Liv's latest adventure around the globe

I know an update has long been overdue. The past month has passed by quickly as the year that I spent in Paris. Still trying to capture the memories and the last weeks in Paris, it was definitely a year to remember in the city of lights.Here are the highlights of the year that was:

Filipino dinners
My last week ended with just the way I started exploring my ability to cook real Filipino cuisine. From karaoke nights, to a Filipino cultural presentation for AIESEC alumni, people have managed to survive with no stomach aches after and even turned some of the dinners to all night parties. The favorite has always been my lumpia, pansit canton and adobo. :) Not bad for a beginner huh?

Finale of the Filipino dinner series in Paris... wait for the next season in a city near you! :)




Last party night in Paris!




My despedida with Filipino relatives




Filipino gatherings
I don’t think I would have survived my first months without the help of my relatives. Picking me up from the airport and helping me survive the winter season; they have also been my mentor in cooking authentic Filipino food.


They have shared with me their stories of being away from their kids for 20 years to leaving their families behind. Despite that, they have survived the hardships if only to offer a better life for their loved ones.

It is through them that I discovered being able to watch Filipino TV shows online, watched Filipino concerts and constantly been involved with other fundraising projects that the Filipino community was into.

"Oh Eiffel my Eiffel"

The view of the Eiffel tower has been a part of our daily activities in Paris. It was almost ordinary during the summer to have picnic by Champ de Mars where you get a great view of the tower. Some wine and cheese and we’re happy until we see the lights blinking as early as 8pm.

It was even much more magnificent when we saw the fireworks display during Bastille day.

Paris by night



It is the City of Lights.

It was even better during Christmas season where Galleries La Fayette showed different window displays and Christmas lights.

Paris night life
I will never forget the soirees every Thursday. Oh how I loved Cosmopolitan and unlimited glasses of champagne. All for a fixed price of 12Eur. We had new discoveries of some soirees that lasted until morning as well, although the one at the boat was definitely the best one.

The night life doesn’t always need to be outside, but could just be in our tiny little apartments. It provided a more cozy atmosphere and more exclusive atmosphere of just meeting other trainees and other AIESEC members. Everyone was trying to wait for the first metro, rather than taking a long and adventurous night bus that will last about 1.5 hours.

Trips around France and Europe

The first months were about exploring more of France through road trips and train rides. I managed to visit Bourgogne, Lille, Marseille, Le Toquet, Angers, Versailles, Rouen, Deauville.

Then I started to miss being able to visit nearby countries, especially reuniting with friends or meeting long lost relatives. Germany, Belgium and Netherlands were among the favorites. Until I started to feel that I needed to add new countries in my collection, so I was also able to explore countries such as Sweden, Italy, & Czech Republic. It was not even impossible for me to meet new friends along the way.

Alcatel Life
I started with Alcatel and ended with Alcatel-Lucent. It was definitely a wonderful experience, to be inside the company that was transforming from one company to another. Communication is the key towards a smooth transition, and I am happy to have worked within that department where I get to hear about the news before it even gets published. It may not have been easy trying to survive the year, but it was a great opportunity for me to have worked for different projects and interacting with different people.

// posted by Liv @ 1:09 AM 0 comments links to this post