Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Cigarette butts on my front door
A continuation of what happened during my Filipino dinner turned into party. I was surprised to see the following morning a lot of cigarette butts just outside my door. 20 is definitely a lot for 3 smokers during my party. But it can’t possibly be what they guys smoked the previous night since they were smoking from my veranda, right? Maybe yes. Yes, it was a nice neighbor’s way of making a statement- picking up all the cigarette butts from the foyer and putting it next to my door step. I hope I am not yet on the blacklist in my neighborhood… :) Or maybe will put those smoking visitors in my blacklist? Nah, I'm not that mean... but couldn't help but laugh instead.
Hosting my 6th Filipino dinner
I cooked once for the general public, which turned out to be a big party until 2am at our apartment. From then on I said I would probably just invite a few people at one time since cleaning up is always tougher with big groups. So I did several times after that, and I have hosted my 6th Filipino dinner last weekend. The silence of the house couldn’t keep me from staying at home all alone, with my flatmate away for a trip.
That’s when I realized it’s not the number of people that would make it hard to manage the dinner, but what do people bring in the dinner that will make the difference. Last weekend was almost like the massive dinner I prepared, with the number of bottles of wine, vodka and alcohol that people can consume- only this time with less number of people. At least no one ended up getting so drunk, nor messing up with my white carpet, just a few cleaning of the floor and the kitchen with no leftovers behind. So see, the food must have been that good that it didn’t cause stomachache or strong contrast with the amount of alcohol that people drank.
So when am I hosting the next Filipino dinner? I think next time I will have it during the weekday or at lunch… so it will be simply dinner! :) With cooking as something I consider now as a skill and not just a hobby, I am starting to believe that I might be able to open my catering business someday. Ok, it all starts with a dream anyway, right?
That’s when I realized it’s not the number of people that would make it hard to manage the dinner, but what do people bring in the dinner that will make the difference. Last weekend was almost like the massive dinner I prepared, with the number of bottles of wine, vodka and alcohol that people can consume- only this time with less number of people. At least no one ended up getting so drunk, nor messing up with my white carpet, just a few cleaning of the floor and the kitchen with no leftovers behind. So see, the food must have been that good that it didn’t cause stomachache or strong contrast with the amount of alcohol that people drank.
So when am I hosting the next Filipino dinner? I think next time I will have it during the weekday or at lunch… so it will be simply dinner! :) With cooking as something I consider now as a skill and not just a hobby, I am starting to believe that I might be able to open my catering business someday. Ok, it all starts with a dream anyway, right?
Friday, October 13, 2006
Fashion and weather update in Paris
Being in the fashion capital of the world, it’s expected that you get the most up-to-date designs as you stroll along the streets of Paris. 10 minutes walk from our office we can literally go window shopping and find the high end designers Cardin, Dior, Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent shops along Avenue Montaigne, or to more common designers like Zara, Mango, Nafnaf along Champs Elysees.
Unfortunately I cannot afford everything that’s on the window or at least think that it will just be an extra luggage for me to carry when I finish my traineeship. So most of the time I am already satisfied with the pleasure of seeing the latest fashion trends, as I start noticing that the season will soon be changing as well. In the middle of September I somehow still felt that summer was not yet over, and the sun was still shining even at times it was raining. Yet I see not only in the shops but also in the streets, people who are already wearing their trench coats and scarves like the fall season has really entered. Apparently, people here don’t really dress according to what the weather really is, but on the latest trend being introduced in those shops.
So if you want to know what’s the current weather in Paris, then don’t base it on what people are currently wearing.
Unfortunately I cannot afford everything that’s on the window or at least think that it will just be an extra luggage for me to carry when I finish my traineeship. So most of the time I am already satisfied with the pleasure of seeing the latest fashion trends, as I start noticing that the season will soon be changing as well. In the middle of September I somehow still felt that summer was not yet over, and the sun was still shining even at times it was raining. Yet I see not only in the shops but also in the streets, people who are already wearing their trench coats and scarves like the fall season has really entered. Apparently, people here don’t really dress according to what the weather really is, but on the latest trend being introduced in those shops.
