Living abroad and globe trotting

Possible lawsuit against Sarkozy by 2 French lawyers on the bombing in Libya

2011-05-30T22:27:00.000-07:00

At last some well grounded minds like Roland Dumas and Jacques Vergès, two renowned French lawyers, are trying to make masses understand the harm NATO is causing to Libyan civilians.

I wrote about what France, US, UK and its NATO allies are doing in Libya and people were against my opinion saying that I am a follower of Ghadaffi, who wants to hold on to power till death.
Thank goodness that today, I am not the only person with the opinion that the strategy used by NATO and its allies, is causing great harm to humanity.

Ghadaffi and the people of Libya have lost a lot from this unjustified invasion that has taken a lot of lives and properties. I think it is high time that press and journalists start telling everyday people what is really going on, other than manipulating the minds of loyal citizens in order to favour their elite friends with their political desires.

The press article below in French, is on the above mentioned French lawyers who intend to file suit against French president Nicolas Sarkozy, for crime against humanity (Libya).

http://fr.news.yahoo.com/libye-dumas-verg%c3%a8s-portent-plainte-contre-france-062300495.html

Obama worth peace nobel price?

2011-04-02T00:06:00.000-07:00

I just want to ask if the nobel price of peace awarded to Obama is right?

Does Obama deserve this nobel price after what he and his blood sucking vampire allies are doing in Libya? Is he any better than Bush?

Tell me this greedy politicians how much you hate peace that will make you people not leave the world in peace? Why do you always love causing havoc to peace in the world? Why can't you give the world peace of mind for once?

A year without your unlawful invasion in another sovereign state does it mean your tenor in office was unfruitful?

This politics of war to loot other's wealth because of GDP growth is treacious!!! Learn to play politics differently and respect other countries sovereignty I beg of you imperialists!!!

Are you leaders not equally clinging to power like African leaders? If your popularity is droping in your respective states and you want to draw public opinion in your favour just to win the next election, you will take your religious crusades to the ones you term "developing countries".

Good for Gaddaffi. These are the same people with whom you have been dinning and winning and signing treaties with. The only problem is the poor Libyans who will loose loved ones. Is these air and land strikes not causing genocide under the pretext of humanitarian activities?

Since you started your unlawful air and land strikes in Libya, we see that oil price at the fuel pumps that was rising rapidly have fallen all of a sudden in your respective countries. Kudos to you guys!!!

My pity goes to AU. Sorry you lads, you really are a bunch of what we Africans call "sidown look"!!!

But western world, flex your muscles today and pray for there not to be a wind of change.

Paris will soon strike Libya!!! Generation in darkness - Africa think!!!

2011-03-18T02:39:00.000-07:00

Another Hiroshima in Libya???????????

Saddam Hussein was brought down by pretext of weapon of mass destruction, 2 North African sovereign states have brought down their long time serving presidents saying that they are "dictators".

Now its time for Libya. What is the pretext to bring down Khadafi, "dictator"?

http://fr.news.yahoo.com/76/20110318/twl-des-frappes-militaires-en-libye-prvu-1a8f422_4.html

African states have no sovereignty!!! Developed countries still rule Africa because of our wealth. This is neocolonialism or should I say, COLONIALISM?

Since when did a non elected rebel group become legal that western states recognize them as legitimate????????

Paris life

2011-03-18T02:04:00.000-07:00

My master degree programme is almost through with tough internship search period.

Living and schooling in Paris is very challenging due to the heavy work load and less time given to prepare assignments. You virtually have no life when you are schooling in Paris. I've not had enough time to go around but hope to do that immediately after my exams.

As a globe trotter, you sometimes miss home. Right now, am in such a mood that I really am missing home and can't wait to go back and be with my own people.

However, I don't have a lot to say now but to add my web 2.0 class presentation on weird dreams. Don't fail to go on this pages and share your weird dreams you wish to see come through with us.

http://weirddream.over-blog.com/article-weirddream-69148376.html

Cheers all!!!

One week in Rome

2010-09-22T10:43:00.000-07:00

After my registration for my Master degree programme at the IAE Gustave Eiffel (Eiffel Management School of the Université Paris Est - Créteil) early September, I decided to take a week break and visit Rome before lecture commence.

It was a short but culturally enriching trip with visits to the Coliseum (gladiator arena) amphitheatre of the Flavian emperor of Rome, visits to the Palatine, Forum, the catacombs of the St. Callixto of early christians in Rome (close to St Giovanni), visit to the Vatican, and visit around the centre city of Rome.

The touristic sites were very interesting but the only problem with this short vacation is the hotel where we lodged, and customer service.

My hubby and I were lodged in a lovely hotel called Hotel Cilicia, on via Cilicia, close to Saint Giovanni metro stop. Yes the hotel is lovely but we spent 5 nights of 28°C without air conditioner. We spent the nights leaving our room window open, listening to the siren of the city ambulance and noisy vehicle engine sound, and waking up as early as 5 am tired and warned out for the days' activities.

What was surprising about all this is that the hotel did not seem bothered to try to fix the problem. After so much asking, all they could propose was to bring table fans to the room. But they already had these table fans in the rooms but wouldn't tell clients that the air conditionning systems possibly is broke down, or is just placed in the rooms for fancy.

We also had problems with finding a decent restaurant. Rome has more of pizzerias, and offers pizza at tourist price.

Considering the fact that prices were expensive for what were offered, and after eating some horrible looking empty pizzas in the tourist traps called "pizzeria", we had often had no choice but filling our appetit with the only acceptable speciality of Rome; the 'gelateria'.

Another good thing in Rome are the fresh water fountains found almost at every street corners in the city.

Ice cream in Rome is a sure option to calm your lack of choice for good food, and I so much loved to stop off at "Blue Ice". The price is cheaper than in France. You get 3 scoops for €2.50 with lovely flavors like nutella flower, nocciola, strachiatella and more. There is one in the city centre, and another close to the Vatican.

Images of my week in Rome:

Coliseum, Forum & Palatine

Outfit of the gladiators on exhibition

Monument Il Vittoriano (Victor Emmanuel) and that of the unknown soldier

Victor Emmanuel (1820 - 1878) was the first king of Italy (1861 till death), also called the father of the patrie was the unificator of Italy. This monument was put up in his honour.

Trevi fountain

TheVatican City, its Swiss soldiers, St. Peter's statut & grave, & the Double Helix Bramante stairs (where people descending or ascending never meet)

Patron of the altar boys (St. Callixto)

Good sides of Rome

A graduate at last

2010-09-03T23:00:00.000-07:00

After 8 tough years of persistence, I finally have my first degree.

It has been a long rough road of ups and downs. I stumbled on rocks, fell on hard nails, got up, passed through difficult administrative bodies, but arrived at my targeted destination.

It all started 8 years ago back in Nigeria. In 2001-2002 academic season (started in 2002), I got my admission to study French Language in the department of Modern Languages, under Arts Faculty, University of Lagos. After series of lecturers' strikes (2003: 3 months, 2004: 7 months, and 2005: 5 months) demanding for salary increase from the federal government, I decided to go overseas to follow up my studies.

As a year 3 student in French Language, I opted for France. I applied for a French visa and found myself in France.

Arriving in France, I was told that my french was not sufficient to pursue a higher degree programme in french; that I needed to take a 1 year intensive french classes. I equally needed to go through a national French Language examination in order to test my level of comprehension of the language, written level, as well as the level of my oral french.

I passed through the stage of intensive language year and exams, got into the university to read law (in french language), but failed my 1st year (ofcourse. Why not?).

My first day in the amphitheater was 'Introduction to French law'. The overseeing lecturer made a joke in french. I did not know he said something untill I heard everyone laughing. Another anecdote was when we had a suprise test (general principles of french constitutional law). I did not understand that the lecturer was setting a test untill I turned around and saw people bringing out sheets of paper. Before I new it, she was already dictating.

The year went by and I saw myself coming back to do all over what I did the previous year. But this time around, I understood better. I ended the year with better grades (10/20 overall grade), and even had 16/20 in the constitutional law course, whereas I had 1/20 the previous year.

After my 2nd year in the law faculty of the 'Université de Droit et de la Santé Lille 2', I decided to follow up studies in the language I was born with, English ofcourse.

I went to (IAE) Institute d'Administration des Entreprises and read business administration. The programme allowed for 2 internships in an academic year. Such training periods are highly valued in companies. It enables one get direct company insight, add practical knowledge to ones' already acquired theoretical knowledge, offers career opportunities, as well as an individual follow up of students. All these are rare (if not lacking) in the universities.

