Francesca in France

Bonjour!

At last, I finished my sessions of radiotherapy Jan 30.
For two months!
Imagine, I work at 9am ,leave work at 3pm.
Then 4pm back to work until 6pm.
The hospital is in Nice, thirty minutes ride from Monaco.
Imagine the travelling...

My employer got patience too!
With other employers, I was sacked long time ago.

At the moment, I work 8-10 hours daily except Sunday.

And the work that is unusual.
Walk her dog to the park for two hours...
Bring her dog to a dog parlor... and wait until he is done...
Walk the dog again take a bus, theres a park near the palace...
And before I leave at 6pm walk her dog again...

What I usually do, we sit in the park and watch the kids playing.
Nag eenjoy ang lokong aso!

Her dog is a Pomerian.Mahal ng madame ko. Cost her 1000€.
A kilo weigh only and looked like a small orange fox.
Cute dog.Mas pansinin kesa sa akin.
A french lady called him: Un Petit Renard.

Then other utos na:
Buy some scented candles, the big ones...
Buy her green and white tulips for the living room...
Buy her some special italian ham and pasta...

Gift wrap this and that...

Overtime everyday.
Dahil sa walk the dog na yan!


Today, I looked into the ads in the internet.
La lang.
Demand d'Emploi, ang dami.
All sectors yan ha!

Marami pala walang work after December.
Even in Monaco, recession na rin?
Mga ka kopeymeyts ko,lamentations nila, bawas na rin pala hataw nila.

Dear dear dear...this is not the moment to annoy our present employers ey?

Bonjour!

Today, I entered the waiting lounge 4 of the hospital for my therapy, and inside the room,there were five male patients waiting.
Mga katulad ko, mag papasunog ng baga or whatever to get healed. Kuno.

I cant find a vacant seat!

A nurse went out and fetched one patient to the radio room.
Good.
I took the vacant seat.
Waiting patiently,I watched the tv program on the wall, but from the corner of my eye, I spotted one of the patients, a male, sitting just next to me, was looking at me,intently;
With "horror" or "admiration" I cannot tell.
Feeling ko, dadakmain na ako!
(Spaghetting)Pababa at pataas kung makatitig!
Wala naman sinasabi!

Ayoko siya tingnan.
Deadma!


WHAT!!!!
I wanted to scream at him.
Kaya lang,
Baka magulat, at magka heart attack!
Magka rekord pa akong pumatay ng pasyente, lol.


Besides, behave muna ako.
Im still on process for applying my french citizenship haha.


Girls,Did it happened to you also?
In public, panay din ang tingin?
Yun bang buka pa ang bibig...wala nga lang tulo-laway, shhhh...
Sus.
And if tingnan mo, biglang iiwas, napapahiya, then panay naman ang sekretong sulyap.
Loko ba siya, wala akong utang sa kanya, ha!

This patient, malabo ata ang mata.
Pagtyagaan ba naman ang Lola na!

If he asked my phone number, I will say:
In exchange of your bank account and the codes pwede?

Oi...Wise to.

Tiyak, lalayo siya.
Mga French pa!
Haha.

Today, it happened also to Marghie.
Kulit ng mama.Pahingi daw ng phone number.
Kilala daw niya si ganito and ganong filipina.
EK EK style ba.
Binigyan nga ni marghie ng phone number.

Ni Lolo nyo Michel, haha.

Ganito look ng Lola nyo.


Wala lang.
Heto pala kanta ni Lolo lagi sa akin if feel ko mag pose sa salamin:

"I love me...
I love me...
Whom do you love?"

Labels: FrancescainMonaco

Bonjour!

I was back having coffee again at Gare de Monaco cafe with the girls.
And one new classmate was introduced to me.
Immediately she asked me:

"Are are you long time here in France?"
I said, "Ive grown roots here already."
"So then you got papers?"
I didnt answer her. I was thinking, she doesnt need to know! OW!
But she insisted!
"How long are you in France?"in her sweetest voice.Mama mia sarap ko sakalin.

One coffee mate answered: "ten years!"
I answered, "you DONT like to know, do you?"
She didnt know what to say, haha.