So if you want to know what’s the current weather in Paris, then don’t base it on what people are currently wearing.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
New working environment
September just went by swiftly, just as you would expect once the BER months start. Well, to break the monotonous of an almost routine life, the space manager decided to move my office for the 2nd time. My boss just left so I have practically been alone in the office the past 2 weeks. It felt strange at first, even if prior to that I was already having the room for myself every Friday and Monday mornings when she’s working remotely from Basel. This time I am in a new office wing, new office mate, with my new boss in the other building and the rest of the trainees in my old office space, I will be enjoying my daily walks around rather than being stuck on the same floor and the same building all day.
Friday, October 06, 2006
So near yet so far....
Found out that my mom was going to Kazan, Russia just a week before she was leaving. Unfortunately I couldn’t meet her there since flights will already be expensive and visa might take longer. Neither did she have enough time to apply for a Schengen visa to have a reroute to Paris, after a long stop over in Frankfurt. * sigh *
Indeed, European countries are easily accessible within the region compared if you’re traveling anywhere from the Philippines. Nevertheless, it’s still not that easy to meet with everyone and every country you want to see, even if it’s just neighboring countries like Germany, Belgium or Netherlands. I think next time I will have to invest on my private jet. :)
Thursday, October 05, 2006
new found friends
Friends, just like relatives, can vary in definition as your network increases by the people you get introduced to along the way. There are friends who are mere acquaintances, you refer to when you meet a couple of times but do not know further than the surface of one’s personal information.
There are also those friends whom you have known forever- you keep coming back to in good times and bad times; your best friends as you call them: either in high school, university, or since childhood; someone you can just connect back to where you last saw or talked to each other, without feeling lost in between.
Subsequently, there are those rare moments where you have your newfound friends where you think you’ve known each other for a long time, but in fact you’ve only been together for a day or a week at most.
Well, let me tell you about my “newfound” friend Abi. She’s a Filipino trainee in Germany, who I happen to know through Jennie, who’s another Filipino trainee with DHL in Germany. The connection was more than just the common people we know but I guess we just clicked as real friends, when it comes to the things that you deeply want to talk about the so-called “life”.
I remember chatting with her all night after her busy tour of Paris. We’d just have the same opinion towards life in Europe as Filipinos, career options in the Philippines, and sometimes even for some European guys! Hahaha! I am not the person who believes in horoscope, but for some reason maybe the strong link has something to do with the fact that we’re both Scorpions! In short, matindi din magmahal!!! We have the same passion for shopping, food and nice walks in the streets of Paris... kahit na wala naman kaming kayakap o ka-HHWW, meron naman masarap na Crepe at one-to-sawa na view ng Eiffel tower.
Til next time Abi! In Pinas or Europe, we’ll keep in touch!
Monday, October 02, 2006
Happy 35th Anniversary Mommy & Daddy
At least now I had it right.
Sent an online greeting to them, only to receive a reply from my mom stating the following:
“It’s ok that you said 30th anniversary. That makes Faye only 29 years old, Keith will be 28 years old in December and you will be 21 years old in November.”
Well, maybe I couldn’t imagine my siblings are actually old already since that makes me older as well. It’s the thought that counts.
Nevertheless, I wish you more years together, “Apo Baket and Apo Lakay.”
Sent an online greeting to them, only to receive a reply from my mom stating the following:
“It’s ok that you said 30th anniversary. That makes Faye only 29 years old, Keith will be 28 years old in December and you will be 21 years old in November.”
Well, maybe I couldn’t imagine my siblings are actually old already since that makes me older as well. It’s the thought that counts.
Nevertheless, I wish you more years together, “Apo Baket and Apo Lakay.”