I need to spare you dear readers of the ordeal I went through in the hands of some of my french lecturers who are not open minded with foreign students even in this 21st century. There attitude toward grading a foreign student who's 1st language is not french is a bit appalling. Every error in french was not tolerated, whereas, in the English language course I took, lecturers were always strict with me, claiming that English is my 1st language.

It was very saddening to know that I was not treated equally with my other classmates when it was a matter of English, but was told (in the courses taught in French) that when I become a lawyer, I will practice in french courts, and will defend my clients in French. For this reason, there should not be room for errors. I was even refused French/English dictionary in the exam.

Following these ordeals, I changed my orientation and went to a graduate management school, where I am now proud to write to you that I am finally a graduate.

I am very happy all the same that I went through such difficult time in the university. It added to my experience in life, developed my knowledge of the French legal system, increased my written and oral french (necessary to stand in front of a jury and defend clients!!!), gave me the courage to fight harder in order to have better gardes in my new school, and with my recent success, comforted my motto of never say die.

At the moment, I am proudly pursuing my post graduate degree programme in Paris. However, the level at which students are left behinde without assistance in the french university system should be put into consideration.

BP US oil spill: what about the people leaving in the Niger delta of Nigeria?

2010-06-11T09:47:00.000-07:00

I do not intend to compare the tragic situation of oil spill in the US that is polluting and causing huge loss of livelyhood for people leaving in the affected areas, with that of oil spills elsewhere.

I only would love to highlight the fact on the rate at which BP is responding to the pressure mounted upon them by the USA government. See how much BP is trying to make amends, to these damages.

Everyone is concerned; world press is reporting daily on this issue. The question is, who is giving an ear to the cry of the people living in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria?

Oil companies in Nigeria do just as they wish with their numerous yearly oil spills, and leave people living in these areas virtually hopeless.

The web link below provide a glimps of what people in the Niger Delta of Nigeria are subjected to.

How long will this last? Have Nigerians not beared enough? Why is it that no one seem worried when these oil spills pollute our farm lands, our rivers, and render people in the underdeveloped countries hopeless and useless?

US, while you are making BP pay for their act, remember to fight for us too because, the world entirely only hears and respect when you talk.

http://petrole.blog.lemonde.fr/2010/06/05/nigeria-un-exxon-valdez-par-an-depuis-plus-dun-demi-siecle/

New school, new friends, greater challenges

2009-11-08T00:17:00.000-08:00

I finally got into a selective business school in France as expected (even though I still have one tough semester to carry over in the law department of Lille 2), and I am very happy that I am doing well.

IAE Lille BBA classe 09/10

We are in exam period (scheduled to end next week thursday) and then, I'll be leaving for Paris where I'll spend 2 months 1/2 working in the biggest business district of Europe (La Défense), as a trainee in the french petroleum company Total. I hope to do well because I have this passion to work in a multinational company with good ethical considerations for the environment.

I feel blessed because I've got this set of lovely friends in my new school and with everyone around encouraging me, I feel fit to face the new challenges in front of me.

Like I did last year as a trainee in Schlumberger, I'll try to keep you posted. I really don't know the city very well (Paris) and that's why I would use this opportunity to become a parisian tourist like visiting the Versailles castle.

BBA group party

Still alive

2009-06-17T02:49:00.000-07:00

Je sais que ça fait longtemps que je ne me suis pas approchée de mon blog pour communiquer avec vous; ne vous inquiétez pas trop car j'ai quelques expériences de mon voyage au States à partager avec vous.

On se verra tout de suite après mes examens (fin de cette semaine), qui m'ont beaucoup pris la tête. Mais bon, tout c'est bien passé, et j'espère bientôt intégrer une école de commerce. Je continue à me battre pour un bon niveau d'étude et je le fêterai avec vous mes chers amis de blogspot.

A très bientôt sur ce blog voyageur et aventurier!!!

Lille 3000

2009-03-15T06:27:00.000-07:00

La fête de Lille vient de s'achever hier le 14 mars 2009; c'était génial comme d'habitude.

Moi et mes camarades nous sommes sorties profiter de la vie culturelle. Le thème de cette année était au coeur de l'Europe.

La parade était prévue pour 17h30 à la Grande Place mais elle n'a commencé qu'à 20h30. Un petit retard, mais qui valait la patience.

Il n'y a pas eu beaucoup de spectacles cette fois ci mais Lille est toujours à la hauteur. Des feux d'artifices étaient prévus pour la fin de la soirée, avec des musiques (disco), qui devaient durer toute la nuit mais nous sommes rentrées après les 20 munites de spectacle de feux d'artifices.

Bon, j'arrête mon discours et je vous montre mes image qui coupent le souffle.

British-Nigerian uncultured mix

2009-03-01T11:36:00.000-08:00

Some readers may question why I am writing this. I equally have mix feelings but since blogging also has to do with personal diaries, it will be interesting to share not only good moments together, but also nasty situations.

I want to go back in time (a flash back). Back in 1998 while working in Lagos, I met a colleugue (although much older than I am), we became friends and both stopped working 2 years later.

She got married but we remained friends and stayed in touch.

At her wedding in 2001, I was supposed to be her maid of honor but she changed her mind overnight after I told her I wasn't going to buy another wedding dinner dress cause I already made one

But at the wedding, I still played the best friend's role like asking my younger sister to bring all her interesting songs. I even played the couple's special song and till today she doesn't know.

A few years later, I left for France with my husband and to follow up studies; my friend equally left for the UK with her husband some years later.

I learnt she was pregnant after 9 years of marriage. I was overwhelmed with joy and so I asked if I could pay her a visit when she puts to bed and she said: "of course Jenny, you are welcome to my house anytime."
I never bothered to go to UK because I love my life here in France with my sweet hubby and our lovely friends. I went and demanded for a visa, bought a ticket for Newcastle after having consulted her.

With a week student holidays, I headed out for the UK. Arriving at NCL airport and to my bewilderment, no one was there to pick me up as promised.

I called her on the phone and she told me that she utterly forgot, and asked me to pick up a taxi.
At 9pm (UK time), I got a taxi heading to the country side (17 miles from the airport). I arrived at the house only to find myself in front of a non existing address. Cold and hungry, I decided to get me something to eat.

She finally came with her husband Ian and took me to their new home.

At about 1/2 an hour, my friend went in labour; I offered to accompany them to the hospital but Ian rudely refused so I stayed back and worried myself to sleep as to my friend's condition.

In the morning while I was taking my bath, an old woman (in her early 60s) came in and announced to me that her brother demands I leave, that he would not want to meet me in his house.

I got dressed and inquired the how about of 'my friend'. The woman told me that my friend had her baby girl at 7.50am and is fine. So I asked her to say congratulations to her and picked up a taxi back to the airport.
I changed my flight (with extra charges), went to the centre of the city, got a room in a hotel (after 3 hours of search on a saturday evening), then got ready to leave, back to France where men know how to threat a woman, where men don't lord over their wives like they don't have a say, and that their opinions don't count.

Am not going to rule out making friends, but I'll try to make cultured, well educated, well travelled, enlightened and well exposed friends, who know what frienship means, who know how to regard people when they make efforts.

I might understand that Ian Blemings and his wife Eugenia Blemings (my so called friend) need space to savour the happy moment, but I think that they are too uncultured and not well travelled, to understand what courtesy and hospitality is all about.

2009 wishes

2009-01-01T04:17:00.000-08:00

Happy new year and best wishes to everyone out there.

The year 2008 was a historic year around the globe. There was the famous food crisis experienced virtually by all and sundry, the wonderful historic move made by the United States of America in electing a "transformational figure" as the 44th president, sad terrorist attack that took the lives of many in India, transformational manner of protesting experienced in Thailand which kept tourists worried as to how they could leave the country given the fact that the airports were occupied by protesters, and finally, this terrible unforseen financial crisis that ushered us all into the year 2009.

Despite that the new year predicts tougher times ahead, I urge you all to be hopeful and all this will become history.

I am positive about this year 2009 because we have (I believe), competent leaders who are willing to put all relaible politics in place, to make this year a memorable one for us all.

Wishing you all a wonderful ride!!!!

My baby's (surprise) birthday

2008-11-14T13:53:00.000-08:00

I was thinking of a birthday gift for my baby but did not really know what to offer to him at a remarkable point in his life.

