Francesca in France

Bonjour!

I was off during the weekend, so I took advantage of giving you a story.
Experiences that might happen to you, while in another country.

I have a problem with my Cell Phone (Telephone Portable in French)
I lost the signal all the time.
I received only messages after someone called but I didnt hear any ringtones when my cp was not even MUTE MODE .
I went to the Cellphone company.

The lady said to me: No need for you to fix it here, just call 700 and they will fix the problem to you direct.

Ok,

I called 700 and the man said, they detected, my sim card is toooo old, 5years old and my CP is a new Blackberry.
I must visit the CP company to have my Sim Card changed.

I arrived 10 am the next day.
With Michel.
The receptionist said, she will note my name, and I will be called.
One hour later, 11 am , I was still waiting.
At 12 noon I had to go to work.
In Monaco. 30mins to take a train .

A lady arrived.
Chit chatted with her friends, or colleague before working.
A typical french employee.
Blah blah with colleague before attending the clients.

I told Michel if he can ask the lady to attend to me.
Michel made the move but the lady continue to chit chat with another client whom being attended by her colleague.
Eventually, she noticed Michel and she went to the list of next client.
At last, she noticed she had to work.

She called my name, I told her the problem, she asked my CP number and said she will change my Sim Card, free as I am on monthly subscription.
She typed the entries on her PC
She chatted at the same time with the client.
Time was running.
Slow, as far as I can see it.

The train I supposed to take, was gone.
Another hour to wait.
I will arrive work at 1pm instead of 12 noon.
I lost one hour.

I decided to be polite and bear the situation while she continue to chat with the client who lost own CP.

At last, after thirty minutes of waiting in front of her desk, she asked me if I wanted all files in my old Sim card to put in the new Sim Card.
18euros.
I said, okey,( because I dont want to lose some phone numbers on my files.)

She told me to pay to the Cashier.

In the cashier booth, the client who lost her CP was again chatting up the cashier.
Thirty minutes, still they didnt finish and there was also an impatient lady before me.
I was simmering.
Im late now;
On top, my employer was calling,
I didnt answer,
Until ...
I cant stand it anymore.

I went to the first lady, dropped her the new SIM Card, and told her, I cannot wait, Im going.

I ran out, took the escalator down, Michel was following.

The lady followed me, from the top of the escalator,requested me if I can come back and she will do it herself.
I didnt bother.
I continue to go down the escalator.
She followed.
Being a nice person, I waited for her down the floor.

"Madame, please, can we go back to the shop, so we can sort this out?
"Im mad, now, been two hours waiting for just a change of SIM card, I m late now to go to work, my employer had been calling me three times!"(While almost crying due to uncontrolled emotions.)
She said, she can fix it, I just return with her to the shop.
I went back.
We sat in front of her PC.
She programmed something, change the sim card inside my cp and gave the cp to me.

"VOILA, Madame, it s done.You can go now."
"I have to pay 18euros."
"No need, it is free. Just go, you said you are late to work now"(she was smiling)
"Sorry , I was mad waiting, hope you understand me."
"At your service Madame, see you next time soon!"

I took the train, and of course I was late.
My employer didnt say a thing.
She better be. I have a bad day already.

Now, that my CP got new SIM Card, , it has still NO SIGNAL! Grrrr!

Im using at the moment an old CP from my storeroom until I can buy a new one from my points.

Meanwhile, when I sent the Blackberry to Lorraine, in Phils , it has prefect signal all the time!!!

ARRGGGhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

Labels: cellphones

Bonjour!

The days goes fast quick. It is now July 10 and in twenty days, I might not see Monaco for a while.

I have a story to tell. A coffeemate's tale.

Her employer left for St. Tropez.
St Tropez is a beach area where the rich plays golf, tennis, jet ski, horse riding,sun bathing shopping. It is a two hour and half ride from Monaco. Some would take a private plane to go there, via Mandelieu Airport.

Anyway, the building where the employer lives is a bit special. Staffs, employees do not pass by the front lift. They must use the back lift.

Okey, fine, there's segregation of the goats and the lambs, eheste,of those who" have" and those who "do not have"...

Fine. Staffs at the back, Proprietors at front.
Good enough it is not my employers building, because I will not!
I will befriend the concierge. I go to the back lift but at second floor I will take the front lift. hahaha!
Oist, wag nyo ako gayahin...

If I were her, everytime I go down with the kid to go out, I will pass by the back to be obedient, and let the 4year old kid tàke the lift at the front!
And let the mother knows about it.
Ganyan ako ka bad.
Im bad.

