Thursday, April 27, 2006
one small step to fame... I wish!
One colleague of mine was joking that it was clever of AIESEC International to take charge of the global branding strategy, so their faces would appear on site. Ouch! Not wanting to be defensive, I just smiled at her and stated that what better way to show diversity than to showcase the different nationalities that AI is composed of.
Well, as much as it was rewarding to see one’s self in those pages, it also had those awkward moments when I felt I shouldn’t have been. A scene when I was marketing the regional exchange program during one of my country visits, and presenting a case study with my face in there made me focus on the other presentations instead. Or simply a situation when I entered Alcatel being referred to as the “AIESEC cover-girl": the one who is actually on the AIESEC pages in our corporate intranet.
Though I must admit, it was a good way for me to feel like a model as I once dreamed of becoming one ever since I was a child. I remember that even as a teenager, I would go with my cousins to a professional photographer to have some photo shoots, to pass around to our friends too. Unfortunately, the real super models have all these requirements (height, figure, etc.), which I just wasn’t able to catch up anymore. So being in corporate intranets or organization websites is not bad after all.
So why did I remember this again? Check out the Global Alcatel community in AIESEC.net where I recently gave my testimonial of working in Alcatel. The true reward comes when a former member of AIESEC China says that they saw me on those pages and would actually want to apply for a post in Alcatel.
I guess that’s the difference I have with the real models, I would never get tired of whatever I am endorsing, unlike some professional models who aren’t probably using the products/services they are endorsing.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Personal Touch
April has gone by so quickly, realized I haven’t talked to my family for a long time. Gave them a ring, ended up speaking with my lovely brother, whom I barely talked to about life in general. He felt so happy I called, hearing updates from me since he seem to be always the last to know about the things that’s happening in my life.
I always enjoy being able to write to family & friends, call them up or simply be able to meet face to face. Though I think what’s more pleasing is when someone from the other side of the world does the same and stays in touch with you like you’ve never actually separated.
I got a nice letter from my friend and “sister” from Brazil. Felt like a kid who was opening an envelope within an envelope, little notes that I can just keep in my bag. Reading her letter was just like talking to her over the phone. She never fails to amaze me, and I won’t be surprised if she just decides to fly here in Europe for us to catch up again. Well, maybe not in Paris but I’ll try to catch her when she drops by this region.
I always enjoy being able to write to family & friends, call them up or simply be able to meet face to face. Though I think what’s more pleasing is when someone from the other side of the world does the same and stays in touch with you like you’ve never actually separated.
I got a nice letter from my friend and “sister” from Brazil. Felt like a kid who was opening an envelope within an envelope, little notes that I can just keep in my bag. Reading her letter was just like talking to her over the phone. She never fails to amaze me, and I won’t be surprised if she just decides to fly here in Europe for us to catch up again. Well, maybe not in Paris but I’ll try to catch her when she drops by this region.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Sunny Sunny weekend
Last weekend was lovely, the weather cooperating with our picnic plans. From 3-7pm we were just lying on the grass next to Eiffel tower. Spring has really started with flowers starting to bloom, leaves growing back in trees and people just staying under the sun.
For us it was just a simple picnic with a few wine, cheese and baguette to complete the French atmosphere. Some guys who were beside our group showed off their upper bodies while trying to get enough sun. We were almost wondering how it would be when it’s summer…
with my co-trainees, Marina(Brazil), Aafke(Netherlands), Petra(Austria)
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Da Vinci Code
I have read the book a year ago where it was really hard put down the page as the story unveils. After the book I thought it would be great to visit the Louvre when I get to Paris. Unfortunately my visits to Paris in the past year was not even longer than 24 hours so I had to save it another time.
In just 2 weeks when the movie that's most talked about would be released, I decided to read the book again. For me it was reading it from a different light, making it like a guide book as I would be discovering the areas in Louvre, and the different art work that is there. I could only go through one page after the other. Reading the book in the metro, finishing a few chapters until it's really time to sleep, and voila! I finish the book in just 3 days(not on the weekend).