Later, we changed topic of discussions.
Hirit na naman siya.
"Ate, hindi nga, wala ka pa rin papel gaya ko?"
Napabungisngis lahat na ka coffee mates ko!

I told her:
"INDAY, in France, you dont need to be nosy on what others have or dont have."

She was quiet. Change topic kami ulit, about US PRES Obama as now taking office...

She started again!Papansin, kasi she cant follow our discussions.

"Ate, what train schedule should I take later?"
"Why, what time you do you finish?"
She didnt answer.
"Look at the board there, they gave schedules."
She didnt move.Instead she asked again:
"Maybe I can take a bus later ?Where is the bus stop here?"

We told her to go down the escalator and she can find the bus stop...

"Where, where?"

Someone proposed a drawing, so I did.
I took a pen and paper and showed to her the drawing:

"Ok, here, we are all here in the table,this circle is me, this one is you, and here is myra...(all kopimeyts were giggling because Im starting to boil...)
here, see here,I will put dots right here to the paper going to the escalator, on the left going to NIce...you follow this, okey?

"Is there a name that says >>> going to Nice?"

I heard, background laughters again...

No, LISTEN.LOOK HERE IN THE PAPER... AFTER THIS DOT, GO DOWN THE ESCALATOR, TURN LEFT, YOU WILL FIND AN EXIT DOOR THAT OPENS AUTOMATIC, YOU JUST STAND IN FRONT OF IT, THE DOOR WILL OPEN WITHOUT YOU OPENING IT.
(More giggling laughters from the girls...)
THEN, WALK and WALK UNTIL YOU SEE THE CHURCH OF ST DEVOTE.THEN WALK and WALK AGAIN AND YOU WILL SEE A BUS STOP at the right. OKEY?

"Eh Ate, complicated drawing mo."
Inis ako, I put down the paper and pen.
"Ano oras ba uwi mo, samahan na kita!"
( Inis na ako kasi after all my efforts, wala pa rin.)
"Alas tres."
"Eh 320pm meron train schedule ah!"
"Sige ate, tren na lang.Babay ate, mag na 9 na."

When she left, I faced my coffeemates."Who is that one?"
They were all giggling!
"Why? Whats funny?"

Francesca, ang tyaga mo! Me tililing yung kausap mo!

Bonjour!
This is my son Anjo, 19 years old.












He went back to Manila last Nov 17 until Jan 19, after two years of studying the french language in France.

Yesterday was supposed to be his arrival to Nice France.
This is his story:

9pm,Manila Airport, he checked in his luggage.
He was already checked in via online at Etihad Website, and when he presented himself to the booth, the stewardess told him, his 2 boarding passes were until Brussels,Belgium . They cannot locate his Brussels to Nice flight.

Anjo accepted it, because maybe when arriving Brussels, he can ask someone responsible.Lorraine YM me that it was like that and it worries her.


Two hours before his flight.
He heard his name was called to report at Etihad desk.

"Sir, we are going to change your seats, where would you prefer?"
"As long as it is a window seat, where ever."

He boarded the plane and was directed to a Business Class, he's having a bed!
He told the lady: "there must be some mistake?"
The stewardess told him: "Compliments of Etihad, Sir from Economy seat to First Class."
"Bah okey! Astig pala ang Etihad. 974 euros lang ticket ko ma, di ba?
First Class ticket pa naman, peak season is 5000 euros!
Ma,I slept nicely inside the plane after a sumptous meal!
Sarap pala sa first class!"

At Abu Dhabi Airport,the plane arrived early of one hour, he found a free-to-use computer at the airport lounge and he sent us a yahoo message.

"Ma, dito na ako Abu Dhabi.Nice and clean airport, many filipinos working here."

After 5 hours, he YM again:

"Ma,my flight schedules changed and i cannot take my normal flight today.
But they said,I will tomorrow. They are now booking me to a hotel at the Airport and instead of my flight Brussels to Nice, I will have a flight Paris to Nice via Air France."

"Business Class din?"
"Dont know."
Dapat lang.
hehe.

He said his bills in Hotel was 400dirhams,food and one night stay, but he didnt pay.

