I am currently

Sitting under the porch of my grandparents house, reading old news and enjoying an evening breeze, while watching my grandfather doing some sport on a training bicycle.

First days in Phnom Penh

I just arrived in Phnom Penh this saturday late afternoon. I'm still a bit confused with the jet lag and travel fatigue. As I was packing my luggage at home, it reminded me the preparation to China, a year ago. I can't speak khmer so it will be a challenge for me to communicate with people that can't speak english, and still have to learn a lot about cambodian lifestyle and customs.

On my first days here, I mainly rested and visited relatives. I also ate breakfast and dinner with my grandfather, and went out with my dad.

Today, I visited the office where I will work for the next 6 months. I shook a lot of hands and get many business cards. A nice lady explained me different stuffs about the company and introduced me to co-workers. The position I will take sounds very interesting, and I will sure learn a lot during my stay in Cambodia :).

Roads to Asia again

Life has passed since I last wrote here. 2011 is a good year, full of new experiences. I've been travelling to England, Spain and Switzerland, attending classes with a very new feeling: nostalgy, working for saving money, going out with friends...

Two weeks ago, I went to KTV with some classmates for a farewell party. One of them was leaving for Cuba for his internship, an other one will leave for China. It was a pleasant night, and I had a lot of fun. I will miss them and our pasta nights.

Now school is over, and everybody started to work as intern, most in Paris, and few abroad. I will go to Cambodia to do mine. Current feelings are a mix between edginess and curiosity, about how these next 6 months will be in this country I barely know. I feel like it's sometimes difficult to bound with people you only meet twice in a decade. But I see my stay in Cambodia as an opportunity to better know my family and share good moments, a chance to catch up with them.

Routine can be inspiring

I've just came back home few minutes ago. I was visiting my uncle and aunt, in Paris surburbs, and had to take the bus to get home. Outside, it started to rain and the traffic is always terrible approching the holidays celebration. I sat on my favourite seat, by the window on the left side, just behind the driver, but he can't see me, as there was a wall between us. Half way, everybody left the bus. Because the traffic was really slow, they decided to take the underground instead. I didn't have the courage to brave the outside wind and rain so I stayed in the bus, and was the only passenger left. Believing he was alone, the driver turned the lights off, so he can drive peacefully, without being bored by the passers-by. He also started to whistle. Feeling comfy in this intimate atmosphere, I looked at the cityscape and started to analyze it, it was a peaceful moment.

I'm kind of into stop motion now, and had decided few weeks ago to try making my own one, and the rainy and blurry scenery through the window was going to become the theme for my video. The melody the driver was singing, remind me of a song, and at this moment, I found that it will be the perfect one to go along with the video. I had everything. The lights were beautiful, the atmosphere flawless, and even the song and the title came to me. Only the camera was missing.

Breaking my daydreaming, the driver walked in the bus to turn the last lights off, and was surprised to see me. We then started to talk about our lives, and random things. This encounter was very pleasant, and helped each other to pass the time, as we were blocked in the traffic jam. He asked me why I stayed in the bus, while every passengers left and if I wasn't in a hurry. I had all my time, didn't want to face the rain, and the time spent in the bus gave me inspiration. Usually, when I'm in a car or a bus and look through the windows, I let the weather influence my mood, and rain always make me feel melancholic, but this time was different. I enjoyed this little journey, and I'm now thinking of taking the bus more often, with my camera in my bag.

When we reached the terminus, I said goodbye to the driver, but forgot to ask his name.

Thanks to this blog, sometimes, I think and write in english, and also notice things that I usually don't pay attention to :). I often think that it is pointless to continue to write here, as I may not have any readers left, but the two reasons given previously are good enough to continue. If you still read this, it would be nice to let me know it :).

Departure and holiday

Thursday, my sister left Paris for Singapore, where she will spend few days before going to Cambodia for 6 months, and all the family sent her off at the airport. I really envy her now and hope to see her in april if I go to Asia for my internship. Today, christmas holiday officially started :).

London

Here are some pictures about London, where I spent my last vacation with my friend Hélène, before I've started school. I really need some rest now, because school is so exhausting, and I'm impatiently waiting for christmas holidays :).

September

Some news !

I'm in France since 2 months already ! Time flies so quickly.

Do you remember the exam I was so anxious about ? It turns out that it wasn't as difficult as I thought and I've finally made it. I'm now studying in the university I wanted to. I'm a proud Sorbonne student :). But hell, I have plenty of homeworks to carry !

September was a month filled with good surprises :). A new school, birthday wishes and gifts, a london trip, and friends meetings. In this period of time, I was able to meet again friends that I've met in China. I saw Vincent and Emilie, the two frenchies, Yuyi and Xiao-mi from Sweden and China. But infortunately I missed Benson althought we were in Lhasa at the same time, Dany when I went to London, and Céline, that came twice in Paris :(. I've also ate at a Korean restaurant with my old classmates. Regarding family, when I was in London, I met again two of my cousins that are studying there and my cousin Alex is now studying in France, so I can see him when he comes to Paris.

I wonder how is life in Wanli going, and salivate when I think about "xiandan nangua" (fried pumkin with salted eggs). It was sure a good time of my life, and make me think about going back to China for my internship. I am also considering other countries in Asia :).