I'm still not financially buoyant but I decided to go a bit out of my comfort zone to offer him a little moment to remember.

Inviting friends was not an easy task because of their various time schedules, but we have wonderful friends who will be there at all times, and they did rise up to the occasion.

Even the kids..........

I only missed not to have an image of the look on the celebrants face when he walked into the apartment and saw friends he had not seen for quite a while.

Lady organiser and Govaert traiteur Lille

Cake and champagne time..........

Breakfast time, hot chocolate time..........

Thanks to all our friends for this very lovely week end we spent together (even though we had to transform the apartment into a camping ground in order to make room for sleeping).

It was a successful surprise party.

President Obama's White House: difficult times ahead but a new begining

2008-11-09T06:58:00.000-08:00

The world was thrilled over the choice of the 44th president of the USA on the 4th of November 2008.

I'm happy to have contributed in my own little way to this "Obama movement" through my blog during the course of the nomination of a democratic presidential cross bearer. Then, I wrote an article titled "a message to the US Democrats".

It is clear that concerning the issue of diversity in politics, the USA is a clear leader in the need for evolution and modernisation. We wait to share in the joy of Americans with the swearing in ceremony which is scheduled to hold on the 20th of January 2009. I'm optimist it'll be a happy and successful transition.

Now to the main issue that is bothering Americans as well as the world all over. The president elect I believe is fully aware of the responsibilities that lye ahead and if I may say, is eager to get in action as quickly as possible as he can.

But, like most politicians would say, promises during elections only binds those who believed in them. Obama is a politician, but I want to believe that he is a man of honour. So, he should not fail to understand why 52% of Americans preferred him to his opponent.

He is not expected to be a messiah, nor a magician, but he should try to leave up to his democratic values and work towards the programme that distinguished him from every other presidential aspirant in the course for the White House.

Obama, if maybe some day you happen to read my blog, try to carry every of your fellow citizens along. No racism (even if mostly the blacks in US, and all minority groups suffer this treatment daily) nor by partisanship, because, this is what will make the difference between you and any other closed minded individual.

We are heading into a century of fresh and positive thinkers and so, Obama's banner of change might be a promising motto for a more peaceful tomorrow.

In this aspect, I engineer the new administrative body of government to not rush into costly wars, which will only bring about financial and human losses.

To the USA, Russia, and every other country leaders who are hungry for power, while measuring your strenght, you should make an effort to put into considerations, the harm your drastic decisions might cost to the economy, the finance and to the planet.

Take heed from the aftermath of the present wars that the world is experiencing today.

Second business in Nigeria after oil: church business

2008-11-02T01:32:00.000-07:00

I think we should stop being ignorant as regards to how people spend their money should be no one's business. Religion palaver in Nigeria ofcourse needs to concern all and sundry.

I'm not forcing my ideas on anyone, but I'm only concerned at the level of backwardness, and the extent of this deep and unanalysing beleive in god in the country.

The country is infested by religion that even engineers, doctors, other well educated entities allow these mostly uneducated individuals to fool them.

Our universities are no longer a place where thinkers are trained, a place where we are supposed to bring up world level entities who can make a difference (do remarkable things in the economic/scientific fields).

Go to the University of Lagos on a normal day, you often fall on traffic on campus. Why? because the mosques and church are having either seminars or prayers.

Students skip lectures only to attend prayer meetings. Friday afternoons are lecture free period because our muslim counterparts have to go for worship.

Nigeria is the right climate for religious extrimist programmes. Its not really the people's fault but a government who does not see the need to be concerned of its people's wellfare, a government who is not concerned about its position/place in the world.

Students who graduate from our nigerian universities are not taken seriously outside our shores. Why will they be taken seriously when they don't take themselves seriously either.

When we read on the net and in books on religion, Nigeria is mentioned 3rd after Brazil and one other country.

These unrepenting deceivers bounce on citizens whom their futur have been left in the hands of fate by the government.

We copy US as religious model. We can not even think seriously and try to know the thinking ability of a basic american who simply can not place their country on the world's map.

Nigeria is too old for time wasting and thus should not spend its precious time to train daft minds.

I would like nigerians to ask ourselves the question as to why we are too religious even in the 21st century.

Have nigerians not yet come of age to understand that religion should not guide our daily activities?

It shocks me to read articles that are simply logical, only to read people refering always to god.

An important personality was talking on TV some time ago, and had to make reference to the Bible about Moses in a country where there leaves people of all religions and all works of life.

When will Nigeria stop to be under the influence of religion; we are leaving in religious mental jail, which brings about big loss to our economy.

Have we asked what pastors do with all the offering they receive every sundays, how come they don't feel guilt in extorting poor people in order to ride Hummer jeeps.

Company staffs robb from their companies and give to the churches.

If we make a mathematical calculus here:

suppose we have about 50% of nigerians who are christians thus making 70 million people. Lets assume that every one of them gives only 100 naira every sunday.

This represents 7 billion naira each sunday (43.7 million euros). This makes 2.2 billion euros a year.

Don't you think this is enough to build good hospitals, schools to educate our young ones for a brighter tomorrow for Nigeria ?

A few things this money can pay:

- 186 000 teachers with 1000 euros (140 000 Nairas)/month salary.

- 1/2 of an oil deep water field development (which NNPC can develop itself without needing foreign investment)

- 10 airbus A330 (bigger model)

- 2 nuclear plants of 1000MW eachIn a year

- we can construct 62 kilometres of automatic state of the art metro/subway (36 Million € /km), (VI to Elekon beach for instance, or two lines Ikeja/VI)

I advice that instead of giving this load of money to the so called "man of god", nigerians should invest this money into infrastructures and public actions.

This way the never ending expectations for miracles that we go to church for, will happen quicker in our days.

With this level of fanatism, how will the country progress.

Yes, lets believe that there are infants who don't pay to the pastor, and other adults who give 25 naira, it is still half a billion €/year but the 100 naira/person each sunday was an average.

Indeed, what about the engineers of oil companies who give up to 750 000 naira/year (4500 €); that is 10% of offshore international salary. Bankers who give 1/10 of their salaries to the church?

Some people will oppose me that I can as well reproach beer drinker to spend their money on drinks and not help the economy.

I am not refering to beer drinkers in the bar palours, at least they are paying their tithes to the beer and night life industries, which creates jobs.

Am not only talking abouts christians here, but any kind of abuse of the poor man's hopes for miracles. This is robbery in disguise.

The government has its part to play, but if these churches should at least use the money showered upon them by their poor victims, in community action/programmes, at least we will depend a bit less on an inexisting government.

I think that people should wake up from their slumber.

You go to church on foot while your pastor comes on a newly released car that a master degree holder, qualified from a prestigious international university will not dream to earn untill after 10 years of experience. These pastors come to church in imported designer suits.

Followers money builds universities their kids can't afford to attend. A pastor owns TV/radio stations from your offerings and tihtes. Most of these pastors kids are already schooling in US.

Lagos real estate madness

2008-10-01T13:25:00.000-07:00

I can't imagine how the cost of accommodation in Lagos has become such a luxury, that real estate agents no longer find it ridiculous to advertise scandalous amounts for their properties.

Due to the fact that I am tired of paying a lumptious sum annually, as well as the fact that my landlord keep increasing his house rent (2007 = 420.000 naira, 2008 = 550.000 naira)160 naira = 1 euro), I decided to see if I can find a cheaper but safe residential area.

I was searching on the internet for flats for rent in the Lekki area of Lagos and just imagine what I fell on. Prices you will never pay in developed countries, where you are sure of constant power supply, where you are sure that when you turn on the water tap, there is clean and steady water.

The most annoying part of all this hilarious prices put up in the real estate market of Lagos is that, these acclaimed high standard residential areas are often flooded during raining seasons. To go by your daily activities (that is if you are not forced to stay indoors), you need heavy industrial rain boots. You are always afraid and pray for the raining season never to come for fear of having your car parked, and if you have the guts to go into these rivers called streets, be ready to visit or have your car impounded at the mechanic workshop immediately after the raining season. For this reason, most people resolve in buying 4 wheel drives.

I used to believe that the high price of accomodation is only on the Island. Only to realize that the same price of accomodation implies in all parts of Lagos, even in areas where you would not spend a night, not even for a dime.

I don't understand if every one in Nigeria have become trillonaires overnight. These estate agents announce prices like it is a chicken change. They talk in millions of naira like it is easy to come by. They almost no longer talk in local currency, but give their prices in dollars and in pounds.

