3 months, summarized. Sort of;
Remember when i said i'll write more when i am in Carcassonne? Yeah, been a while hasn't it? LOL
Today marks the 13th day since i came back from France. Trust me, i wanted to write more when i was there, but being me, as much as i wanted to write, i wanted to go around explore the city i'll be spending my 3 months on, and yeah, i didn't have internet when i first got there, pft.
Let me just sort of recap the whole 3 months in Carcassonne. Arriving there, i felt a teeny weeny scared. You know, being dropped off at an apartment miles away from home and family. We had to share the apartment together, and there were 5 of us.
Syazrin and I stayed in one room & i took the second storey of the double decker. Our room was shared with another girl, named Sophie, whom i've come to FLIPPIN LOVE VERY MUCH. Edward and Rod stayed outside. The apartment was sufficient for all of us. The room was plain, so i made my little home there. I pasted pictures of people i love on the wall, just to remind me of home.
The view from our room was underrated-ly beautiful. We could see the road, and it overlooked the river and the train station from afar. At night, i often lie down on the window looking at the dark glimmering sky, occupied by the sound of rustling leaves. I could hear the sound, just by talking about it. I remember that one night when i was reading The Little Prince and was reaching towards the end of the book (a.k.a the saddest part of the book) and bawled my eyes out. Sophie then came to our darkened room, getting ready to sleep when she suddenly shrieked "nadh!" cause she didn't saw me the first time round hahaha! I glanced at her with my face full of tears and she was like "Are you okay???!" cause she was probably thinking tf is this girl doing sitting exactly on the window at night, crying. I showed her my copy of The Little Prince and she laughed.
My workplace, Auberge De Lices, is my second home. It's locatedvright in La Cite and walking to work took us 30minutes. Starting out was painful, but it gets easier with time. I was stationed at meat station, avec Flo mon frere. Coming to the restaurant on the first day was nerve wrecking. I didn't know French for shit, and i obviously didn't wanna screw up. But i managed to survive and had already bonded with my colleagues the very next day. You know how they say about French people having their ego and pride? In Auberge, every single one of them is the total opposite. Racism? I did not exist, fortunately. Everyone was welcoming and warm.
Let me talk about each and every one of my colleagues. Let start of with the restaurant owner himself, Jean Pierre. Getting to know him can be quite intimidating initially. I remember how freaked out i was when Flo told me i had to work with him one on one if Flo was on offday, which means i was gonna have to work with himself alone every Tuesday. Of course he's strict at first, but if you know how to tackle him, he'd be the nicest, the most chill af boss you could ever have. I already miss him and his random questions. Thanks to you Chef, i dig Ne-Yo now.
Now there's Flo, whom i'd like to call my partner/superior. When i first found out that he was 21 years old, i was shooooooooked. Starting out, Flo was a very very nice but serious kind of guy, and me being me, i had to kacau him until he himself let down his "serious/i'm-your-superior" kind of vibe. He would slash me with his torchon, kick my hands, throw me around, ask me to cut i'm-not-gonna-tell-you-what-skin which was a pain in the arse. He, the only person who gave me tough love. Who won't say i did a good job, and only pointed out shits i've done wrong. A very playful guy indeed, but when it comes to work, you seriously don't wanna mess up. But because of this, i took my tasks seriously, just to show him how capable and competent i am. All that confusion, just to find out that it was indeed tough love all along. I remembered the way he said Thank You to me when we wanted to part goodbye. I will forever remember that specific day. Thanks to you too Flo, i am now so into French Rap. Merci, mon salope.
Then there's Robin, Flo's little brother. I thought they were bestfriends but they turned out to be biological brothers. He's definitely the clown in the kitchen. Always doing stupid immature shits in the kitchen, that pissed Chef Jean off HAHAHA. But i love you Robin, for friend-zoning me yet still called me "your wife". For knowing that i wanted milk not coffee in the morning, and for always giving me the leftover mousse. Thank you for also giving me leftover desserts. You're crack but the good, awesome kind of crack. and Theo, the oldest and the wittiest guy in the kitchen. Who would blurt out something randomly, and that random blurt would be the funniest shit of the day. Like motivating Syazrin to sweep the floor by saying "Come on, i'll pay you with rice" just cause we're Malaysians. Or how he thought we we're born "in rice" cause again, asians.
