Wassup??

I havent updated since we shift
It has been crazy period of
Unpacking, setting up, order furniture,
Searching for decor ideas, arranging...
Well, you get the flow.
On top of all, 
My work started and days seems shorter
While weekends are packed..
Arrrgh 
At least all is fine.

Anyway, i received a letter to return to my school
To receive a new sponsored french class!
While im not excited to go back to the same school,
I guess free classes are good.
Just a quick summary, 
I completed level a1 and dropped out 3 weeks in level a2.

As usual,
The receptionist still sucks 
At least now i can defend myself and not feel like idiot.
She insisted that i give her a copy of my class test result
Which i was supposed to receive last december.
I did not received anything in midst of all the drama
And i forgot about it.
I mean i was enrolled into lvl a2,
Is common sense that i passed the a1 class test right?
I have the letter indicating i completed lvl a1
And there should be some data in the school's computer?
NO!

Welcome to this stupid school!
She insist i should ask for my class test result
Or retake the test now.
I was so pissed off and agreed to take the test.
I was put into a group of newcomers to take the test
Except is not a test for a1
Is the very first test i took last year,
Just to differential your basic lvl of french.

After the 30m test,
I waited for my turn to see the teacher.
Surprisingly, she was 1 of the teachers
That came to cover my class a few times last year
She recognized me before i did.
She didnt looked at the test i did, wtf.
She say im definitely to be in lvl a2
And she knew about the drama last year
And assured me that now will be better. 
Everything seems good huh?

I informed her that i shifted.
And she say i cant be in the school
Because now im living in another district.
She will send my file to the other district.
Wtf.
I waste 1.5hrs for nothing.

Later in the evening,
She emailed me that she cant send my file 
To the new school and im to contact them
The craziest part,
The school is so far from my home 
That is nearer for me to attend a school in paris!

Husband had the "fun" to call the school
they insist that the gov agency must send them the file
They cant just take in a student like this
Husband called the agency and no answer.
Anyway, i think we will search for a school on our own.
At least, i need not contact that school again.

Just some random to end:

We had a greek food gathering with friends 

We bought a cheapo lightsaber nightlight

We finally shifted!

After the seem-forever wait to shift,
We finally collected our keys on friday!
After a quick inspection of the home,
We did found some wear and tear
That were hidden by the furniture.
But i guess we could live with it 
And it was too late to complain, haha.

After, we went to the notary to sign our life away
And became proud owners!
Although the home is quite clean,
We still did a clean up 
Because of my ocd genes from my mum.
And unload the 2 huge bags of stuff we brought along.

It was hard to tear ourselves away from the new home
And returned to our old home
For final packing and dismantling the bed frame.

The next day,
Sis in law came early to go collect the truck
Apart from the family,
Im thankful for the 3 friends that came.
I cant imagine how we can shift alone with the family.
The friends brought more carton boxes along,
Everyone seems to be surprised that all had been done
And everyone just need bring the stuff down.

Despite being on 3rd level,

With narrow staircase and no lift

We managed to shift everything!

Except for the washing machine,

Which was to be transfer to a friend's home

To exchange for another model.

In the end, the boys give up,

The owner will have a washing machine

But we still collected the new machine.

Unloading was much simpler and faster

Since we stay on the ground floor.

Everyone was praising the new home!

I guess the size was small

and photos didnt do the new home justice,

So everyone was surprised how nice it is.

I think is more of they spent 1hr+ at old home

That the new home is a nice comparison, haha.

After unloading, we had lunch

And surprised my mother in law with a cake.

I abandoned her at the supermarket

To secretly buy a cake and flowers, haha.

It was her 60th birthday! 

After everyone left,

Husband went return truck with sis in law.

I managed to unpack some stuff

And we are still trying to survive without sofa

(we only have 1 chair now) and fridge.

Yesterday, we forced ourselves 

To returned to old home to clean up

Today, im going back again for last cleaning.

After, it will be forever bye bye to that

And focus on our new home! 

Happenings in geneve

Since sis was busy with meetings,
We woke up early to breakfast together
And i spent the day wandering in geneve.
As usual, geneve to me is like a big raffles place,
nothing much to do.
                                                                             
The 2nd and 3rd day passed quickly,                   
Shopping for sis and myself              
My hair had been a crazy mess
and i have the crazy idea to grow up my white hair     
But hairsalons were crazily expensive
That i borrowed a scissor from the hotel
And snipped off my own hair!      
Haha, i think it looks decent.                  
*pardon my round face*

On the fourth day,

I googled and found the flea market was on.

Google map told me that is a 20min walk

From the train station                        

But as usual, i got lost                

And found it after 45min walk, opps

Well, at least i found it.

It was not a big flea market

But i spent 2hrs there searching for treasures

I fell in love with a "small" table

Which cost 60chf (before bargaining)

Husband was not very keen.

Sadly, i gave up to buy

Because it was too big 

Its going to be very difficult to bring it

In my train back to paris :(

Ill definitely buy it if i was in paris!

Sis was off for the evening

So i persuaded her to go for korean food!