All properties are paid two years up front, plus 10% agency and agreement fee.

I find this unconsiderat, considering the standard of leaving and the rate of joblessness. No wonder many young men and women tend to end up their lives leaving at their parents, even with their new family (wife and kids).

With the look of things, they are simply out of touch because this is being unrealistic for a common man.

What makes me sad is that the government is reluctant about all this. They fail to understand that with the level of inequality in the country, people will have no choice but to opte for the easy way out. Thereby, the result of high rate of criminality and prostitution.

In the Nigerian society today, you have to be rich to "belong". Even people who try to make ends meet in a more proper way are seen ridiculed. What a way to go.

An insight to what an average man in Lagos have to go through when thinking of accomodation........

Apartment For Rent Lagos Nigeria :

- Flats For Rent LagosApartment for rent Lagos Nigeria. Please go through our list of flats for rent Lagos Nigeria. We are a reliable real estate agent known for its emphasis on customer satisfaction. Walk your way through the list and make your pick. Then contact us for a tour of the apartment.

List of Apartment For Rent

4. Block of 4 flats apartment for rent each of them 3 bedroom each Ikoyi (New house) Rent Price: =N=5 million per flat Code: ola.md.18

15. 5 bedroom massive detached house + BQ for let at A.A. street Victoria island Lagos Nigeria. The property is on large ground and suitable for banks.

Rent Price: =N=12 million per annum Code: ola.md.18

24. 5 bedroom detached house on Allen Avenue (for commercial purposes)

Price: =N=4 million per annum

25. 2 wing of duplex along Opebi road (for commercial purposes)

Price: =N=6.5 million per annum ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

36. 5 bedroom detached house with BQ at park view

Price:=N=6 million x 2yrs. confi.rep.19

44. 5 bedroom detached house in F. O. rd old ikoyi lagos.

Price:$60,000 p.a Code: sweet.rep.9

46. Detached 6 bedroom house on A. way lekki phase 1

Price: =N=5 million x 5yrs. Code: sweet.rep.9

47. 7 nos 4 bedroom town house apartment for rent Victoria Island lagos.

Price: $45,000 p.a each Code: sweet.rep.9

48. Luxury 4 nos 3 bedroom flat apartment for rent with Swimming pool and BQ lekki phase 1 Price:$25,000 per flat for lease only Code: sweet.rep.9

58. Detached house (good for show room) at Awolowo road.

Price:=N=6 million x 3yrs. code: ball.rep.13

5 bedroom luxury detached house with split units,j accuzzi in all rooms, cctv, pabx, private study,marble finishing and 3 sitting rooms with 3 rooms guest chalet and 2 rooms BQ plus olympic size swimming pool on 1 acre of land at ikeja GRA

Price:$75,000 p.a

105. Office space for bank use at Ilupeju

Price:=N=2.5 million p.a x 5yrs. olass.rep.22

Back to Lille

2008-09-30T11:38:00.000-07:00

After spending two months in Paris and its regions (Melun), I am so happy to be back home in my beautiful city Lille.

I love the fact that I worked, but I missed the feeling of my new adopted home.

Yes, my summer training period is finished and I am back to realities, back to my student life, where I am obliged to work hard if I intend to graduate one day.

Too bad I only had 8 days to rest before studies resumed. These 8 days where spent in moving into a new apartment and working hard to put my new apartment in order (no resting).

On my arrival, I was greeted with the annual "Braderie de Lille" which holds every first week end of September and lasts for two days. The carnival begins with a semi marathon, a market that is open to all culture, where you can find interesting and uninteresting things to buy (international tourism). The braderie is equally an interesting way to discover the Ch'ti's delicacy "moules-frites", and all other delicacies from around the globe.

The semi marathon begins and ends in front of my building (in front of the city hall), but this year, I did not have enough time to go out and mingle with visitors who came from all parts of France and neighbouring cities to Lille. This was due partly to the fact that my partner and I had to do some painting in our new apartment (professional painters are way too expensive), and partly because it rained this year at the occasion. Of course I could not bear to not participate in the event, but I only went around in the evening hours.

Here is an image of the marathon from the city's news paper "La Voix du Nord". I'll post the few photos I took as soon as I can.

My humble self (summer trainee)

Winner of the semi marathon

Moules-frites (local delicacy)

Les effets des vacances de juillet/aout au travail

2008-08-11T05:01:00.000-07:00

En principe, en France, entre Juillet et Août, il n'y a pas grande choses à faire dans le milieu professionnel car tout le monde part en vacances.

C'est aussi le cas ici chez Schlumberger, où je suis en stage depuis un mois et quelques. Jusqu'à la semaine dernière, j'ai eu beaucoup de travail à faire. Mais depuis vendredi dernier, il y a un manque de travail malgré le fait que mes collègues sont en vacances et que je devrais quand même avoir plus de travail sur ma table.

Cela m'ennuie un peu. Étant donné que je suis quelqu'un qui déteste de ne rien faire, je demande à mes collègues de me donner les tâches qu'ils ont en trop.

J'occupe le poste de stagiaire dans l'administration, et mon département de travail s'appelle en anglais "shared services", c'est a dire que je fais un peu de tout le travail administratif. Et c'est la raison pour laquelle j'ai cru que j'aurais toujours des choses à faire.

Cependant, je trouve que le travail qui m'a été laissé par la dame que je remplacerai pendant 3 semaines (elle s'occupe de préparer des "cash cards" pour les ingénieurs stagaires), ne me prend pas trop de temps. Et le plus dur pour moi c'est que la dame a divisé les tâches de création des cartes entre moi et une autre collègue, qui s'occupe de la coordination des formations. Alors, quand je finis ma part du travail, je commence à regarder le ciel.

Résultat (disons positif), j'ai le temps pour communiquer avec mes camarades bloggeurs. Tant mieux!!

Déclenchement de l'alarme

2008-08-05T06:39:00.000-07:00

Le 24 juillet c'était le jour ou j'ai appris à déclencher l'alarme. Un des 3 chefs est entré dans mon bureau et m'a invitée à venir avec lui.

En descendant de l'escalier, il m'a expliqué qu'on est en train d'aller déclencher l'alarme. J'ai compris que cette expérience est obligatoire une fois par mois. C'est censé éduquer et mettre en garde en cas de danger, tous les nouveaux arrivants (les ingénieurs stagaires en formation), les employés, et toutes les personnes qui se trouvent dans le bâtiment.

Les employés de la réception se sont habillés d'un gilet de sécurité. On est tous sortis et mis dehors, tout le monde à une place réservé ( selon son poste de travail).
Comme je suis stagaire, je me suis placée sur le marquage au sol indiqué par la lettre V (visiteur).

Après avoir assuré que tout le monde est sorti du bureau, un "roll call" a été fait et on est retourné, chacun, reprendre son boulot.

C'était une expérience intéressante et importante, surtout quand c'était moi à qui on a demandé de déclencher l'alarme.

Dédicace au mariage de Ben et Cris

2008-08-05T06:04:00.000-07:00

J'ai passé le week-end à Paris avec mes copines, pour l'enterrement de vie de jeune fille de Cristina. Elle a célébré son mariage civil à la mairie de St Mandé le 27 juillet. On n'a pas eu le temps pour fêter entre filles l'enterrement de vie de jeune fille avant le mariage civil. Donc on a décidé de le faire avant le mariage religieux qui se déroulera le 23 août au Portugal ( chez la mariée).

Mariage civil à Paris

La famille et les amis

Je suis partie de Melun rejoindre les filles et on est allées au Loisir Prod, ou on a fait le "Trio", qui comprend le baby foot humain (fait en équipe avec un autre groupe, venu aussi pour fêter l'EVG de leur copain), le combat japonais, et le tir.

La mariée sumo

On s'est bien amusées toute la journée

A la fin, changement de vêtements chez Cris et préparation pour la soirée entre filles. On a gardé la surprise du planning pour la soirée. Ainsi, la mariée était surprise lorsqu'en sortant de l'immeuble, elle a vu juste devant l'entrée, une limousine blanche de 6 portes. Parade de star à Paris en limousine.

L'arrivée des filles

Il faut rester sage

Plutôt cool non?

Un jeu pour tester la patience de la mariée

Très intéressant, ce jeu

Génial ce déguisement

Le reste de soirée s'est passé au restaurant et je suis rentrée le lendemain reprendre ma vie de stagaire.