"Are you alone stranded?"
"No, most of us were supposed to go to europe (germany, paris,brussels...)
They even put me in Priviledged Lounge with mostly businessmen!"

Normally, I would panic if him or Marghie got delayed flights kasi they are still inexperience traveling alone.
But,I didnt even bother to ask: why they delayed your flight!!!!! or threat like ; "KAKASUHAN ko sila ,yadah yadah blah blah blah

I asked him if it is nice in Abu Dhabi Airport...
If he got a business class kit,courtesy of the plane ,or else ask one for me...mama mo kamo!ha, hingi ka ha?
sus, kakahiya!
if he took photos kasi I blog it...thats very important, you know...

if he can bring us a handful of sand from Abu Dhabi as souvenier, hehe.



Anjo said he cant get out of the airport, he does not have a visa.
Aw.what a pity.Wala man lang buhangin as proof na nakaapak ka ng abu dhabi?!!!!

He arrived in France having good memories of his trip.

With his experience , It gave me an idea.

I will book my flight also with Etihad ,
and hope...
even pray...
sige, i wish pa!
of a flight delay...
Ano kaya?

Ahihihihi...

Labels: travels

Bonjour!

yes, im classifying my posts.And will visit all 'neglected' blogs too.
Nagtatampo na ang iba.Slight lang naman pero its normal.
Butler pages will be soon segregated into direct links,
I dont know how to do it, but i will.
Any ideas?
My blog gets boring, needs improvement.
ahihihiiii....
Got to go to visit your house now.
Pakape ha?

Ps. nastranded si Anjo sa ABU DHABI airport today!
He YM me.His plane ETIHAD arrived early from Manila.
But he cant fly to Nice,France.
Suspense.

Bakit kaya?
Ano palagay nyo?

Come back tomorrow, maybe I will have the news to tell you.
A bien tot.

Bonjour!








































We visited Mitch and her family in St Jeannet, a thirty minutes ride by car from Nice Airport.

Please click one photo from the link page and click "photo suivante"( means next) to see the beautiful village of St Jeannet.

Its a beautiful village up the hills overlooking the sea.
Cool and fantastic view.

I met them via blogging and became friends since she arrived here in France.

They are very nice couple, Lionel, french and Mitch, a filipina-chinese origin.
They are the young parents of Laureen their beautiful babygirl of nearly 3 months old.

Michel and I encouraged them some few tips of rearing a child.
As they know us, we always have humour here and there...

Michel: Your daughter is lovely. Daddy will always be a favorite.

Me: Until 11 or 12 years old, daughters are not interested with Daddy anymore...

We all laughed.

Mitch is a full time Mom, but soon will continue her french lessons and work in a travel agency.When Laureen will be in school.


I wish I can have also a beautiful baby like theirs.
Blond hair, blue chinky eyes, Asiatic nose.
Especially asiatic nose. Who can beat that?
And healthy.


Many thanks to Lionel and Mitch
for allowing us to visit them.It was a short but sweet visit.

Well sure to come back again.
With Marghie and Anjo, this time.

Girls, and boys, it is always nice to meet bloggers by person.
We connect.
We got memories.We share.
We got photos to cherish.
We got stories to tell.

Wish you were there...
South of France is really beautiful.
You may visit her blog. She got stories to tell too.

Labels: blogger

Bonjour!

I attend my session of radio therapy, and when inside the laboratory, i lie in the table and half naked, because they burned the cells in my left breast.
No shoes on.
Only socks.
And my left sock got holes in the toe section.
Sus.
I tried to hide it by putting one foot to the other, the radiologist said, put flat your legs, without crossing.
I did.
Then I crossed my legs again ,because they left me.
I heard them speaking: LET YOUR OTHER FOOT FLAT!
Yun pala, naka camera ako.
Buking!


2. Im wearing this coat (see photo below) everytime I go to work and my rich Madame was impressed, she asked me where did I buy the coat.

I said, in a shop where you dont go.
Where.
Chinese Market, hehe.
26euros.
Bargain, kasi sale in France all over.

"Bah, madame, baka katihin ka.
This is not Valentino.
Or Gucci, Prada..."

Ang tawa ng Employer ko.
Its nice daw, suits me well.
Yeah, even the budget of 26euros suits me well too, hehe.

