I miss...

I had nothing to do today since it's officially weekend for me right now. So I went to browse some photos and I realise I do miss many things in hall.. these photos are by no means exhaustive..

KR DND

B Block Open Floor

Playing IBG

Playing frisbee

Dumping ppl into recycle bin during their birthdays (can u recognise who is in the photo?)

Playing volleyball & IHG

B Block Supper & its Mudpie!!

My friends & B Block (although I don't know many of freshies now..)

1 year ago

1 year ago on 23 Oct, I was at Labrador Park frantically preparing a surprise for the girl I like and preparing to ask her the important question. 1 year later, I am celebrating the first happy and memorable year with her in France. Needless to say much, I am just grateful to have her by my side.

The following pictures are collages made by Sinhui; she came up with the captions, too (I won't steal credit) =p

To a love founded in where else but the country of romance

To a love as beautiful as the setting sun

To a love that overcomes even the roughest of waves

To a love that shares a common passion

To a steadfast love, unyielding as the mountains

Happy 1st year to both of us! Cheers for many many more to come. =) Je t'aime.

Bureau d'Études No More!

I just finished my last session of bureau d'études. In English, this refers to tutorial-like sessions where you analyse a case study (in my case, a pump), figure out how it works, improve it and then write a report in the end. The 10 hours I spent for this BE were simply.. horrendous! Every session lasted for 2 hrs and these have been the longest 2 hrs in my life. I basically understood nothing and worse, I could not contribute anything to my French partner. Most of the time, I was just drowning in my own sorrow and silence. Otherwise, when the prof is nearby, I would be acting busy as if I could understand at least some of the materials.

I am just glad that it is over, but the report awaits. It's a 100% report btw which means there is no final exams at all. I am still wondering how I can contribute to this report. My partner told me he had last year's report...I was thinking..just like in Singapore! haha. I just hope the figures remain the same, cos I would not even know to change them!!

As of now...congratulations and celebrations!!

Chemin de Fer de la Mure

So much of saying that I will stay put in Grenoble this weekend. I was off to this small village called La Mure, about 1 hour of bus ride away from Grenoble. So what's interesting in this place? Well, it hosts one of the first few electric trains in France and at the present moment, this train runs along one of the most scenic routes in the Alpes, before terminating at another village called St. George's de Commiers. It was indeed beautiful, but it was difficult to take photos as the train was packed due to its popularity as a Sunday outing for families (amazingly a lot of kids in my compartment!). The train ride itself was only 1.5 hours. We reached one hour earlier and had 2 hrs to kill before catching our bus back. The weather was so cold that my fingers started to hurt and they became numb after a while. We were totally unprepared for this!!

L-R: Entrance to the train station, the first electric train in France

June, Eugene and I goofing around

L-R: What is June doing in the gents?, Eugene trying to juggle with 3 grapes

L-R: June and her newly found best friend, Eugene and I (all inside the train)

L-R: views from inside the train

Majestic Viaduct

Magnificent View

More breathtaking views

L-R: June babysitting, Le Drac (a random river)

L-R: Being adventurous and venturing into prohibited zone

L-R: Past (locomotive), Present (electric) , Future (high-speed trains, eg. TGV)

Random Reflections

Another weekend is here and unlike the previous weeks, I have nothing much planned this time round. I am supposed to be attending this Olympiade thingy in my school right now. It is the equivalent to the inter-faculty games in NUS. Somehow I am just feeling very lazy to go down, and feeling very tired of trying to make friends with the French. Oh no, have I just given up? What happened to my goals then? I really have no answers to this. I have always thought that sports is a universal language which can bring together people of the same interests. However, I realise French is a much more powerful language that brings people apart.

Maybe I am just a coward because I didn't turn up at the games today although I had signed up and went for one training. But I foresee myself standing alone by myself with almost nobody to talk to. I foresee myself smiling everytime they talk to me. U know why I smile? Cos I dun understand what they say and the best way to reply is not to ask "Pardon?" or "Comment?". So here I am now, backing out and losing it. Maybe I should come up with a revised list of goals soon. I only have slightly more than 3 months left in France.

One of these rare moments of reflection perhaps made me really want to go back to KR. But what can I expect when I go back to KR? I will probably have to re-integrate myself into the block as there are many freshies whom I don't know. And how will I get enough points to stay for Year 4 if I were to go back to hall? I would probably not come back in time to join the IHG teams and to play my favourite sport.

Ok enough of reflections.