Cris et ses cousines

Cris ta voiture est énorme!!!

Ballade à Paris

Une vue de la tour Eiffel

Soirée entre filles

Mariage religieux au Portugal

3eme journee

2008-08-05T04:43:00.000-07:00

Moi et mes collègues ont travaille jusqu'au déjeuner car on a eu tant à faire, qu'on n'a pas vu le temps passer.

Ayant reçu une adresse e-mail, j'ai pu commencer à travailler. Chez Schlumberger, quand la journée commence, le boulot commence. J'ai réussi à faire quelques lettre d'invitation, envoyer quelques mails pour demander des informations supplémentaires aux gens concernés, pour pouvoir compléter les vides manquant dans les documents. Cela est très important dans le travail administratif, pour faire avancer le plus vite possible les demandes de visa, et la demande auprès du Ministère du Travail et de l’Emploi (pour la demande de droit de travail, cela s’appelle la lettre DDTE) pour les étrangers, arrivant en France.

Je me suis ensuite mise à apprendre et à préparer la création de "cash card". Cela me parait très facile maintenant, mais c'était un peu dur car il faut une concentration importante, étant donné que ce boulot concerne l'argent. Les cash cards faites, il y a eu quelques lettres d'invitations et les DHL à préparer et à envoyer.

Enfin, j'ai bien réussi la semaine et, j'attends la deuxième semaine chez Schlumberger en tant que " Training Admin".

2eme journée au travail

2008-08-01T06:14:00.000-07:00

Il n'y a pas eu grande chose à faire aujourd'hui. J'ai simplement fini le classement de document qui me restait hier.
Ensuite, j'ai été briefée par une de mes collègues ( elle s'occupe de preparer les "cash cards", un système de carte de crédit pour les gens en mission), ce qu'il faut faire pour elle quand elle sera en vacances.

Bref, je ferai presque la tâche de chacune, quand elles vont partir pour les vacances d'été. Mon poste sera de remplacer tour à tour les membres du service administratif de l'Europe Learning Centre (ELC).

Ils m'ont preparé une adresse e-mail et ils ont fait les installations nécessaires pour effectuer mon boulot.

Mon premier jour chez Schlumberger

2008-08-01T05:50:00.000-07:00

Après l'appel que j'ai reçu de la responsable de personnel m'indiquant que j'étais prise pour un stage dans l'administration chez Schlumberger à Melun, il a fallu trouver un appartement pour 2 mois.

J'ai trouvé un logement à 20 minutes du site de travail; un studio de 11m2. J'ai ensuite fait le nécessaire pour l'assurance habitation touts risques. Enfin, j'ai pris mon abonnement "Navigo" mensuel.

La journée était longue mais simple. Mon premier jour au travail fut bien rempli jusqu'à 18h.
J'ai du commencer à préparer une documentation sur mon ordinateur, un document qui sera utilisé par toute personne arrivant de l'étranger pour disposer d'un itinéraire pour aller aux hôtels déjà réservés. Ce document a été enregistré dans le système utilisé par l'administration.

Mes collègues (7 femmes) sont sympathiques avec moi; on se tutoie et j'ai beaucoup aimé le déjeuner qui est d'ailleurs gratuit.

Une belle expérience pour commencer.

Stage/internship Schlumberger

2008-06-25T08:36:00.000-07:00

Pour une lecture en Français

Après une longue recherche de stage en France, je suis bien enchantée de déccrocher finalement un stage chez Schlumberger.

J'avais perdu l'espoir d'avoir un stage après avoir vécu deux refus; un de Bouygues Rouen et l'autre de Schlumberger Montrouge.

Celui de Montrouge c'est simplement pour des raisons justes, donc je n'ai pas à me plaindre.

La raison pour laquelle j'écris cet article est d'observer que Schlumberger me semble une entreprise hors du commun. Elle donne de la chance à tout le monde, sans discrimination de race, de sexe, ni quoi que ce soit.

Cela fait des mois que je cherche un stage en France sans succès; enfin, une entreprise qui donne d'égalité de chance à tous, une entreprise qui laisse les gens montrer ce dont ils sont capable d'offrir.

J'ai bien conscience que le lieu de travail est un endroit où je dois donner ce pourquoi l'entreprise m'a fait confiance pour m'embaucher et je suis prête à accumuler d'expérience, surtout dans une entreprise comme Schlumberger qui tient une place importante dans la technologie pétrolière.

Je commencerai mon stage en Juillet pour deux mois et je vais vous tenir au courant de ma vie comme stagiaire chez Schlumberger.

For English readers

Hello dear readers, this time I have good news for you. I have been offered two months internship at Schlumberger France.

You remember I wrote earlier informing you how difficult it has been for me to land myself an internship in France where I live and study.

It is very difficult to get a job in Europe but I refused to relent my efforts and my efforts have been crowned with success.

I would love people to know that if you are qualified and have an interesting profile, Schlumberger is a company out of the ordinary. Schlumberger is a company that gives equal opportunity to any qualified candidate who marches the requirements of the company.

My internship will commence first week of July and I will have to live in Paris and shuttle from Paris to my new place of work.

I will keep you posted on my daily life as an intern, and I do hope to spend a quality time living like the professionals do, like waking up early to go to my place of work and coming back late after a long day at the office.

Andy and Esther dangerous road users

2008-05-23T13:51:00.000-07:00

I saw this video of Andy and Esther on Youtube. They were traveling by road from the UK to Africa, an expedition across the Sahara and West Africa sponsored by Toyota.

I commend their courage to go on such expeditions (because I travel a lot and I know what it is like as regards their travel adventures), but I must say that I strongly disagree with their attitude towards the road safety rules.

Every one who leave and travel around Nigeria would agree with me that the country is one place where you really do have to be very careful and cautious if you must sit behind the wheels.

You might want to take a look at this video and you will understand that this couple are a serious danger to fellow road users. The driver Andy was even proud to say in the camera that they have been driving all the way from Morocco without their seat belts. Listening and simply looking at him (his tired look driving all day), I was frightened and I imagined what the situation would look like if there is to be two of his kind on the road.

Driving in Nigeria might be very annoying given that there is a police road block almost every 200 to 500 yards and the police officers tend to ask for money from drivers. But I think that this couples' manner of approach was unruly.

I asked myself why Andy was proud to say in the camera that they have been driving since Morocco without there seat belts. I hope the sponsors of this expedition (Toyota) realises that the man in whom they are investing is a danger to fellow road users.

This article is not meant to be nationalist article but I wonder if Andy and Esther are not taking the African road rules for granted. If he said that they have driven all the way since they got into Africa without their safety belts, it confirms the fact that he is disrespectful to the rules of driving. Why did they not start their expeditions all the way from the UK without their belts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBpYDBtwBCo

The police force in Nigeria is about 99% corrupt, yes we all know that, but I can say that the National Road Safety is about 90% far from being corrupt and they are there for the safety of all road users.

I laughed at Andy's statement of being frightened driving on the Nigerian roads. What can be more dangerous as driving without safety belt. Even your co-navigator was relaxed with the idea of driving without safety belts; I must say that you guys are courageous because what you did was suicide mission.

I have travelled far and wide, I have driven in most countries where I have been to, and I can tell you that one thing one should try to respect, is the law enforcing body of a country.

To Andy and Esther, before you complain in your video that Nigeria is the only country where you've been the most frightened to drive, please make sure that every security checks that might make you be in fault have been examined. Then and only then can you criticize others.

Such acts (neglect and disrespect to a law enforcing officer) can only be condoned in Nigeria and the reason you got away with it is because you are a foreigner. If it was to be a citizen who acted the way you did (like saying to the police or road safety officer that you do not have your vehicle's particulars in hand), you know it would be considered as an offence.

Keep traveling safe and try to consider other road users. Anyway, I love your travel blog and your expeditions.

Diving the Gulf of Siam

2008-05-01T12:48:00.000-07:00

Thailand is one of the most visited countries in Asia. Despite the Tsunami, people were still trilled to visit this country and so was I; which made Thailand to come on top of my February2006 travel destination.

Since Phuket was touched by the devastating Tsunami, my group of friends and I decided to visit Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. We only had 10 days holidays, which is not sufficient to make a remarkable trip but we tried as much as we could to make good use of the time we had.

