News from the front!!!
Hello everyone,
First of all, thanks to all of you for your kindness, your advice, your attention! I was just delighted to see that so much of you wrote a comment upon what I've posted before.
Well, I hope that the few following lines are going to answer to all of your questions, about me, my life in Paris and my studies. Maybe, it will be just the beginning of the answer, and we will have the rest in next post.
Today, as Helen has said is November 11th and as a lot of countries in Europe, France commemorates this special day. I always feel lucky when I watch images or pictures of the First World War not to have seen the attrocities of war, and especially not to have live it. I was born in a country which knows peace and freedom. But, to my mind, this day could be the opportunity not only to think about this war, but also to other wars that still take place in some part of the world and to their victims. We could say lots of things about war, about how it's disgusting, useless... but war still exists. I am sad of it, and that is why I dedicated this few lines to all the people who suffer from war.
It's hard after such a message to speak about other things, but we are going on with lighter things. What about my day? November 11th is one of the many day-off that exists in France. I have already talked about this specificity in my last blog. But here, I'm going to give you a pinch of french cultur. November 11th was this year a tuesday, so we make a bridge ("faire le pont" in french), which means that after the week-end, we don't even return back to work on monday, not either on tuesday which is the real day-off. So, we have a 4 days-off. I don't know if it exists in other countries, but you can't imagine how I like this system. So, I went to the commemoration of this special day: some people are dressed up as soldiers, and some old cars are showed off. In spite of I'm a girl, I'm just crazy about cars. And those ones, are really old. It was some old Renault of the beginning of the 20th century, with leathure seats, big steering wheel. To my mind, Renault is linked with France. So, what do you think about it? What is linked with France in your mind?
But, this 4 days have been busy. As I have talked about last time, and a lot of you have been interested in having more information about it, I have studied a lot for my alternance. This is a special studying status which is quite developed in french studies. The principle is to share a month into two parts, one at work and the other at school. "Alternance" is really nice for both of the people involved: for the companies, they trained people during one year and have after a well-prepared workers who knows the way the society works. And for the student, it's a way to have experience which is very important when you are looking for a job. But also, you are paid as you are a real worker, instead of when you are only a student. Well, Marianna, external form of studying during the week-ends exists in France, also some are in the evenings, but are different from my status.
To tell you the truth, it is a very busy year, as I have to deal simultaneously with theorical knowledge and complexe law concepts and practice at work. To answer your question, Hyoshill, I'm still wondering if I want to be an insurance lawyer. Since I went to the Lloyd's in London and met some underwriters, I'm also interested by this job. So, I am waiting for the end of this year, next september, to choose.
I work in La Défense, which is the business center of Paris. It is mainly composed of skycrapers and I'm not really found of this kind of architectur and the general atmosphere of this place. Concerning the architectur, skycrapers make me suffer from vertigo and I prefer Haussmanien buildings, the ones that you can find in the city center of the capital. They are smaller and are made of stones, instead of glass and I am really found of the front, which sometimes is sculpted. The atmos"fear" of La Défense is scary: getting to it by public transport is harsh every morning as the underground is full. The first time that I get in, I was just astonished by the noise of heels on the ground and how people is running all the time. For your information, I have not all my life live in Paris, and until my fifteen years, I used to live in the countryside, this explaining my reaction when I discovered Paris and especially La Défense. And yes, Koorosk, Paris is a beautiful city, but as every big city, it's sometimes hard to live in as people are stressed out and even the conditions of living make you stressed out. But, all that stuff is forgotten when you have a walk near the Seine, or at Montmartre.
About insurance, concerning your question Ramin, I can tell you that oil companies are covered under their fire insurance for material damage. But, can you just precise your question if it concerns financial loss or just material damage?
And, I don't forget you Helen: about the use of the form "used", after reading many times this expression "used to misusing used to? Let's get used to using it accurately", I finally quite understand it. It's a way to say that now we can speak about a habit which someone has in the past with this special form properly. And concerning the embolded words, I have few questions concerning "poppy day". Why does this day named by this red flower? You have talked about the colour that everybody uses in England, but why it is the emblem of the end of war? Concerning the other words,
- Tribute is a special day to think about someone or something and to speak about it;
- grind to a halt is to make a stop;
- Weary-war means that we are all tired of war
- And last but not least, get into the flow of things: well, I find the translation in french which I can translate by "se remettre dans le bain", but it is hard for me to explain it in english. It's a way to get back to something?!
About the topic, what about talking about sports? Do you just watch it, practice it or totally live sports? For me, sport is really important, it is a way to release pressure and have fun with friends.
Read you soon and good night everyone!
Olfa
Comments
Hi Olfa! Well, in Brazil these holidays bridges are very common too. However, I work at a company that doesn´t make bridges. Anyway, that´s ok for me now because I got used to it after 10 years working there. Hmm... what comes to my mind when I think about France is François Truffaut. Do you like going to the cinema Olfa? Good night and have sweet dreams, Ana Paula.