I cant remember the last time i ate proper korean food in a restaurant.

We ended up lost again

But was glad to exercise before arriving. 

Food was expensive

Well, at least i was super happy!

The next day it was time for me to go.

Farewells are always hard.

As much as i was sad,

I was also looking forward to return

And shift to my new home!

Nevertheless,

The trip was really great!                                 

I had the alone time that i loved,          

Sisters quality time

(i think the last time we travelled alone

Was before the kids came!),                   

And the huge bag of singaporean goodies

To survive till i return next year.

Back in geneve again

So, sister is in geneve again for her company's event
Last year I came here to be babysitter for her kids.
This year, I came to visit sister
But she is busy with her meetings and dinners
That I get to roam around geneve alone.
Apart from seeing her in the mornings and nights...
We met up on sunday to spend more time together.

Basically, there's nothing much in geneve
But I enjoying roaming the streets alone
Under sister's colleague's recommendation,
I tried the mac's sundae with chocolate sauce,
And im surprised that the chocolate sauce taste better!

Is crazy how everything is so expensive
More expensive than in paris!
A mac sundae costs 3,70chf 
Or a croissant is 1,85chf!
No wonder they pay better in geneve
They need the extra income to survive here!

Although french is one of their main language,
Most speak english to me 
and not let me practice my french.
Well, is good to be able to not struggle with language.

However, unlike other french countries I have been to
I kinda feel people are cold.
The usual "bonjour" and "au revoir" don't happen
In stores, cafes and hotel! 
Maybe im too used to life in paris
Where everyone always greet everyone, haha.

One more day to go....

Day 7 - Anduze (SJDG)

HAPPY 33RD BIRTHDAY TO HUSBAND!!

We went supposed to take a bus at 835am to the nearby town for a visit and the market
Luckily, aunt decided to go with us in her car that we left home at 930am instead.
The town was more lively and bigger that Saint Jean Du Gard
that husband and i really love the atmosphere and buildings...

We had lunch at a restaurant

but was trapped indoor when a big storm and wind came

which make it unsure to drive through the mountain roads.

after some waiting, wwe managed to brave through the rain to the car

and reached home safety 

We had a small birthday celebrations at home

and husband received plenty of gifts from the family

while my gift for him was still somewhere in the shipping. Haha

In the evening, we went for the bistro again for a family dinner

to celebrate husband and mother in law birthday.

We managed to see some shooting stars as it was the period for shooting stars in the area

and then it rained through our last night in SJDG

Day 8-

We woke up really early to prepare ourselves and spend some time with the grandparents

before taking the bus at 0715 to the train station.

As usual, i took the carsick pills and remained sleepy through the bus and train ride,

we reached home at around 1300.

And that was the end of our summer holiday 2015...

Day 4, 5 & 6 (SJDG)

Day 4 
was the best day of the trip because i did nothing
After the previous days of mountain and river,
i rested the day at home to nurse my muscle aches
while husband, his sis and bf  went to climb a more difficult mountain.

Day 5 
In the morning, we went to the market of the town
Which is supposed to be the most happening event of the village.
There was plenty of food, clothes and items 
Just that we didnt had enough time to explore all the market before lunch.
Anyway, i wasnt feeling too well from the heat and crowd...

we went back to the river but this time was to nua
We didnt walked too far into the river
and found a point to just lie and relax.
I think this is more my type of river exploration.
Lying around, do nothing, occassion into the water...
and finally i have the time and attention to look around,
instead of focusing on my feel in fear of falling in the river

Day 6  

In the morning, his sis and boyf went leaving for their 7hrs drive home

While the rest of the husband and i spent the day at home

and i managed to finished my book in a day.

Crazy how i left this book unread for 1yr+ and only ended up to be super interested in it

to finished it within 24 hours.

In the evening, we went for a show on the history of Catholics vs Protestants with mother in law

Again, my limited french did not help me to understand it

And that ends the slacking period of our holiday...

Day 3 - My first river (SJDG)

We went for a family lunch at a nearby bistro.
After lunch, we accompanied the sis and bf to buy the region's famous vase.
We thought to buy something for the new home,
but couldnt really think of what to buy.

Since sis and boyf went for canyoning at the river nearby the previous week.
We decided to go to the same river to explore.
Canyoning was basically going through the river, sliding down small riverfalls 
and jumping from the edges:

It was my first river exploration and i thought it would be an easy walk.

With my limited swimming skills and not loving water,

it ended up to be a very difficult river walk for me.

Husband assured me that it was a difficult route for canyoning

so it was normal for me to find it hard and suffer cuts on my the other leg

Yes, Saint Jean Du gard is dangerous for me, haha

I did tried my first jump from a 3m cliff

I think fear of bad swimming stopped me from trying other jumps

or going further into the river

that i just find a spot to relay and wait for them to return

We spent about 3 hours at the river and went back for dinner.

After dinner, we went for a theatre play with mother in law.

Sadly, my level of french is insufficient to understand the play

but its my first theatre experience in France.

With body and mind totally tired,

we knocked out early and fast that night...