The aim of this trip was to go diving in the sea of Thailand. I do not swim even till date but after my first dive (CMAS) in Bora Bora in the French Polynesia, I decided to try the PADI "discover scuba" diving training. I do love diving and wish to take classes in order to have either the N1 or the "open water" diving certificate, which will allow me to be autonomous at greater depths. But my only problem till date is the courage to learn how to swim.

Some images of my Thailand travel:

Bangkok train station

Monument at the Grand Royal Palace

Grand Royal Palace soldier (Bangkok)

Grand Royal Palace (Bangkok)

Diving Ang Tong national park

Guardian Grand Palace

Tuck Tuck quick transport

Elephant ride

Client extortions by Western Union

2008-05-01T02:25:00.000-07:00

Today is workers day, am not a worker but as a student, its equally holiday for me. So I need to profit of my free time to communicate with my blog companions.

I often have remarks to make about what goes on around me. This time, I wish to make a few comments on the way and manner Western Union money transfer functions.
If you live abroad or have a child who studies abroad, and the bank system in your country is not up to the international banking standard (transfer of money using IBAN), you will agree with me that you will be more or less subjected to using the international money transfer agencies.

This is where agencies like Western Union Money transfer comes handy. I appreciate the fact that there is at least a system that makes it easy to send and receive money, but what I do not appreciate is the level of extortion these agencies practice.
I doubt if clients of these agencies have not noticed the high level of fees one have to pay just to send money.
Firstly, you are obliged to pay a transfer fee that is close to 7% of the amount you wish to send. Secondly, you equally pay 3.3% of exchange rate, which means that you actually loose money because these agencies definitely do not practice the official exchange rate. And lastly, their rates keep increasing almost every quarter of the year.

So many people use these money transfer services (mostly legal and illegal immigrants), which makes that these agencies make a huge income.
I would love to strongly pass a message across to these money transfer agencies (mostly Western Union ). Please, when dealing with clients try to apply a bit of decency and consider clients because this is the soul of business. Stop extorting your faithful clients.
It is true that the main aim of every business is to make profit, but this does not justify why after haven made your clients pay more than 3% fee for service rendered, they (clients) still have to pay inconsiderate exchange rates.

Take for instance, the official rate of 1 euro = 183.97 naira, but with these money transfer agencies, 1 euro = 173 or 175; which makes a difference of 10.97 naira. Imagine you need to transfer a few thousands of euros and you have to loose 11 naira in every euro you send, you definitely agree with me that this is extortion.

I imagine that these agencies already make enough money through their transfer fees and for this reason, I suggest they stop cheating on their faithful clients and practice at least a fair exchange rate. They surprisingly will keep their clients and every one (agencies as well as clients) will smile, which will make business to continue to flourish.

A message to the US democrates

2008-04-23T10:18:00.000-07:00

I know less about the US politics, better still nothing about politics and that is why I would love to have a better explanation on why the US democratic party still has up till this stage,two presidential aspirants.

France is not better than a lot other countries in politics related issues, but I think she has some positive ideologies about politics that some countries might need to learn from. Such as, at national level, France understands its mixed race and cultures and gives it the chance to co-exist. A testimony is the recent minister of justice Rashida Dati who's parents were immigrants; as well as the young minister of Human Rights Rama Yade who was born in Senegal but naturalised and became French.

I remember last year's presidential elections in France, the recent president of France (Nicolas Sarkozy) was nominated the unique candidate of his UMP republican party mostly known as the rightist party. This nomination led to the wining of the presidential sit by the UMP party because Nicolas Sarkozy had every support he most needed from his party members to out match his opponent Ségolène Royal of the socialist party, who went through thick and thin due to lack of support from her party.
I doubt if history will not repeat itself as regards the US republican party wining the upcoming presidential elections in November.

I was believing that the US have come of age and have out grown the race and religion issues. I am really disappointed to know that US is still not accepting the fact that it is a country with mix race, people, culture and religion. I expected this election to have been its turning point to truly make a change with the way politics is played. I do not have any lessons to give to a sovereign state but as an observer, I think the people of US should more concentrate on how to resolve their internal problems and give the chance to the candidate who most can deliver and render solutions that will bring about positive results.

How long will we continue to leave in a world full of discrimination? How long will we continue to see each other differently? Why do we draw back ourselves and put our families and country in jeopardy due to our lack of understanding. I sometimes ask if we really do want and fight for world peace. If the answer is yes that peace in the world is what we want, why do we then segregate one another?
No he is black, he is not capable enough to rule and we use the pretext that Obama is not well experienced. I suppose a president of a country has a qualified and capable personnels/cabinet, even if he makes the final decisions.

It is true Hillary Clinton was once a first Lady of the US and might have learnt a couple of things from the way her husband led the country, but that does not make her any more experienced than her opponent. She has never held the position of a president and the hard task of making a tough decision when necessary.

My advice is that if the democratic party wants to win the upcoming presidential elections, it should stop the show and rally around a candidate who not only has the chance of wining, but who can also deliver, bring US back on the right track and make a positive change.

The US people fail to understand that the US is not indispensable to the world, but that their political decisions in choosing the right candidate in this presidential elections do matter to the entire world.

I watch the presidential debates and hear the candidates call some countries their enemies. Its not because a country is an Islamic country that a Christian country can not be in good terms with the Islamic country. I am not taking sides with any religion but I only look forward to the day when the US will stop counting their enemies and learn to make peace even with people who do not agree with their ideas.
We all wish to live in a world that is war free, a world that is terrorist free, but we do not fight war with war; we can learn to make peace by dialogue.

Whether its the democrates or the republicans who wins the final elections, all we want is that the US people keep sentiments aside, take away the barriers of choosing a candidate based on his faith and believes, take away the barriers of race and look at the realities that face them. Then and only then, will they make quality decisions and give their country the best that it desrves.

Special China travel

2008-04-21T09:35:00.000-07:00

I often spend my holidays visiting new places and so I was going to have the usual 2 months June-July vacations. Given that most of my friends in Lille are Asians and that I admire their courage to travel far and wide to study or settle in countries where they have to learn new languages, I decided to make China my next destination. I was equally keen in better understanding the people in their own home.

My mother in-law called to know if I was travelling and if so, she inquired about my intended destination (because she knows I always had interesting travel destination ideas). Informing her of my plan, my globe trotting family decided to join in the adventure, apart from Mat who was already working in Venezuela and their father who had to visit his home in Colombia.

Sent our passports to the Chinese embassy in Paris, got our visas and then set to go.
On the d-day, we all met at the Charles De Gaulle airport, took our different flights and rejoined ourselves in Moscow, where we finally took off for Beijing.

On our arrival at the Beijing airport, we jumped in a bus right outside the airport and headed to the centre of the city where we booked a hotel close to Tienanmen square.
I must say that I am proud to be one of the last people who saw China before they dismantled buildings in some parts of the city, in preparations for the forthcoming Olympics.

The streets of China

Even though we made reservations for the first 2 nights, arriving at the hotel in Beijing, you need some re-explanations for the receptionist to understand your demands. They already gave out our rooms to their Chinese clients for fear we might not show up, and they do not wish to loose their clients. One thing you need to know is that tourists in China are mostly the Chinese themselves.
We finally got installed and went to fill our stomach as well as visit the place, of course like other tourists would do.

Eating the Chinese way(Lao Tseu restaurant Beijing)

Happy to be in China

View behind is The People's Hero (Tienanmen)

Public bus

T he following day, we commenced our real visit starting with Tienanmen square, the Summer palace and other interesting sites. To visit these sites around the square, you do need to wake up early in order to avoid the big rush because the Chinese are anxious people who love to know and understand their legendary history . In other words, you will meet a never ending queue and will not have the opportunity to visit a site you made thousands of kilometres to see.

A view on Mao's memorial hall

The forbidden city

Ticket stand to the Forbidden City

The Forbidden City under reconstruction

Throne in the Forbidden City

Chinese playing game

The Cixi's Marble boat built in 1893 (Summer Palace)

Dragon head at the Forbidden City

Spectacle in Beijing

Transit boat through Lake Kunming (Summer Palace)

We went to visit the Great Walls of China after visiting the centre of Beijing. You might call us selfish travellers but we like visiting a site and having it all to ourselves. For this reason, we opted for Simatai which is less populated and you can have a swell time up and down the walls.

The Great Walls of China (Simatai)

We had the Simatai walls to ourselves

Simatai from above

After a few days in Beijing, we headed south ward to Xian and Chengdu in the Sichuan province. We first needed to make a stop in Datong to visit the Buddha cave. We arrived Datong at 3 am without hotel reservations but we sure got ourselves a place to lay our heads for the night (trust the Chinese business spirit).