3. I still work with a friend of my orig employer.
Orig employer doesnt know.
I work there after my regular work kasi.
Kahit daw 6to 9pm, basta punta ako.
Bah, kuarta na yan ,day, itsika ko lang daw siya, haha.
While having dinner or coffee or tea.

She lives in a nice building for holiwood stars and sikat sa politics.
Ka building niya pa nga si James Bond Fafa Roger Moore eh.
Feeling celebrity din ako, hehe.
Snobism dito lakas makahawa!even sa katulad ko!

I passed like a Madame in front of the Concierge,
Kala, resident ako so I came in and out, without trouble.

Last night, the concierge asked me which floor do I live,
22nd Floor.
He said, as an employee, you should pass by at the back door.
Ngek.Okey , as concierge knows who lives where, I passed by the back door.
What can I do.
Madame din ako, but not in the same level, you see.

At the back door, the lift is for delivery, and feeling ko Im in 1970s .
Not like the front lift, all nice and shiny,mirros all sides, with flashed tv screen for news to all residents.

Last night,I m about to leave, the employer went down with me.
Feeling she cant let me go baga.
We took the flashy lift for residents.
I told her I cant pass by the entrance of the building, the concierge told me.
Madame approached the concierge and told him;
She will be passing by the entrance doors everytime she comes in to see me, is it clear?

I wanted to laugh.
The concierge said d'accord... ok daw.

I think that white coat is my lucky charm.
Everytime I wear it, things goes well with me.
That was my coat when I met 2009 serving dinner and got good moolah.
I hope though, if I wash it in the machine, it will not disappear.
Like paper.

Malay,with the price, disposable coat pala...

Lagay ko photo mamaya, after ko download.
Big nap muna ako.
Pagod eh.

Bises a tous.Eto na photo.Click nyo na lang po.

Bonjour!
Please watch the video and get the NICE feeling.



All the girls unite, rah rah rah...

At the end of the video, shotgun wedding sila.haha

Labels: girl power

Bonjour!

My clone disappeared!!!!!She left a note to me, personally...
My reactions to her "daunting" message are in Itallic font.

Hello Mrs. Amalia Velos,
Oh is it my name? Since when? :)

Kilala na po namin ang iyong identity.
(Then why its not me?)
We talked to your husband in the Philippines.
(Ah, I got a husband in Philippines..).
We've seen your very humble living conditions in Nice, France.
(Is her work now a stalker in Nice?)
Nakaka-awa rin pala kayo.
(Onga, poor me,anything else?).
Imagine living in difficult conditions.
(Right.Im suffering,until now hihihihi)

It will do no good if our blog exists because you may even be reprimanded by your cult, the Jehovah's Witnesses.
Well, thanks for recognizing my religion as a cult(worship) but isnt it supposed to be THE WATCHTOWER SOCIETY?

So, we have decided to delete our blog.
Aw! Why?
I hope it makes you a bit happier amidst all your sorrows.
Not at all, I will be missing you, honestly...
. Awang-awa po talaga kami.
(Thank you,What made you change your heart?)

Yours truly,
The Kikki ni Francesca Group

Sincerely yours,Francesca ( alone,no group)...



Girls, I read the message at 8am french time Jan 8 2009.
I checked the clone site.And there, her message is true!!!
She deleted her blog!!!!!
What a pity!
I already adjusted my life having a clone and she's goooonneee???!!!
Life is never fair...Never fair...
I will report the clone to Blogger for disappearing...She should not do this...Blogging isnt fun anymore...



I missed her blog.
I kinda like the character she created.
Barf.

Lessons learned.
Blogging is a serious business. Ow.
Our blog represents who we are.
It has the power to completely sway someone’s opinion about us.
It spices some curiousity of lurkers in the net,to destroy us or to build us, who we really are and what we represents.

Et Voila...The truth always prevails. Only time can tell what the future brings or how things can be justified.As usual, the truth popped up(comes out)like a cork in a glass of water.

I feel like dancing...Tektonik...



It pays to be honest.
And stay with it.
It keeps our blog rolling.

Dont you think?

Labels: dramatic exit ala tektonik

Bonjour!