Today, on going summer sale 2009 all over europe(?).
Michel and I went to San Remo Italy to "look around".
Then we àte lunch in a bar.
The bill wàs not much, 25€
We wanted to pay by card.
Ngek they dont accept plastic nor checks!
I checked my wallet, I got only 7€ and Michel 15€
So we joked each other: "We can start now clearing the tables and wash the dishes!!!!"
The next table commented: We got the same problem. We are now in 20th century, unbelievable,they dont accept bank cards!!!!
The waitress said:" We cant process cards Sir, the owner threw the bank machine to the sea."
We all laughed!
Lokong waitress binuking ang amo, haha.

So Michel went out to get some cash in ATM machine.
He came back, his card was expired, lol
I gave mine,because I know it works.
Hopefully.

When he came back, he said, "due to my pride, I took some cash in the machine using my Carrefour (Grocery)Card and there"s money....Haaahh, feeling relieved..."

Lolo ayaw maghugas, haha.

We went to window shopped on more.
Pramis ,it was a window shop ...(with Benetton summer clothes in hand when we went out, lol.)
Uy, advert, 50% off sila. Sarap!

We went home at Five pm. We saw two tourist buses stucked in the road,which made the traffic heavy.
One motorbike stopped in our front and did the traffic.
A Toyota Altis ,brand new , french plate number overtook the buses.
The Italian screamed: CALME CALME!(meaning the driver must be patient, let the Buses do the maneuover...)
The Toyota Altis still pushed to overtake:
What the Italian in motorbike did?
He went off his motorbike, faced the driver in Toyota Altis, and I was shocked!

HE HELD HIS BALLS IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER and shook it hahahaha!!!

Michel was laughing saying to me:
See how an Italian and the French become passionate with one another????

I laughed, but I didnt know what it means, and I dont want to ask Michel, but do you get what the action means?

Labels: Lifestyle ala francesca

Bonjour!

Today, when I went to the office, I saw a CV of a Filipina asking for employment with my present Employer.
I was thinking: Did my Boss, put an ads immediately to replace me?

I took the phone number in the CV and called the lady after my work . I used Michels celphone to call her number.
Michel didnt like it I will call the lady, because he found it too nosey and he doesnt want me to aggress the lady filipina.
I told him, not to aggress the lady, I just want to know where she got the news that my employer is looking for someone. Without fights.
Naman...
Michel rolled his eyes.

Still, I called the number. "NOSEY PARKER" ako eh.

Krring, then she answered asap!

-Bonjour, Madame T-----?
-Yes, Madame.
(I spoke to her in french, as if Im the employer)

-Do you speak french?
-Very little, Madame.
-Okey, je voudrais savoir comment vous avez découvert que j'engageait quelqu'un pour mon agence ?
-Ah, Madame, parlez anglais, sil vous plait,( pwede ba english na lang?)
-How did you know I was looking for someone to work for me?
-Ah, from a friend in Nice, Madame, in the train?
-Who's friend?
-Ah Madame, in ads, in newspaper ads...
(as I didnt know if my Boss put some ads, I go along to ask :)

Can you be declared in Monaco?
Yes, Madame, Im having a resident card in France.
-Can you cook some meals, and what cuisine it will be?
-Madame, ah,...pasta Madame.
-Anything else?( A long pause from her) Asiatic meals, for example?
-Ah, yes, nems, (lumpia shanghai), noodles, rice...

-Okey, you are living in Nice, how about if there's grève?
-Sorry?
-Grève, you know, manifestation, rally.
-Madame, I take a bus, autobus.

(I would like to ask her what if it is total grève, no bus no train? But i stopped, poor thing, its not her fault if France got laws on rights to rally.)

-Okey. As I have some other cvs to call, I let you know as soon as I would like hire you.

Dear, nakonsensiya ako, I told her to call her as soon as there's news of the work available.

In France kasi, if we resident card holders cannot find work, our resident cards will not be renewed. We might get deported for not earning here. Like they do in Italy. One day, I will call her to refer her to those who email me for work.
Seems she is a nice lady. Simple and will do anything to get a job.

The next day, Michel 's celphone rang. And the lady filipina asked Michel to know if she is hired.

Michel answered: "Oh, I dont know about that..."

And he looked at me.

I turned and went out to go to work...
I escaped like road runner.
I will call her one day to give the offers I got.

Today, Wednesday, July 8,the concierge told me, a new tenant will arrive next week.
They asked for someone to look after them.
"What Floor? Which area?" I asked.
"Just in front of your employer's door, same floor."

Fantastic.

Bonjour!