So waiting for the movie to be released to feel the same excitement as the book unveiled a mystery in every page.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Culture of drinking coffee
I am not really a coffee person.
I remember back in Rotterdam where I would comment on one of my colleagues who was always fond of drinking 2-3 cups of coffee everyday. For me drinking coffee was more of a social event, where various trips to Starbucks would be ordering my favorite frapuccino while meeting up friends before a movie or night out.
It still is a social event. Except that this time it happens more often, like on a daily basis.
At home, there’s always brewed coffee prepared in the morning where the great aroma is just irresistible. At work, I would usually find myself so full after lunch such that my colleagues & I would be deciding to hang out longer over a cup of coffee. I have even started to enjoy the cup of espresso much more than the café crème (coffee with cream).
I still love drinking coffee, but decided to lessen my intake, as it might not be really good for my health. I think I should go back to the habit of drinking tea instead, as I used to back in Netherlands.
Then again, the culture of drinking coffee is so strong in Paris along with smoking a cigarette. I just choose to drink coffee and avoid the smoke.
I remember back in Rotterdam where I would comment on one of my colleagues who was always fond of drinking 2-3 cups of coffee everyday. For me drinking coffee was more of a social event, where various trips to Starbucks would be ordering my favorite frapuccino while meeting up friends before a movie or night out.
It still is a social event. Except that this time it happens more often, like on a daily basis.
At home, there’s always brewed coffee prepared in the morning where the great aroma is just irresistible. At work, I would usually find myself so full after lunch such that my colleagues & I would be deciding to hang out longer over a cup of coffee. I have even started to enjoy the cup of espresso much more than the café crème (coffee with cream).
I still love drinking coffee, but decided to lessen my intake, as it might not be really good for my health. I think I should go back to the habit of drinking tea instead, as I used to back in Netherlands.
Then again, the culture of drinking coffee is so strong in Paris along with smoking a cigarette. I just choose to drink coffee and avoid the smoke.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
A long weekend....
It should have been my first long weekend, an opportunity to travel outside Paris for a greater search of adventure. However, as it’s clearly the Easter holiday, I decided to stay in Paris and focus on my inner search of my soul. As my 3-month mark comes a few days later, this just made it more important to look at how the wonderful years of my life has been, the few months in Paris for me to clearly live the present with much fulfillment.
Walking in the streets of Paris, I ignored the lovers on the bridge, the group of tourists or the Japanese striking a pose and simply focused on a few thoughts that struck me.
I have been enjoying the travels around the world, but always felt something missing… and that was trying to find meaning to the adventures I am able to explore. Where does it lead me to be in the streets of Paris and the next day in the slumps of Manila? What to do with the 1001 photos I am able to capture across the world? What to make of the experiences I have gained and the person that I have become all these years?
With all these thoughts and questions, it has rejuvenated me with so much energy of the so many things I can do at the moment. It has brought me a lot of excitement to do the following activities, not just for the sake of keeping myself busy. It has answered the question of WHY as the other questions remain to be a mystery for me to enjoy.
Walking in the streets of Paris, I ignored the lovers on the bridge, the group of tourists or the Japanese striking a pose and simply focused on a few thoughts that struck me.
I have been enjoying the travels around the world, but always felt something missing… and that was trying to find meaning to the adventures I am able to explore. Where does it lead me to be in the streets of Paris and the next day in the slumps of Manila? What to do with the 1001 photos I am able to capture across the world? What to make of the experiences I have gained and the person that I have become all these years?
With all these thoughts and questions, it has rejuvenated me with so much energy of the so many things I can do at the moment. It has brought me a lot of excitement to do the following activities, not just for the sake of keeping myself busy. It has answered the question of WHY as the other questions remain to be a mystery for me to enjoy.