Monaco is not France. This is a tiny principality where a King or Prince rules the country.
And I work as an employee de maison in one of the apartment to a VERY rich employer.

Last December 31, I work to serve dinner at a New Years Eve party of 10 persons. Ok, you read that topic so I can move on.Quick,hehe.

After two days, the employer who hired me phoned me if I can work for her?
"To do what?"
"As Dame de Companie (is it like a PA work)Includes travel to Australia on Jan 13 for ten days, business class.Can you travel, can you get a visa easily?"

Bah, interested ang Lola nyo.Jumping es-kay-ted-liii agad, haha.
"I can get a visa easily but the problem would be my present employer."

"I will call her, maybe she approves, you are free from her half day everyday isnt it?"

I hanged after she said she will call me again later in the afternoon.

After noon, she called (as she promised) and it was, for her a let down.
My present employer said no.
Yay. Second Madame was disappointed, by the sound of her voice,i felt it she nearly cried...
Me too. Bye bye Australia, byebye business class trip.Byebye good money...

I asked her why, because I know she, my present employer will be off to ski for ten days, and she got one worker to take care of the house...
"I can ask a ten days vacation leave...if you like, I can call her back..."
Pampalubag loob ko, kasi nagtatampororot, haha.

"No, because she said she still needs you despite she is away and the second lady worker will be sack on Monday."

"Ngek."

"She will call you on Sat to go to work to her, and please pass by my house, I will give you some extra euros as tips."

"OK."

Saturday, 9am,checked my celphone, I didnt have any calls. I called my co worker if she is going to work, she said no, it will be me to work today.

"But she didnt call me!"
"Call her.Maybe she forgot."
"No, I will not call her,besides, I dont impose myself if she doesnt need me."
Inis na ako talaga ha. If she calls me, im still in Nice, takes me an hour to go to Monaco!

I decided to dress up and took a tram and bus to Monaco.I decided to see Employer 2 to get the tips instead.
While inside the tram, I sent a text message to my Orig employer:

Good Morning,Madame, hope you are well.Im going to see your friend today, if you need me, please give me a call.Arriving in Monaco at 11am.

In 2seconds, She called back !
"It would be nice if YOU go straight to ME first than MY friend's apartment."
Na eemphasize pa niya sa tone of voice yung You, Me, and My! galeet!!!

See, she calls when she wants! Asus!

At my employer's she told me to sit down.'We need to talk,Francesca.'
Hmmnnn, something disturbs her?

"What did Mrs S______ told you?"
"Ah, its about going to Australia, with her, for ten days."
"Did you accept?"
"Not yet, if you allow me, I go."
"She is not nice. She knows you are hired here,and she did that to me."
"She expects you to say yes, Madame, she knows Im free in the morning, and you are away.Besides, she knows, there's a new girl working here."

"Ah no, the new girl will go, I dont like her.And you cant work with somebody anymore , because I will revise your contract as full time employee starting next month after your therapy."
"Well, I didnt know such plans?? I was expecting I will be sacked soon because you hired a new girl here..."
"No, she is not good, not pleasant.And she dressed awfully."
"Ah."
"And you will not work with someone else, even with my friend."
"Ah."(but my little brain is screaming, bah, sure , i will have a revised contract ?)
"And tommorow, Im off to Switzerland for ten days ski, you dont work, but I will pay you.Take it as a day offs."
"Ten days?"
"Yes."
"Ah."

I answered "Ah" all the time.
It means, I understand, but never agrees.Hehe. Bah,Madame, do the contract first then we see after?

Girls, Im still in Limbo while preparing her breakfast.
I will soon have a full time work.
In exchange of my work with Butler.
I dont need to put ads.
Saves me 24 euros per ads.
But Ads helps me to find a new employment, you see.

Never mind...

And I started to count the moolah.
Before,.... half day work,.... half day salary.
Now, full time work,...full time salary.
At xx euros per hour, plus declaration money for my sss benefits.
Shhh, stop it Francesca. eggs are not chicks yet, shoooo.
Okey.
Right.

I didnt realize the drama (of working to her friend), did a trick to secure me as her exclusive employee.
Re:Madame, Im... seeing... your...friend...today...
When I was collecting only a few bob, haha.