The next day, we took a 2 to 3 hours bus to Ping Yao, a small mining town with traditional buildings. Ping Yao is expensive due to the fact that the locals are used to tourists; which explains why you pay twice for a product in Ping Yao than the price the same item is sold in Beijing, the capital city of China. We left for the train station to catch up with any train heading to Xian. Since we did not know in advance that we were visiting the cave, we could not board on an early train. We later got on a soft sitter space ready for a 10 hour journey to Xian.

Leaving for Datong (Beijing train station)

A Buddha encrusted into the mountain at the Datong cave

The way to Xian and Chengdu was very long and tiring. In the case of Xian, the roads were chocked up with commercial trucks and trailers and we spent more hours than previewed. Going to Chengdu was by train and since its usually a 16 hours travel, I demanded we travel by night. I also demanded we have the possibility to lay down comfortably and stretch out our tired bodies. Unfortunately, I learnt that the soft sleepers were completely booked. We had to contend with what we had at the moment (half loaf of bread is better than nothing) and this time, we reserved in advance.

You can travel by road either by train or by bus and I assure you that the transport system is very well organised and well maintained. The roads are long with many a times, tiny and high bridges in the mountains, but you will be entertained by watching Chinese movies and listening to Chinese songs.

If you must visit other states of China by road, try and book your tickets 10 days in advance, in order to avoid every inconveniences. In Datong, there is a system put in place to help visitors purchase their transport tickets (either by air or by land). Ask for the foreigners transport aide office at the train station in Datong.

Xian (armées entérées) old and new soldiers

If you wish to travel to China, the Lonely planet is a good guide to help you maneuver your way around thanks to some useful translated words in Chinese. If you are having difficulties in pronouncing some words to a Chinese, you can simply show the person you are speaking to, what you intend to say and you bet, the misunderstanding is resolved immediately.
The down side of this guide is that their accommodation proposals will only be useful if you are travelling alone or if you are a back packer. My advice is when travelling in China, look for newly built hotels; you are sure to sleep on a clean bed and take a proper shower.

Tea spectacle on the streets of Chengdu

Chengdu panda reserve

Mao's statue (Chengdu)

Traveling to China is an enriching experience and if you love to visit more than Beijing, you need to be adventurous and patient. This entails learning how to insist when you are refused some favours by the Chinese who are used to saying "meyu" (do not mind my spelling) meaning, it is finished or we no longer have in stock what you demand. You will learn a lot about the way the Chinese go about their daily activities; for example, the way they travel, like taking long hours transport, and the way the locals live. You will gradually feel at ease sharing common space with the Chinese who are comfortable with spitting in the public.

Asian and Western attires

Camping in the mountains of Tibet

Camp guards and Tibetan horse riders

Well, China was a great experience and I learnt a lot from the people whom I met. I had a wonderful time camping in the mountains at the border of Tibet. We all wished the holidays continued but we had to go back home.

Travel tips to the French Polynesia

2008-04-20T07:01:00.000-07:00

After seeing the film "Six days and Seven nights" with Harrison Ford and Ann Heche, I fell in love with the French Polynesia most of all Tahiti. I decided to visit this part of the world so far away but so beautiful that you can not resist the temptations.

I made my research about this French territory on the internet and travel books like Lonely Planet and some others, drew out my plans and spoke to my hubby, who saw my plan interesting. He added his childhood dream destination Easter Island in Chili and we then started the travel preparations which included booking and buying of flight tickets, making hotel reservations and transfer flights in and around the islands.

Type of transportation:

When traveling to these destinations (Tahiti, its neighbouring islands and Easter Island), you need to determine the parts of the islands you wish to visit. You equally need to consider the means of transportation most suitable as regards your financial capability.

Some people prefer visiting the French Polynesia on a cruse ship, while others prefer arriving by air and visiting the inlands.

Transfer truck at Vaitape Village (le truck Bora Bora)

Visa enquiries:

The French Polynesia is a French territory, not a French department and thus can make their own administrative decisions so if you are one of those who need a visa, you should address your demand to the necessary visa authorities. You can get in formations from the French embassies, consulates and if you are in France, you can get in formations at the prefecture.

Flight reservations:

For the flights, you need to book in advance say at least a month in advance. I advice you reserve your internal flights to, within and from the islands because there are no constant flights and some times there might simply be a flight per week (maybe the carrier services have added more flights that I do not know of). The flights are safe except for a few accidents reported lately.

Flight schedule in and around Polynesia (Tikehau Airport)

Accommodation reservations:

You need to prepare your lodging accommodations. You have different possibilities which can vary from half-board (demi-pension), complete-board (pension-complète) or you can simply book for room in a hotel and eat out in restaurants. My advice is that you take a complete-board(either in hotels or "pension-complète") if you will have to stay in small islands, because it will be very difficult for you to find a restaurant or a supermarket that sells everything you might need for a meal.

If you are visiting Bora Bora, Rangiroa, Tahiti Iti or some bigger Islands, you can make whatever choice you wish to concerning your accommodation. But if you want to spend say your honey moon at the Meridian in Bora Bora, the Pearl beach resort in Tikehau in the Touamotou Archipel, in the Marquise Achipel or some smaller islands, you might want to consider the complete-board, except if you can afford the stress of needing to take the speed boat at all times you wish to eat away from your hotel. And remember, the transfers are at your cost.

Dancing with the locals (Bora Bora)

Mount Otemanu (Bora Bora)

Taking a walk across Vaitape (Bora Bora)

Polynesian dancers

Polynesian islands, seen from the sky
Xmas polynesian dance concert

What to pack:

The Islands are often warm with at most 32°c, so you can pack light. Don't travel like me, remember to be ready for at least a special night out, with a special dress for the ladies and a special party look for the boys. You never know he might be preparing a surprise!

When going to the beach or going for a walk, your sunscreen needs to come handy and always cover your head because the weather can be very scorching.

Take guard:

If you intend to visit the Marquise Island, take care of the tiny insects (nono) that bite mostly in Ua Pou around the natural spring bath. This sort of fly leaves in the sandy paradise beaches, waiting to bite you when you innocently rest on the beach. Apply your mosquito cream all over your body and enjoy your bath.

Ua Pou spring bath

The 7 pillars of the sky, native meaning of Ua Pou (Marquise Islands)

Polynesian tattoo

In general, the French Polynesian travel was a very interesting and an unforgettable journey. The Polynesians are peaceful people and proud of their culture and identity. We met with lovely people, learnt from the mayor as well as the professor of a small community of 400 and 1200 inhabitants respectively. He talked to us of the culture, the beliefs and the difficulties that the Polynesians undergo to import building materials and food stuffs; he said that this is due to the distance that exist between the territory and other neighbouring countries.

Easter Island:

After 3 weeks in Tahiti, we took a 5 day trip to Rapa Nui like the locals call their island. It was a 6 to 7 hours flight from Papeete on the Lan Chile air line. Arriving at the airport, it took the immigration officers a while to find out the immigration rule regarding my nationality.

When I inquired why this was so, they made me understand that I am the first black to visit the Island, they told me they have never seen a black person ever before, except on the television.

This explains the reason why I became a star in Rapa Nui. I only spent 5 days on the Island but I was a friend to almost all the locals. They invited my hubby and I to night clubs and in house parties, I hear people call my name when I walk past the streets and people want to take photo with me. It was a lovely experience.

Tongariki, the 11 Moais of Isla de Pasqua

Orongo volcano (Rapa Nui)

One error we made and wish any future traveller to any distant destination never makes, was that on arrival in Easter Island and after a quick shower, we took to the streets. Guess what, we fell sick that night and learnt our lesson. You should always make a pause after a long flight before pursuing your visit.

Passions

2008-04-20T04:24:00.000-07:00

Every one in life has a passion. I for one, I am someone who immensely have passion for singing, dancing and travelling.

My father was a choir master in my growing days and I used to sing a lot. At six, I joined the senior choir of my church and went for all choir practices despite the fact that my church was at a 20 kilometres distance, enough to dissuade a little child. I later became a lead singer and then joined the Sunday school choir, where I was the soloist until I left the church.