On the brighter note, I am leaving for Spain next week and I can't wait to go there. I have very high expectations of it as I have heard raving reviews from friends who had been there. I have also finalised my Christmas trip which would cost me a bomb as I would very likely be watching 2 soccer matches at San Siro Milan and Old Trafford.

Déjà Vu - Lyon

Last year’s immersion was arguably one of the best times in my life. Going back to Lyon and relieving these memories last weekend was therefore simply sweet. As usual, my host welcomed me with such warmth that I could not find from any French in Grenoble. At times I felt so bad having to trouble her with my stay there because she would have to cook more than usual to cater for me and Sinhui. Not to mention she had also ensured a very warm bed for us. Easy task, you think? Not at all, at least not for an 85-year old lady although I think she is still very active for her age. As usual, she would correct my mistakes when I am speaking and that simply did me good. I think I learnt so much more in the 3 days I stayed in Lyon than during my French intensive week.

The familiar rooms

L-R: Chinese tea set & 9-fish painting which I gave to my host last year

L-R: Me & my host, Ratatouille

On Friday evening, I decided to cook Indonesian Nasi Goreng and Soto Ayam for my host and her son’s family. By now I am already a seasoned cook for these two dishes. I was happy to learn that they found them tasty (or at least they gave me face). What made me contented too, was when Marc, my host’s son, mentioned that I had made a lot of progress in French, as compared to when I first came to Lyon last year. The awkwardness during dinner that I felt last year (mainly due to the fact that I could not express myself in French) was a history. I dare to say that it was a pretty spontaneous conversation; I did stumble, could not recall some words, but I dared to speak up because they would listen, unlike most of the young ones in Grenoble.

L-R: Indonesian Soto Ayam, Indonesian Nasi Goreng

My host family, Sinhui and I

Saturday morning was spent in Fourvière where a group of us left our mark last year. And voilà, we found it!! It had faded, but it is well and alive! We wrote even more stuff this time round, wishing that they will still be there when we visit it the future.

2nd time at Notre Dame de Fourvière

L-R: Lost & Found

More messages left behind

L-R: Part of the Biennale Exhibition in Lyon. Look at the almost destroyed car, they call this art. And on the right, an artist was cynically criticising Swiss because they implement a separate border regulation from EU. Exactly my sentiment, I had just re-applied for Swiss visa the day before.

Interesting piece of art, can you read what's on the cross? It says: CONDOM. Anyone can tell me what this means?

Afternoon was spent at Mme. Marie-France’s apartment. She was our prof during last year’s immersion. We had lots of fun relieving stupid things that happened in class, such as when she was singing the French national anthem so proudly, without knowing that she was being video-taped. It was a pleasant afternoon, with plenty of conversations exchanged and with a full, delicious, typically French lunch of course.

L-R: Aperitif, Marie-France & I with her vin rouge (red wine)

L-R: Lunch, Marie-France opening vin rosé that we brought

Marie-France & her obsession with pigs

L-R: all red (wine, strawberries, ice cream, table cloth & MY FACE!), yummilicious dessert

L-R: Marie-France telling her pig story that she wrote for her niece, 3 of us posing to simulate Marie-France when she was singing La Marseillese in class last year

Sinhui and I spent the late evening watching rugby semifinal at Place Bellecour where a giant screen had been put up. The atmosphere was awesome; there were easily thousands of people there. The only thing I could complain about was that it was too packed, so much so that we could not sit down and had to stand still for 2 hours. And it was not helped by those who smoked cigarettes and cannabis around us. Too bad in the end France had to forfeit their lead in the last few minutes. I was waiting very badly for a wild celebration (if France had won) so that I could join in and film it. Damn, I always had no such luck.

3 points for France

When we reached the house past midnight, I was surprised, and touched by the thoughtfulness of my host who had left a note on the door. It read: “Andi, you have to eat the food on the table in the kitchen.” I had left the house for the match in a hurry and did not manage to eat as she was hosting her friends in the house. My host rocks!

L-R: my host's message, the sandwiches she had made for her guests

We had an excellent lunch on Sunday afternoon to end an eventful stay in Lyon. Mme Marie-France then sent both of us to the train station. It was quite saddening having to leave Lyon where I felt very appreciated by these kind souls. And when my host said “A Bientôt, Andi!” at her gate, I told myself, yes, we will see each other again before I leave for Singapore.

L-R: the French sure knows how to arrange table beautifully, during lunch

L-R: trying to eat fromage after being persuaded, the 5 0f us

Au revoir, Lyon! Mais, à tres bientôt!