I wrote an email to answer an ad in the internet.
This is my letter:

HI, Madame ------,

Good day;

Just to let you know, that I resigned to my previous work last July 1 and will leave work at the last day of July 31, 2009
My reason of leaving my employer is because ....., ......

If you still need someone to look after your household , I would like to have an appointment with you.
Im free to start working fully in August 2009.
If you want me to start immediately this month of July, I can fix the hours to work with you in the morning 9am to 1pm Monday to Friday.
I am experience, serious, with references and have ten years residency in France. I can travel too;
And I can prepare meals (asiatic french italian) if you like me to do.
My salary is XX euros per hour. Same with my last employer's.

Please let me know.

Thank you, Madame and welcome back to Monaco


That was yesterday, then just today, I got her response:



Dear Francesca,


Thank you very much for your email and for remembering that we are looking for someone. We arrived in Monaco today so perhaps we could meet sometime next week whenever is convenient for you.


We live at Chateau de P------, Boulevard de Suisse. Our home telephone is xxxxxxxx.


We look forward to meeting you.
Best wishes,
L


Girls, I was thinking of going to Phils in August for a month holidays, and here, another employment offer coming soon.
That letter was just a try, and a new employer responded the NEXT day.
Anyway, I cant toast with you a champagne yet, because I have to see them first next week.
If the hours , salary and benefits are okey, why not?
Five zeros pa rin in php, if possible, hehe.


My Madame today,asked me again if i really have to go, i told her im so worn out, I wanted to relax, she offered me to stay in her resthouse in Munich, in a month ,to have relaxation she will pay everything, just for me to stay working with her.

Girls, I was so honored.


Two days ago, I was worried, what would happen if I cant find work immediately.
Then Michel said (or told me off): Where is you faith ? Ow, Madame!

Et voila.



PS: Oh, good news, the Chateau(Castle) where i will be working next, is next to Butler's work .
Aha, magkikita kami neto, ahihihihii.

But I was thinking, sana sa same apartment na lang ng Madame ko nakatira yung bago kong employer,

Encore >ahi hihihihiii...

(to be edited in 24hours for the photos of Monaco.) Eto na:

Labels: french life and work

Bonjour!
I quit my work.
Got fed up of parties and travels, I fnd it soo boring, I quit.

I told my employer about resigning.
She got panic attack.
She told me I cant.
I told her I can.

-You cannot leave your work just like that!!!!
-Im giving you a month notice, Madame!
-Where do you think I can get a replacement in a month?

She almost cracked up, she told me she will call Labor Office.

Ngek, normally, employee lang nag susumbong sa Labor office noh!

Out of desperation, she mentioned of calling the Police!
Nag panick attack nga!
I told her, we still HAVE a month to go, Im still coming to work until July 31!!

She didnt listen to me, she called her secretary:

-Catherine, please call labor office about Francesca leaving her post in a month if it is legal for her to leave.

(Bah, kala neto,di ko alam ang batas na one month pre notice)

Nagulat si Secretary. She knows it, but she still called Labor Office and LABOR OFFICE confirmed to them, I got the rights to leave in a month as long as I made it known officially to the employer...

Eh, that time my employer was so panicky, she didnt read my letter of resignation, that Im, giving her a month notice!!!!
She asked me why I wanted to resign.
I told her, I found a new employer.
Pero wala, lol

Waaah, it hurts her bigtime, she left.

Because If I say im fed up of parties, she would lie low and she would start again...

Here is the letter I made, taken from internet, lol

Madame,

J'ai l'honneur de porter à votre connaissance que je suis démissionnaire de mes fonctions que j'occupe depuis le Mai 2005 au sein de votre société.
I got the honor to bring to your attention that I am resigning my position that I have since 2005 May in your company.

Pour respecter le délai-congé d'une durée d'un mois comme précisé dans mon contrat de travail je quitterai l'entreprise le 31 JULLIET 2009

In respect of the duration of the term of notice of one month mentioned in my contract of work, I will leave the office on 31 July 2009

Je reste à votre disposition, afin de convenir d'un rendez-vous à votre convenance.

I remain at your disposal in order to have an appointment with you at your convenience.

Je vous prie d'agréer, Madame, Monsieur, l'assurance de mes sentiments très distingués.

Madam, Sir,with all due respect (ewan kung tama yan, hehe) .
I think it is not proper translation if:
I assure you of my very distinguished feelings.
Parang hindi tama, lol

Mme Francesca

She left me and went to the office. I called the secretary if my salary for the month of june is ready. Sec said, she didnt sign your check.
Nagtatampo nga!



