HKD in week end. It was magnificent : the brethtaking view of “Tung Chung Bay”, the green landscape and the blue sky. So peaceful!

When we arrived in “Ngong Ping village”, there was nothing special, it is like “Disneyland”, a village just created for tourists : beverage and food, souvenirs shops… The reason is the only attraction is the “Tian Tan Buddha Statue” located 15 minutes further. We walked 100 meters and we climbed to the summit after having taken a stair of 289 steps (a little bit tiring with my big belly…). At the top, we could admire a wonderful panorama of Lautau North Country Park. The Statue of Buddha was very new : it was built in 1993. It reaches a height of 24 meters and weighs 202 tons. Impressive, isn’ t it?

We have lunch in the vegeterian restaurant of the “Po Lin Monastery” for 100 HKD (10 €) per person : simple and very delicious except the kind of gelatinous bean soup. We ate vegetable rolls, mushrooms and green vegetables and drank tea.

At our arrival, we visited one of Jerome’s friend, Andrew. A Singaporean guy who lives between HK and his native country. He lives at “Tung Chung” area and introduce us the advantages to live there. And frankly, He convinced us to come even it is far away from downtown. The quality of life is better : less polluted, rental market cheaper for bigger appartments, incredible facilities (indoor and out door swimming pool, gym room, a great shopping mall with outlet shop and restaurants) What more can you ask?

Maybe the place for a new home…

Wakeboard begins : June 28th of 2008 juillet 12, 2008

MY FIRST PLAY IN SINGAPORE juin 22, 2008

Lizhi a friend of mine offered us to discover a play in a theatre. Obviously, I said : “YES”. When I was in Paris, Jerome and I often used to go to the theatre. We lived in the famous area “gaieté” near Montparnasse, this place are full of theatres.

Lizhi, Ibrahim, Jerome and I have been to watch a play in a theatre Studio theatre in NAFA during the biggest Little Play Festival, Short Sweet Singapore. The play was composed ten little plays. Each one lasted about 10 minutes. I figured out that I did a lot of progress in listening and understanding : I understood everything! I could understand all the jokes and laugh at the same time than the audience!

I was quite concentrated because at the end each person had to vote for the best little play. The plays deals with serious subjects or everyday life : relationships in a couple and in a family, divorce, wedding, racism, discrimination at work, love, suicide… It was very interesting because players represented native from everywhere : chinese, indian, portuguese, english, canadian,…

My favorite play called “Free Fall”. It spoke about a man who seems really lost in life, he was about to kill himself by jumping from the top of a building and there is a girl who does not to talk and talk. She tried to prevent him from jumping into the void. Then, little by little others persons joined us : a depressed Singaporean student who had a misjudgement at school( a B….), a girl and another man. They have the same objective jumping… It is a little bit tragic but the main player was pretty good with his monologue. I liked as well another play about love (less depressing hihihi). A poetic and lyrical play : a man who can not choose between two women. He loves both : one represents for him the sky and the eyes of the others the Sea. Very beautiful, isn’t it?

It was great to laugh and spend good time. When will we go back?

SO SHOCKING! mai 2, 2008

This afternoon, Jerome and I decided to go to a shopping center called “Katong”. A couple of friends has recommanded us to go there for seeing a golf shop because they had bought a second-hand golf set.

It just took us ten minutes by bus to get there.

We entered and I told Jerome : “Look! Why are there a lot of children wearing the same shirt sat in this shop? oh but in this shop, they also wear the same shirt…” Jerome looked at me and replied : “This is not education center but Maid agency”. (A maid is a person who take care of your home and your children. In Singapore, they are generally Philippines native). and I : “Whaaaaaaaaaaat? I do not believe it. They look like children. Oh my god! You are right”.

Unfornately, we figured out that there were ten shops side by side. In each, the maid wore either a pink shirt or a yellow one. This view was horrible because they seemed like some meat. They tried to attract “the white man” with their look. I said “the white man” because eighty percent (maybe more) of western expatriates have a maid at home who lives all the time with his family. In the agency, they are treated as things and are waiting their future employeer. I call it : SLAVERY. These women or even young girls leave from their own country avoiding poverty and come here because it is their only hope. Open your eyes people!

It made me laugh when I read in the newspaper yesterday that some employeers have been deceived by maids. Here, concerning the law, maids are considered as a child because they depend of their boss, which means no rights. They can not marry with a Singaporean. They can not go out after 9 pm. Even not swim in the swimming pool of the condo. Can not. Can not. Can not. Which of both is most to complain?

I AM BACK! janvier 22, 2008

After a trip to Hong Kong and Macau, some health trouble and some rest (it means almost one month), I am back on my blog. Full of projects in my head, I hope all will come true this year. I feel that 2008 will be positive and spiritual.

First, I started to write on “W3SH“, a trendy website created by Nghia, a friend. It gives me the opportunity to write at least 3 notes per week on various topics like design, decoration, culture, fashion, all I love! I invite you to go and see this fabulous website  (No excuse, it’s in French). W3sh is very focused on High Tech products and you will discover and learn a lot of things!