I have decided to walk around the streets of Paris more, and this time to find more answers than questions. I thought of spending time with the Filipino community and looking in depth to their tough experiences abroad and be able to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Culture, culture and culture… it all starts with the language, and I have decided to learn to speak French even if I would need to start in "kindergarten" level. I have planned to visit the nearby cities: Brussels, Leuven and Bonn where some of my friends are located, not just exploring the beauty of the city but also catching up with each others’ lives.
All this and more have been part of the preparation package… has been presented as opportunities while I am in Paris. Yet not until it’s part of my personal history, will these opportunities be a part of my French experience. Hopefully a whole lot more opportunities open afterwards, but surely it does excite me to go through the next 8 months of my traineeship.
Oh I forgot to mention that now I am ready to host anyone who’s up for a weekend in Paris as I would have my own apartment by 1st of May. I have very affordable rates each night that includes B&B…. hahaha!!! Ok, negotiable... :) But definitely looking forward to visits from my friends, who just really wanted to see me not just Paris (at least make me believe so).
All this and more have been part of the preparation package… has been presented as opportunities while I am in Paris. Yet not until it’s part of my personal history, will these opportunities be a part of my French experience. Hopefully a whole lot more opportunities open afterwards, but surely it does excite me to go through the next 8 months of my traineeship.
Oh I forgot to mention that now I am ready to host anyone who’s up for a weekend in Paris as I would have my own apartment by 1st of May. I have very affordable rates each night that includes B&B…. hahaha!!! Ok, negotiable... :) But definitely looking forward to visits from my friends, who just really wanted to see me not just Paris (at least make me believe so).
Friday, April 14, 2006
Lucky 25
“I won’t grow up, I won’t grow up!”
Am I feeling like Peter Pan? Sometimes have this peter pan syndrome, not wanting to grow up (figuratively) but literally I didn’t. However there’s always that feeling that I am still young, given the fact that I am always with young people anyways.
Yet in France, the advantages of being young will soon be over for me. Once I show my ID card, I can’t deny the reality about my age, even if I do look younger than people my age here. I realize this when me and my colleague were planning a visit to Louvre, but the discounts for the “youth” are only for people aged 25 years and below. Unfortunately she couldn't join me this time, and would rather wait for the free entrance every First Sunday of the month(that's for all ages at least).
So I guess I better stare at Mona Lisa every Friday, as I get free entrance to the Louvre Museum or plan travels around France and get train discounts for people aged 25 years old and below. Although one of the advantages of being over 25, is you pay less for insurance when you rent a car…. then again, I don’t drive so I better find someone my age that can drive for me! :) hehe
Am I feeling like Peter Pan? Sometimes have this peter pan syndrome, not wanting to grow up (figuratively) but literally I didn’t. However there’s always that feeling that I am still young, given the fact that I am always with young people anyways.
Yet in France, the advantages of being young will soon be over for me. Once I show my ID card, I can’t deny the reality about my age, even if I do look younger than people my age here. I realize this when me and my colleague were planning a visit to Louvre, but the discounts for the “youth” are only for people aged 25 years and below. Unfortunately she couldn't join me this time, and would rather wait for the free entrance every First Sunday of the month(that's for all ages at least).
So I guess I better stare at Mona Lisa every Friday, as I get free entrance to the Louvre Museum or plan travels around France and get train discounts for people aged 25 years old and below. Although one of the advantages of being over 25, is you pay less for insurance when you rent a car…. then again, I don’t drive so I better find someone my age that can drive for me! :) hehe
Saturday, April 08, 2006
a smile away
So spring has began in Paris and people are supposed to have better moods. However I am not sure if it's common then to smile at people especially when you're just in a good mood.
I was walking in the cafeteria when I just ended up smiling at one guy, whom I thought was our new intern in Alcatel. Later realizing that it wasn't him, Jess asked me if I knew him since he smiled back and I simply shrugged my shoulder. I just laughed so much after out of embarassment.