Hi Olfa! I wonder from what a fear to write English could have rooted in you. Wholly unreasonabe for it is a pleasure to read your delightful and meaningful lines. The description of La Défense made me almost to feel that oppressive atmosphere. Now I agree that alternance studying status is an useful form at preparing well-trained workers directly to the praxis. Even, I recon, it should be urgently developed in my country too for the lack of well-qualified workers here. Each our goverment tries to reform everything but results of that effort, except eating lots of money unefectively, are desultory and despair. Unfortunately, it goes so in education. I am looking forward to the post about sports and your free time activities and I would like to hear something about your life on a countryside as I am living in a small village but studied years ago in Prague. Thanks a lot!
HI, Olfa Thank you for your wonderful answer of my question. My car is Renault that it’s very reliable and strong. I’ve kept it for 5years and I still like it very much. I wasn’t interested in any cars at all before my child was born. But things have been completely changed because he is a car-mania and our family’s daily life never goes without talking about cars. He specially loves Le Mans circuit in France. I am really happy that you gain your confidence to write us again, and I am looking forward to next post. See you soonxx
Hi Olfa. Thank you very much for yor interesting post. It's very remarkable, considering how a busy girl you are. Well. Here we have those bridges too, but we call them Sandwichs, as if the monday were the jam or the chesse between the bread. But later, workers have to recover the missing time, ussually working an extra hour every day for a week. Yo asked what France resembles to me. Well certainly Renault, and Peugeuot and Citroen too. Also Roquefort cheese, champagne and, off course the Eiffel Tower. Cheers.
Hi Olfa, congratulations. You are a good communicator and you put "bridges" with us making this open questions. (very good, indeed). Speaking about Le Françe my mind gives me: Citroën, escargots, petanca and Pastis 45. Here in Spain we also call brige to the days that link a week end with a day off. I repeat, congratulations and go on with your fantastic style. See you, Toni.
Hi,Olfa! France is linked ,in my mind to a lot of contrarieties:on one hand :Freedom, Social contract,Graet philosoghers from Rosso-to-Michel Foucault,on the other:colonialism,and fanatism to their language.
Hi Olfa, I hope you have overcome the fear and started writing fearlessly. it's good. keep on writing. what kind of sports you like much. share some of your experience in London. War free world, it is nice think about that but is it possible?
bonjour,Olfa !I am very impressed by your enthusiasm and your courage taking so much time in your tight time-schedule to write your blog since beginning november.I just wanted to congratulate you . I came to this internet site because it was indicated to me by a friend who has decided,like me, to try to improve her english. So you see, you, a french girl, are the first human connection I am presently using through BBC. Isn't it funny?
Salut Olfa I'd like to welcome you first for being our new blogger and sorry for being late to do so.French is my second language and it's a nice language too. I'm a college student and I do teach twice a week basic French for some pupils. This helps me to refresh my French skills. Learning an other language is always amazing and very useful. Prend soin de toi. Bïa
Hi Olfa, nice to read you. You are good in English. Post some photos also to make the blog more colourful. I liked the sharing_ time_education_system. Here evening classes for working peoples are being conducted by some colleges/universites ( from 5 pm onwards) Studying law subject is really a challenge. Student is bound to cram many past verdicts alongwith concerned names and dates. During my commerce graduation, I study only one subject related to Law i.e. Business law & merchant law and I was fearful about this subject. I fancy to visit your beautiful and great country.
Hi Olfa , It's really interesting to read your lines . In my country , we do not have the bridge .It is depend on the flexible policy of particular company. In state companies , we must work at the specified time to get the day off like that . I found the key for your question : - The origin of the Poppy Day : After the bloodiest battle of the First World War - the Battle of Flanders in Belgium - the poppy was the only one creature that still survived on the sea of mud . It was the symbol of hope and life . We had the poems to commemorate the died soldiers . We worn the poppy "in honor of our dead " .
Olfa, It´s nice to read your posts. And don´t be affraid to share your ideas. It's the difference that makes the world an interesting place. Thank you for your posts.
Hello Olfa, first of all, welcome to this blogland. What comes to my mind when I think of France, well, the first thing I think of is French language 'cause I like your language and am also learning it on my own and through the internet. Second thing which I think of is French food and Paris of course which, in my country, people say that it's a city of perfumes. Olfa tell us something about the fashion industry of France as I have heard that it's a home to the designers all round the world. Best wishes, Naheed
Hi, Olfa, from your mercy to all the people who suffer from the war I see a very kind-hearted French girl, which make me to encourage myself to write to you even if I am poor at English. In my country, we don’t have day-offs like your bridge, usually the week-end would be used in advance or put off to be connected with the real holidays and we work on week-end days for compensation. Speaking of the France, a lot of stuffs come into my mind such as Triumphal Arch, Eiffel Tower, perfumes, fashion shows, delicious food and romantic French. Best regards, Shali
I think "making the bridge" as you say is a good thing because you can have a four-day week end so you can go on holiday instead of going to school and the day after not going to school.
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