The next day, I went to work, she seems troubled, still in her pajamas at 12 noon, but ready to sign for a peace treaty, lol
She was ever so polite and accomodating, that it breaks my heart.
Five years ko ba naman inalagaan ang buhay niya!

Anyway, I walked doggie and passed by the post office to drop my letter of resignation via registred mail.
She cannot contest it, it is now official.

I felt better that time. Feeling liberated, feeling no chain attached to my neck.

If you remember girls, we went to Munich, feeling vacation ala carte, after our holiday in her resthouse, yun pala, she just ready me for big parties after that trip!

The secretary told me today: "Madame was so happy,she sees you working again," seems Im back to my old self daw.

Me:Catherine, I got a month to go, might as well do it as my last souvenier to her, hehe.Did she receive my registered mail already?
-No. She didnt arrive at office today, but your letter arrived.Monday she will read it. But she do not take your resignation seriously, I feel???
-She does what she likes, Cath, but im leaving.
- I wish I got your courage to leave.
-Cath, your trade is different from mine. You are for office work, Im for personal service. (Meaning, in Monaco, personal service is in demand.There are always employers who wants the best for what ever the price as long as she or he is the best.They got money these lots. They are ready to spend.

And even Maid lang po ang Lola nyo, AT MATARAY, I still kept my feet on the ground.
Sige work, until 13 hours today, sige, magsawa employer ko sa akin, inayos ko mga closet niya, basta in a month, I go!

Girls, hindi po sa pagyayabang, Non stop work, 12hours everyday mon to sat; daku ang sweldo. 5 zeros in pesos, a month.

But I dont have a life of my own!
MY LIFE IS ALWAYS AROUND HER;

Last week another party in the boat for 34guests in Monaco Port!
Tomorrow, Tour de France 2009 starting in Monaco, she will also invite her friends.
Im fed up. Im not used to it.
I want just a simple life at work: 9-5 , go home cook some meals for my family, blog , play with my cats,and go to bed.

But if I tell her that, she would say: I thought you are happy because I give you the salary that you wanted, still not happyyyyyy?

As usual, na french culture na naman po ang Lola nyo;

The FRENCH works to live.
THEY dont live to work.

Start of June 2009 me hawak na silang kalendaryo to organise their holidays this August, lol

Yan ang buhay ala French!

Bonjour!

I was walking with doggie to let him run to the garden of the building .
It was a lovely day,summer days are here... many tourists around, with cameras and kids with icecreams in cone in their hands.

I heard a cry: Ow, Madame, votre chien, vous ne pouvez pas passer ici noh!


It was the concierge of the next building telling me off !!!.
As I was frenched cultured,(kuno) I was annoyed someone calling me in the streets,as if we are in the mountains!
What a cowboy!
I felt disgusted.


I shrugged and asked him: Ah oui, çava, what I should do then?)
He shouted : Vous devez passer dans l'autre passage!(kabila daw kami dadaan!)

Iniwanan ko nga.

When I came back, he was there, ready for a fight!

-Madame, your dog must not pass by here because that was all his pipi that produced bad smell
-Sir, it was not my dog, that PIPI came from big dogs, why are you accusing me?
-Oh, you deny it, but some pipi came from your dog!
(Thats it, i was boiling):
-Sir, I am not working for you, so be quiet, and where do you work, ah here in this building, you are the concierge? I will tell Madame to go down here immediately to sort out the matter with you, because this is not my dog, im just her employee and if you got a problem, tell my employer about it, okey?

Mr Nasty Concierge was off balance. He didnt expect an asiatic speaks french to him and even courageously telling him off, lol

I snubbed him and continued walking to our building with doggie in tow.

I told my employer. She said, is he a racist or what? How can you control the dog if it stopped and sniff and mark a corner?
Besides the road is not even PART OF HIS BUILDING! I will go down and sort it out! (ayan galit na Madame ko, lol)

I told my employer: we just let it go,he must have a problem with his wife, haha. After all, I already shouted at him and he seemed wary of it...

After my work, the nasty concierge was there again, guarding the streets if dogs making pipi in front.
I passed by, not even looked at him.

Eventually, everyday, if I passed by , I carried doggie in my arms and after I passed by Mr Nasty Concierge, I put down doggie and let him run to the garden.
Without any word to Mr Nasty Concierge.
That is to prove that if there are still pipi in front, it was not our Doggie who did it.

And everyday, pipi still every where.
But not from our doggie.

The nasty concierge didnt bother me anymore.
He could see I made some efforts.
Poor thing, what a work to do: watching people passing by if their dog made it or not, lol

And everytime I passed by with doggie in hand, he would say Bonjour,(he is trying to be friendly) and I would answer:
" its ...not... my... dog..."
And he laughed!