Anne, my mignon champignon. I want to be nothing but just like her. Serious with her job, yet still very playful and fun. She's a machine, according to Chef Jean. She rather not eat unless her tasks are all done. Very fast, steady and a strong strong woman amidst the male dominated kitchen. All that mannerism but still an adorable little softie who cried at 2 malaysian girl leaving. I flippin love you Anne, i seriously do. Thank you for alwaysssss so enthusiastically teaching me in out and around the kitchen, and for always remembering me when there's extra mignardise. I love you beacoup my fromage buddy.
Alicia and Camille too, of course. Eventhough i must admit these two can be a bit of an emotional turbulent sometimes, but they can be the nicest person too. I miss our singing session while wiping the tedious annoyying set of cutleries, and Camille, for random spanks and bisous on the cheek in the very same minute.
Now we have the fun guys of the restaurant, the service team! Vincent, who is indeed the best! Jino and Tibo, who i must admit my two favourite guys. They look like Jesus, i am not even kidding. These two are the contagiously happy people who is constantly on positive pills. After lunch service before going home, i often would sit with them in the service area while they're doing their work, and these 2 are two talkative birds would talk and talk to me, that i usually spent 30 solid minutes just hanging out with them. Jino called me "Tony Hawk" just cause i bought a skateboard. Tibo on the other hand is a mean harsh guy who would flip you up real bad if you allow him to, but ofcourse, joking and "lovingly". Gosh i miss my man-bun men. Of course, Elo and Erwin, the power couple, Musy the pasteque, and Sophie, my french put!
Being in the kitchen was so fun, 3 months just passed like that. There's so much to miss, but i miss the pain traditional, so flipping much.
On my offdays, i would walk around Carcassonne, randomly that i have found several favourite spots. Carcassonne felt so like home i don't feel scared being outside at 1am alone, eventho that one night traumatized me, but that god that happened quite at the end of my 3 months there LOL. There was the castle itself, which is a pain in the ass to go up to, but from there, it overlooked the whole city, and during sunset hour, the view is like no other. Strolling around the castle and saying "Bonjour" to all the familliar faces, while walking down the rocky studded paveways to work, was one of the things i enjoyed being there.
Sometimes, i would go to Bistro Blasco, Julien, Chef Jean son's restaurant, just to hang out with him (cause he's flipping nice) the staffs, and of course Edward and Rod. And of course, for their BOMB meli melo and creme brulee! And my ultimate favourite place to eat, L'Oasis. Kebab like no other seriously. The amount of coming there to eat was too flippin much that the "Babang Oasis" himself knew i'd have whatever i'd ordered with Algeriene sauce.
Monoprix would be somewhat like our kedai runcit, padahal it's one of those expensive department/gorcery stores *facepalm* Cause Geant or Carrefour required us to take a bus there and we were a bunch of ultimately busy and always occupied interns. But Carrefour or Pont Rouge was lit. It has a cinema but all movies were all in French, and most importantly of course, Burger King!
Andrew, another fellow Taylors student we happened to terjumpa there, who was definitely lonely before he met us HAAHAHHA. But yeah, he was cool and a helpful senior, who showed us the most beautifl spot by the river. Can't wait to go yumcha with you when you're back!
Sophie, the not so goody two shoes. Who loves saying flip flop and always spoiling me with cheese. Who selflessly stream France WC matches for us cause we didn't have internet in the begining. Noah, my spanish housemate, who's a rebel and convincingly asked me to get a tattoo and colour my hair red too just cause i am 21 HAHAHA *facepalm*
I witness the most beautiful firework for St Bastille Day. We had to rush after work and all of us settled down by the cathedral to watch the firework blasted just right above our heads. Seeing how the colour changed from red to blue, and glancing side to side to see the smiling faces of my colleagues, was a night to remember.
Or that time when France won the flipping World Cup. Gosh that was surreal. All of us watched the match at Taverne Du Chateau but had to leave halfway because of work. We continued watching the match in the kitchen thanks to Flo, and when it was finally full time, the whole restaurant went crazy. No, the whole France. Man, that was one heck of a day.
You know, i'd be glad writing these down cause one day, when i am old and blue, i'd look back and realize, what a year i've had. Being 20-21 has been extremely cool so far. I hope 2018 remains incroyable until the end.