In Monaco,the situations here, even with employees, Madames get jealous if one got a better one.
Employer 2 appreciated me, because I dress presentably daw.
I remembered her exact words;
"My present PA dressed like a rag despite having good salary from me.We were in a plane, business class, I was ashamed of her..."
ang tawa ko, haha.
Well, she should tell her PA off ha?


Take the lessons, girls, create a drama.
Like,as if someone would like to hire you.
Better condition, better salary.

And ask your employer:
Madame... I am considering a new offer to work with your friend...

Ahihihihiii.

Here is a you tube video, reminds me of my work and Butler....

Sometimes, I imagine, the work I am doing kakalula at kakaloka
Its a jungle in here. Of too much wealth.

Labels: Work

Bonjour!
Presenting Nice France .Imagine that you are already with us here.




Click and enjoy the ride around Nice,France.





Bloggers that I already welcomed in Nice,
MissT
Marichu


Wishing that next blogger would be...
YOU!
Sige na...
Libre ko kayo sa Mcdo.
ahihihihiii.

Labels: nice france

Bonjour! Im sikat?



Have a good day folks, enjoy my party.

Bonjour!
Move on na tayo.
Bah, we finished serving dinner last night at 1235am na, January 1, 2009.
It was a hilarious experience.
I tell you why.

The Boss, she is very nice and pleasant. But she doesnt know how to operate her digital oven.
I didnt know also. Sus, sanay ako sa oven na di pihit and also if digital , yung gaya sa amin, small and portable ba, a size of a microwave.Hers, is huge, soo many programs!

What we did? We asked one of her guests, haha.Then I can start the cooking.

I was with Marghie so the work was less and easy to manage.

The guests were happy of the meals,got drunk after drinking 4 bottles of champagnes, 5 bottles of white wines, 3 red wines. Sus.
At midnight ,the boats at the Port blew their horns , some of them even embraced me and Marghie to cheer good blessings...

It was nice. No class distinction between employees and Madames.
Or baka lashing lang sila, haha.Panay din change wine glass namin ni Marghie.
Lashing na si Madame, pero panay pa rin patagay.

And I was surprised, my daughter knows how to serve, open a bottle of champagne and wines?!!!

"Ma, two months work teaches me a lot how to serve fine dining with ten guests also to my employer when in Malaga Spain."
Bah, di nag aral ng Hotellerie, pero, laban!

But it was a success, despite the oven was complicated.
Or ME as complicated. sige na nga.


I learned how to prepare new menus again.

Noix de St Jacques


Gratin dauphinois

Filet de boeuf a rotir

Green Salad

Haricot Vert (string beans)

Dessert na napakacomplicated isipin, but very easy to do pala.
Raspberry with yoghurt ice cream...

Photos.




















































Anyway, we ate also after, and it was my first-New-Year-dinner-serving,since 10years in Monaco, and my first Moolah for the Year 2009.
For Marghie too.

Money always makes our bank manager happy. Assignment pala,Im tagging you all for your first entry 2009 and leave me a comment to visit your blog.okedoks?
Basta, mahalaga pala page rank, nasa page 1 daw lagi ang francescainfrance.com.
Kaya, kayo rin ha?


2.Latest from french bureacracy,as heard in radio news...
isingit ko na dito.


French passport renewal, before, free service fee. Then it became 60euros, then now 2009, become 90euros.
AIE AIE AIE...

And, for the handicapped citizens, to go to hospitals, no more taxi fees to reimbursed by SSS.
Before, the handicapped received 1000euros monthly aid. Now, 200euros monthly only.

Dear dear dear...

And balita also from Pinoys, the Immigration do not give French resident cards anymore just to anybody.Since 2004, ONLY tourist visas were given to applicants, and if the Immig Office sees the applicant as not PROFESSIONAL enough,the visa will be cancelled, and send them back home.Meron daw di na narenew kasi and was sent back home, free airfare.

Sus, the French govt is now tightening the belt to a lot of expenses...
So are we.
Or so MUST we.

Tight the belt sa gastos daw! Ow!

Labels: about marghie, french life and work