Oh well, smiling does no harm but I guess I should be careful on who I smile to as they might interpret it for something else....
I was walking in the cafeteria when I just ended up smiling at one guy, whom I thought was our new intern in Alcatel. Later realizing that it wasn't him, Jess asked me if I knew him since he smiled back and I simply shrugged my shoulder. I just laughed so much after out of embarassment.
Oh well, smiling does no harm but I guess I should be careful on who I smile to as they might interpret it for something else....
information at your doorstep
Always keen on being updated about the latest news in Philippines, the past year www.inq7.net has been my favorite site--- be it the latest protests during the EDSA celebration or just reading youngblood articles in the editorial section.
Then I came here to Paris discovering a lot of different sites that kept me feeling so much at home. Much more than what I would usually make myself back home. I guess it's true that when youère far away you miss so many things that were just with you all the time.
So thanks to broadband technology, I am able to log on to http://now.abs-cbn.com where my relatives here have their subscription. Indeed for 12 USD quarterly you are able to watch the latest soap operas, news, noon time shows--- without commercials! Now I my sound like I am from the marketing department of ABS CBN, however from a user perspective it has kept me close to feeling at home. Other sites even include listening to the new OPM(Original Pilipino Music), browse through specific songs I would want to hear, and be ale to sing to Filipino songs(quite tough when you don't get to practice your own language after awhile). Not to mention how easy it is now to make your own "music video", attach it to your friendster or blogs, and broadcast it to the rest of your friends.
The possibilities are always endless, and I guess in technology the wilder the idea, the better opportunities you'll get into before the competition comes in. I await the time when such services would be pre-selected for you based on your consumer behaviour. Sounds impossible? Then watch this interesting video of how the future of media might look like. (http://www.robinsloan.com/epic/)
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Road trip to Bourgogne
I am really enjoying France more and more… taking time to get away of the big city on weekends, but at the same time being able to appreciate Paris too in the Spring time.
The latest road trip was to Bourgogne, something I just decided last minute. Initially they were looking for someone who’s over 25 and can drive, since it’s usually more expensive for someone under 25 to rent a car. The search was on, but I think it would even be more costly to have someone who’s over 25 but can’t drive (that’s me!). Anyway, so I still fit into the criteria of being a nice companion in the trip, and able to read maps, entertain the driver, etc.
So the gang was completed with the following profiles:
- 2 cars, 4 & 5 people respectively
- 2 guys, 7 girls
- 6 Polish, 1 Filipino, 1 Brazilian, 1 Russian
Enough diversity I guess so it was fun in the end.
Bourgone 037, originally uploaded by liv_flores.
So we were off to Bourgogne, or Burgundy as most people would be familiar. The first part was to Chablis, where we had some taste of wine in the “caves”- or what they would refer to as the place you would store the wines. For such a small town, we were able to go around within 30-45 minutes and just had a typical French lunch… baguette and chocolate
Bourgone 043, originally uploaded by liv_flores.
Then we moved on to Montbarde and visited some nice chateaus from the 18th century. The most common thing about those chateaus would be the amazing gardens in the middle, architecture of buildings as well as the fine art works that’s displayed inside.
We were thinking of having dinner in the area, but a big rain came in which was a sign for us to start leaving. It didn’t make us feel worse, since on the road we can see a clear sky to the direction we’re heading to. So indeed we made the right decision of visiting Dijon afterwards. As this was a road trip, it was meant to be that we’d get lost at one point or another… especially when a man is the one leading the way? (ok, that could be debatable). What matters in the end is that we found our way around, and discovered the nice small villages to Formule 1, where we were staying.
Bourgone 114, originally uploaded by liv_flores.
The following day we were on our way back to Paris and just dropped by Montbarde again to see this Abbey of Fontaney. Such a nice and peaceful place, in the mountain areas filled with a grand view of nature. I felt so refreshed afterwards, and yes ready again for a crazy life back in the big city.
Such a short trip but definitely memorable.