Today marks the 13th day since i came back from France. Trust me, i wanted to write more when i was there, but being me, as much as i wanted to write, i wanted to go around explore the city i'll be spending my 3 months on, and yeah, i didn't have internet when i first got there, pft.
Let me just sort of recap the whole 3 months in Carcassonne. Arriving there, i felt a teeny weeny scared. You know, being dropped off at an apartment miles away from home and family. We had to share the apartment together, and there were 5 of us.
Syazrin and I stayed in one room & i took the second storey of the double decker. Our room was shared with another girl, named Sophie, whom i've come to FLIPPIN LOVE VERY MUCH. Edward and Rod stayed outside. The apartment was sufficient for all of us. The room was plain, so i made my little home there. I pasted pictures of people i love on the wall, just to remind me of home.
The view from our room was underrated-ly beautiful. We could see the road, and it overlooked the river and the train station from afar. At night, i often lie down on the window looking at the dark glimmering sky, occupied by the sound of rustling leaves. I could hear the sound, just by talking about it. I remember that one night when i was reading The Little Prince and was reaching towards the end of the book (a.k.a the saddest part of the book) and bawled my eyes out. Sophie then came to our darkened room, getting ready to sleep when she suddenly shrieked "nadh!" cause she didn't saw me the first time round hahaha! I glanced at her with my face full of tears and she was like "Are you okay???!" cause she was probably thinking tf is this girl doing sitting exactly on the window at night, crying. I showed her my copy of The Little Prince and she laughed.
My workplace, Auberge De Lices, is my second home. It's locatedvright in La Cite and walking to work took us 30minutes. Starting out was painful, but it gets easier with time. I was stationed at meat station, avec Flo mon frere. Coming to the restaurant on the first day was nerve wrecking. I didn't know French for shit, and i obviously didn't wanna screw up. But i managed to survive and had already bonded with my colleagues the very next day. You know how they say about French people having their ego and pride? In Auberge, every single one of them is the total opposite. Racism? I did not exist, fortunately. Everyone was welcoming and warm.
Let me talk about each and every one of my colleagues. Let start of with the restaurant owner himself, Jean Pierre. Getting to know him can be quite intimidating initially. I remember how freaked out i was when Flo told me i had to work with him one on one if Flo was on offday, which means i was gonna have to work with himself alone every Tuesday. Of course he's strict at first, but if you know how to tackle him, he'd be the nicest, the most chill af boss you could ever have. I already miss him and his random questions. Thanks to you Chef, i dig Ne-Yo now.
Now there's Flo, whom i'd like to call my partner/superior. When i first found out that he was 21 years old, i was shooooooooked. Starting out, Flo was a very very nice but serious kind of guy, and me being me, i had to kacau him until he himself let down his "serious/i'm-your-superior" kind of vibe. He would slash me with his torchon, kick my hands, throw me around, ask me to cut i'm-not-gonna-tell-you-what-skin which was a pain in the arse. He, the only person who gave me tough love. Who won't say i did a good job, and only pointed out shits i've done wrong. A very playful guy indeed, but when it comes to work, you seriously don't wanna mess up. But because of this, i took my tasks seriously, just to show him how capable and competent i am. All that confusion, just to find out that it was indeed tough love all along. I remembered the way he said Thank You to me when we wanted to part goodbye. I will forever remember that specific day. Thanks to you too Flo, i am now so into French Rap. Merci, mon salope.
Then there's Robin, Flo's little brother. I thought they were bestfriends but they turned out to be biological brothers. He's definitely the clown in the kitchen. Always doing stupid immature shits in the kitchen, that pissed Chef Jean off HAHAHA. But i love you Robin, for friend-zoning me yet still called me "your wife". For knowing that i wanted milk not coffee in the morning, and for always giving me the leftover mousse. Thank you for also giving me leftover desserts. You're crack but the good, awesome kind of crack. and Theo, the oldest and the wittiest guy in the kitchen. Who would blurt out something randomly, and that random blurt would be the funniest shit of the day. Like motivating Syazrin to sweep the floor by saying "Come on, i'll pay you with rice" just cause we're Malaysians. Or how he thought we we're born "in rice" cause again, asians.