 As you know, I decided to work again. I am hyper motivated and I am working on the project to open an e-shop since Hong Kong. I would like to sell Asian handcrafts and design products towards France. I figure out that it is a long-term task but it’s great to be her own boss. I think it is time to take my life in hands and move forward!!!

Then, once I will have moved to Hong Kong in March, I should take Mandarin courses. Indeed, Chinese language would be an advantage if I want to work there. I should be patient and courageous because it is one of the hardest language in the world…

Another resolution : I must absolutely practice sports again which means sign up to a gym club! I miss the courses of Fadé and Samira. Snif!

www.w3sh.com

24 HOURS OF A HOUSEWIFE! novembre 15, 2007

 I had never imagined becoming a housewife. Before, when I was in Paris, I didn’t think about it even a second. Then, when I arrived in Singapore, I realized step by step that Singaporeans or others considered me as a housewife. For example, when I speak with a taxi-driver, his first question is : “Do you work in Singapore?” and the eternal answer is : “No, just my husband, I followed him…” and he continues : “I see… You’re so lucky because you have time to go shopping”. And It is from that moment I say :”Damn, he’s narrow-minded but he’s right, I am really…”. HELP!

I realized in Singapore, the most women of expatriates don’t work. (Positively, you don’t feel guilty). Their favorite pastime is to be pregnant. Typically, for French, the number of children is around three or four per family. If you haven’t got any children,(like me) you are put “offside”! Indeed, their mothers make me laugh because each has a “maid”, a woman who take care of children and their house full-time. They dare to tell you : “Fortunately, I have my maid, I have no time.” No comments…

People think that to be a housewife is cool. I agree, as far I’m concerned, it’s very hard : I get up late, I have lunch with friends, I have a cup of tea in coffee shop in downtown, I go down for a swim,… Unfortunately, there is not as good sides (for those like me who have no maid) : you spend the most of your time to do housework. It drives me CRAZY!  Obviously, as you don’t work you feel useless and you have to be good at something. And this something is…to cook, to shop, to handle the laundry, to sweep, to scrub, to wax, to vacuum…

The life of housewife is not as hectic as in the TV show “Desperates Housewives”. In real world, it’s different. My first wish in 2008? Find a job.

FRENCH FOR ENGLISH octobre 30, 2007

 When I arrived in Singapore last August, my first objective was to improve my English. That’s why I have posted an advertisement on a website named “gum tree”. I was looking for an exchange with a Singapourian girl or woman : my French for her English, good deal, isn’t it?

Less than 4 days after, I was getting in touch with a 21 years old student. I was so glad! We decided to meet each other very quickly. Her name is “Yen”, she’s Singapourian, she speaks English and Mandarin. She wants to learn French but she didn’t have backgrounds. For me, it’s not a problem : it’s really the opportunity to speak in English!

She has been in Europe and particularly in Paris; she has a lot of French friends and she loves French guys. I think it’s very good motivation to learn French.

I have been starting for one month and half and I’m very pleased. She’s very nice. We meet to share our way of life, once a week. It’s very interesting to compare ours cultures, ours food,…

MERCI BEAUCOUP YEN!

TAXIS DRIVERS -LAH octobre 26, 2007

Take a taxi is the best way to move around in Singapore. It’s cheap,fast and clean. When you want to take one, you only have to raise your hand on the sidewalk. You’re going to tell me that it’s the same in France. But, I reply you : “no, because here there are much more taxis than cars”. It only costs me 8 SGD (4 euros)to go to the City! In France, for the same price, I only put my butt on the back seats of the cab…

The taxi-drivers are named “Uncles”(I don’t know why…), they’re a major topic of discussion because of their folkloric way of driving.  They don’t have a good reputation. They drive fast. Even if they don’t know the location requested they prefer not to lose face.

As I’m concerned, they make me laughing and I find them nice. Each time is a great experience : I enjoy talking with them. With the exception those who are very curious : “Are you French? Really? Aren’t you African? Do you enjoy of Singapore? Do you work in a bank?” I would like to tell them : “let me alone with your stupid questions, shut up, please!”

Yesterday afternoon, I took a risk because the cabby very old  was certainly suffering from Parkinson’s disease. The tremors caused him enormous changeovers head. It was very impressive. I asked myself how he could see the road. My husband and I were so happy to arrive to our destination that we have left a good tip…

When I arrived in Singapore, at the airport, I took a taxi and I can tell you I didn’t understand anything what the taxi-driver said because he spokes “Singlish”. What does it means?  Singlish is a mix of English and Singapourean. It’s very amazing they add “lah” at the end of each sentence. This”lah”  would find its origins in Malay language.

In Singapore, it doesn’t necessary to have a car. The taxi is more convenient : you can find one everywhere at any time. I have a place for my big legs and that is gorgeous!

WHAT’S NEW ON MY BLOG PAGE? octobre 22, 2007

You can see I added my photos hosted in “flickr”. You have direct access to them. Just click!

I look forward to read your comments!!!