Lesson of the story:
1. If cant "Kick" them, join them.
2.Better to keep your sense of humour when going to work.
You'll never know if you can stand the "heat".

Bow! photo of chico, on holiday with us.

Labels: french life and work

hello hello...





















Bonjour!

Yeah, whats up with Anjo, my 20 years old son?

He is still working in the five star restaurant in Monaco as Commis (kitchen helper)of the Chef.
He left Le Meridien Hotel after three days of work, because he finds working in Linge (Laundry) boring.
He prefered in a restaurant where there are always some action.

How did he came to work in this flash restaurant in Monaco?
He doesnt have diploma for the trade, nor any experience as chef(cook)?

Pure luck.

He sent his cv in answer to the ads and the Italian Head Chef phoned him. It was Marghie who got the call. Marghie thought the work was for her, so she went to see them for interview. Ngek, they wanted Anjo, and Marghie said, I thought you were looking for Anna?

Anyway, to cut the story short, Anjo went the next day for interview.

"I have no experience Sir."
"I have no diploma also for Hotel and Restaurant Mgt Sir."
"I'm more for "Informatique" (computers)"

The Head Chef asked his Carte de Sejour (legal papers).
Anjo said, he didnt bring it, he forgot it at home.
"Can you bring it today? Because if you got it, you are hired, start the work tomorrow, your starting salary is xxxx Euros monthly, full declare, one day off a week, long term contract...etc etc"

"Im hired? But I do not have experience in restaurants!?"
"Yes you are hired."
"How about it, I dont have any experiences in the kitchen, except at home? I dont even know any meals?"
" You will learn, you are a filipino."

(Bah, me pag ka racist, he likes filipinos???, I was thinking, if the restaurant is desperate or what, lol)

Anjo sàid:" Sir, I live in Nice, but I can get a scan copy now of my carte de sejour, in a friend's house, in ten minutes, I can give it to you , and tomorrow I will bring the original."

"Okey."

Anjo called Marghie at home: "Ate, please scan my carte de Sejour it is in my table, then send it to my yahoo mail, I will print it here in a friends' house.

Ok, daw.

The Head Chef looked into the scanned paper, then told Anjo, to start working tomorrow, "if you bring the original of your legal papers. Your work is from 6pm to 12midnight. If you cannot bring your legal papers, then dont come for work."

And that was it. He was hired,since May 15,2009 with Social Security covered in Monaco. 80% medical Expenses free.

On tuesdays, his off duty, he told us his experiences!


"Ma, Some nights, we got orders of 60 aperitifs!"Some nights, we got guests, ordering a 120 euro meal per person!"
"Haaa????"
"Opo Ma. I know now how to do such meals now!""
"Wow!"
"Last week, my head chef(aperitif section) was off.I was alone to do the aperitifs the whole night!"
"Nakaya mo????!!"
"Ang dali dali! After two days, the head chef went back to work to announce: he is on sickleave, four days!
(nagkaH1N1???joke ko)

"No. He got sick and I did everything, haha.That was when Grand Prix de Monaco was ongoing.The guests were non stop until 3am!!! Our Head Chef got crazy, lol. We were already 11 (eleven) chefs that time!"

I can imagine, lol Naks, galing ng anak ko, twenty lang po siya!

Last May 31, he showed me his first Payslip with checks as salary.
Sigaw si Marghie: Anjoooo, pautang!

He went to his bank that day to secure (by deposi)t the fruits of his labor.
Wise, may pinagmanahan... ipon agad!


Eventually, the Italian Head Chef told Anjo, the story why they were so strict of asking his Carte de Sejour before hiring him.

Once they hired a man, and the man promised them his Carte de Sejour, wala pala.
They were almost in trouble, because they cannot pass his papers to SSS Monaco.

Sagot ko:(ah oui, ha, In Monaco, (or France)No Restaurant or Hotel should hire people on the black! What if theres an accident, he is not covered by insurance, noh!)

After a week, the man told theHead Chef the truth, he does not have legal papers to work in Monaco.
The Head Chef , sacked him. He cant keep him working in the restaurant.The man went to the Police.

The Police told the Man: "Get out of Monaco and never come back!"
Me: (Hahaha comedy naman yan???)
"Ma, grabeh, yung mama lakas loob magsumbong sa Police, lol!"
"Oonga, tuloy na pa exit siya from Monaco, lol."

Now back to Anjo.
I told my Employer of the good news.

My employer said, can he, one day prepare meals for my 34 guests in a Yacht?