Anne, my mignon champignon. I want to be nothing but just like her. Serious with her job, yet still very playful and fun. She's a machine, according to Chef Jean. She rather not eat unless her tasks are all done. Very fast, steady and a strong strong woman amidst the male dominated kitchen. All that mannerism but still an adorable little softie who cried at 2 malaysian girl leaving. I flippin love you Anne, i seriously do. Thank you for alwaysssss so enthusiastically teaching me in out and around the kitchen, and for always remembering me when there's extra mignardise. I love you beacoup my fromage buddy.
Alicia and Camille too, of course. Eventhough i must admit these two can be a bit of an emotional turbulent sometimes, but they can be the nicest person too. I miss our singing session while wiping the tedious annoyying set of cutleries, and Camille, for random spanks and bisous on the cheek in the very same minute.
Now we have the fun guys of the restaurant, the service team! Vincent, who is indeed the best! Jino and Tibo, who i must admit my two favourite guys. They look like Jesus, i am not even kidding. These two are the contagiously happy people who is constantly on positive pills. After lunch service before going home, i often would sit with them in the service area while they're doing their work, and these 2 are two talkative birds would talk and talk to me, that i usually spent 30 solid minutes just hanging out with them. Jino called me "Tony Hawk" just cause i bought a skateboard. Tibo on the other hand is a mean harsh guy who would flip you up real bad if you allow him to, but ofcourse, joking and "lovingly". Gosh i miss my man-bun men. Of course, Elo and Erwin, the power couple, Musy the pasteque, and Sophie, my french put!
Being in the kitchen was so fun, 3 months just passed like that. There's so much to miss, but i miss the pain traditional, so flipping much.
On my offdays, i would walk around Carcassonne, randomly that i have found several favourite spots. Carcassonne felt so like home i don't feel scared being outside at 1am alone, eventho that one night traumatized me, but that god that happened quite at the end of my 3 months there LOL. There was the castle itself, which is a pain in the ass to go up to, but from there, it overlooked the whole city, and during sunset hour, the view is like no other. Strolling around the castle and saying "Bonjour" to all the familliar faces, while walking down the rocky studded paveways to work, was one of the things i enjoyed being there.
Sometimes, i would go to Bistro Blasco, Julien, Chef Jean son's restaurant, just to hang out with him (cause he's flipping nice) the staffs, and of course Edward and Rod. And of course, for their BOMB meli melo and creme brulee! And my ultimate favourite place to eat, L'Oasis. Kebab like no other seriously. The amount of coming there to eat was too flippin much that the "Babang Oasis" himself knew i'd have whatever i'd ordered with Algeriene sauce.
Monoprix would be somewhat like our kedai runcit, padahal it's one of those expensive department/gorcery stores *facepalm* Cause Geant or Carrefour required us to take a bus there and we were a bunch of ultimately busy and always occupied interns. But Carrefour or Pont Rouge was lit. It has a cinema but all movies were all in French, and most importantly of course, Burger King!
Andrew, another fellow Taylors student we happened to terjumpa there, who was definitely lonely before he met us HAAHAHHA. But yeah, he was cool and a helpful senior, who showed us the most beautifl spot by the river. Can't wait to go yumcha with you when you're back!
Sophie, the not so goody two shoes. Who loves saying flip flop and always spoiling me with cheese. Who selflessly stream France WC matches for us cause we didn't have internet in the begining. Noah, my spanish housemate, who's a rebel and convincingly asked me to get a tattoo and colour my hair red too just cause i am 21 HAHAHA *facepalm*
I witness the most beautiful firework for St Bastille Day. We had to rush after work and all of us settled down by the cathedral to watch the firework blasted just right above our heads. Seeing how the colour changed from red to blue, and glancing side to side to see the smiling faces of my colleagues, was a night to remember.
Or that time when France won the flipping World Cup. Gosh that was surreal. All of us watched the match at Taverne Du Chateau but had to leave halfway because of work. We continued watching the match in the kitchen thanks to Flo, and when it was finally full time, the whole restaurant went crazy. No, the whole France. Man, that was one heck of a day.
You know, i'd be glad writing these down cause one day, when i am old and blue, i'd look back and realize, what a year i've had. Being 20-21 has been extremely cool so far. I hope 2018 remains incroyable until the end.