During singing competitions at the National Head Quarters of my denomination, if our choir master hurts my feelings (I did not tell you dear readers that I was a stubborn child, but for positive reasons), when singing the processional hymn, I will shut my mouth up and will not sing and my sister who was the assistant soloist (she sings alto) will decide to join in, as well as the tenor singer and you can imagine what sort of a situation this can lead to.

How does my being a chorister relate to the issue of passion you may ask. There is a link because being someone who loves music, someone who has an inborn artistic features, immediately I hear the instrumentalists play, I let loose and give the best of myself to the occasion and my choir group always comes out victorious.

Same goes to the cultural and acrobatic dance group that I belonged to (Apapa Atilogu dance group). When the group is invited to occasions and as Africans who dance with passion, we liven up a so tight up corporate parties.

Every one around me believed I was going to become a professional singer or better still, carry on to becoming a professional dancer. Instead, it was my elder sister (the alto singer) who finally pursued a singing carrier.

Today, I am following up studies and I have focused my passion into leisure, cultural and educating travels (of course not necessarily study and professional travels) but to enhance my experiences through travel.

Some images of me with class mates, travel images and some cultural activities.

Lion dominating the way at the Kings Big Game Park Hlane in Swaziland

"Bombayser" discover India's cultural celebration in Lille

Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis (Les Giants de Lille Nord-Pas-de-Calais)

at school and Ping's birthday

Wahala at the Nigeria (a.k.a naija) seme borders

2008-04-18T14:21:00.000-07:00

I want to bring to light the difficulties travelers encounter when trying to cross the borders between Nigeria and Benin Republic (Seme border).
Do you dare to travel to the neighbouring countries to Nigeria by road, I advice you add a day to your estimated travelling schedule (that is if you finally make it through the frontier).

For those of us who are adventurous, who love travelling to discover new places, who have made some interesting travels and some in difficult conditions, can testify that this is one place that is completely out of the ordinary.
Given that Nigeria is an active member of the Economic Community of Western African States (ECOWAS), Nigerians who wish to travel either on a business trip or on a leisure trip, once in possession of your international passport or your ECOWAS passport, you are authorised to travel. But at this border, reverse is the case.

I have taken this frontier a couple of times and I have either been obliged to consider renouncing my plans to visit Benin, even worst, I have shed tears twice due to their aggressive manners. When approaching the border, you meet series of check points, police and custom posts all with their Kalashnikov. When coming back into the country from Benin try counting the check points, they are about 22. I have never in all my travels, seen so much gun in the air like as much as you will encounter at this precise border. You only see such situations in areas where there is war or rebels in view, like in N'Djaména Tchad.

Last June when I went visiting my family and after being frustrated with the inconsistent power supply, I decided in August to take a trip to Grand Popo in Benin. To my greatest disappointment, things were still the way they were.
On your arrival, you are greeted with a row of desks without positions written on them, with men and women who are not in uniform and they all demand you make a stop in front of each and every of these desks. Some claim to be from the health, NAFDAC, and a whole lot of others that I really do not remember what the call themselves.
The most annoying part of all this is that while passing in front of all these desks, you are demanded by these so called officials of the state and the country to pay money before you are allowed to go to the next table.
When you refuse to pay because you are fed up of the situation, they threaten to throw you in jail. Even the Hausa tribe at the customs that we used to be proud of are now the ones you should beware of. They believe the country belongs to them and so they can do whatever they wish and nobody can call them to order.When you refuse to pay, they equally refuse to let you go because they do not want to loose out on their piece of the days ration. They find it difficult to believe you when you tell them that you did not pay their other colleagues because they are if I may say, all corrupt.

What worries me most is that in this their shameless act, no one is exempted, even other foreigners are subjected to these treatment. How do we imagine to be purged of the image the world have about us as regards to corruption.
My advice is not only that these people at the border comprising of the corrupt custom officers, the immigration officers, the so called NDLEA officers who after searching your car ask you to pay them to have searched your car, the health officers who do not know how to read the yellow fever card, and the touts who do work for these state officials should all be taken away and sent to centres where they should be educated on how to be true civil servants. There should equally be put in place a high standard or some particular personality requirements. This is important because we should consider the fact that this is the first port of entry into the country and if we keep having such unqualified and some of them uneducated individuals who keep denting the country's image and efforts, the country will find it difficult to advance.

After much said, I am proud to be a Nigerian and that is why I wish issues be discussed and this will help Nigerians in every part of the world to proudly talk of their country to ears who wish to listen.

Farewell Aimé Cesaire

2008-04-18T14:20:00.000-07:00

Thursday, April 17, 2008

The world just learnt of the passing away of a VIP Aimé Cesaire, a renowned french (original of the West Indies) poet and politician.

For those of us out there who might be wondering who he is, Aimé Cesaire is one of the founding fathers of the concept "Negritude", a concept that brought to light the acceptance of the black identity and culture.
This concept came to the limelight thanks to the francophone African literary writers in the likes of the first president of Senegal , Léopold Sedar Senghor.

Aimé Cesaire has been ill for a while but was hospitalised recently. Although I doubted his chances of sailing through due to his fading health (aged 94), I still kept all hopes alive.I wept this morning when I learnt of his death publicized on one of French's national channels (France 2).

Men like him are rare in this world, men who had courage against all odds to fight for humanity and justice, to fight against the tyranny of colonialism and imperialism. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.

My happiness is that he left behind him a rich legacy, teaching us to be proud of who we are. I encourage you dear blogers to read about this great mind and some of his writings.

List of some of his inspiring poems:

The atomic rock Cristal, day and night, prophecy, and night tom tom

Labels: Aimé Cesaire gone to the great beyond

Job experience search and the disappointments

2008-04-18T14:19:00.001-07:00

Monday, April 14, 2008

Hello comrades,

Remember my job interview of last week (07-04-2008)? OK, I was supposed to wait to be called by the human resource department of the company, previewed in two weeks from the interview date. But I decided to call a week before, and as usual, It is a refusal due to "insufficient level of experience to be able to carry out any post that MIGHT be given."

Such refusals are bound to come up during ones stay in a foreign country (even in ones country of origin), especially in a country like France.
People might believe am a pessimist but the fact is that to get a job in France, even when you have a resident's permit that authorises you to work, it is practically impossible to be employed because the country does not give opportunities to people.
It is more or less impossible to find a job here (whether it be a student job or an experienced worker)and I really can not tell why.I believe that the country is not very welcoming as it claims to be.

Anyway, they say that the kind of welcome that you receive when you travel as a tourist is not the same kind of treatment you get when you finally install as a resident.

I do anyway think that the Anglo-Saxon countries give more opportunities to their settlers and are more open in matters concerning foreign and internal policies than there (mainly European) counterparts. No wonder the Anglo-Saxon countries are more attractive to international carrier seekers, and this makes them better placed to face the competitions that surround globalisation.

Student internship (job) interview

2008-04-18T14:17:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Hello! dear readers,

Happy to be back to share more experience with you. As I promised to keep you informed of my job interview, I intend to abide by my words. I was called upon for an interview in the north west of France for an internship in the human resource department.As it often entails in the country side, regardless of the post you are applying for, you need to have a drivers licence as well as a vehicle but I happen to not be in possession of any of these documents.

The interview went well and the interviewer was very comprehensive and considerate and considered my personal working experience as professional experience.
As you all can imagine, there are also other candidates applying for the same post. Students here need to acquire professional experience while in school, in order to be competitive and easily fit into the professional world.
But the lady interviewer, a young lady of about 28 years of age promised to call me in 2 weeks time to inform me of her final decision (when she would have met with the other candidates).

I keep my fingers crossed and hope there is no other candidate better placed than I am i.e, a candidate with driving licence, a car, who have acquired more experience within the course of his or her studies, or better still, in a business school.
Here in France, a business school applicant is more priced than an applicant from the university. The reason is that the business schools are more professionally oriented (the teaching technique is centered on enterprises/companies), and the students are advised to go for internships in companies as early as their first year as an undergraduate.

To keep all chances on my side while I wait for a favorable response from the company, I have gone to register at a driving school (which cost the hell, 800 euros ). If I finally do not get the job, I will at least have my driving licence and hopefully a car .

Difficulties of student job search in europe

2008-04-18T14:14:00.000-07:00

Friday, April 4, 2008

Since I arrived in France, I have not stopped searching for a student job or a free internship. I am yet to land myself one. It is very difficult to find a student job mostly when you do not study in the capital cities. There are not a lot of internationally oriented companies in the smaller cities, especially in a city like Lille (in the north of France, at the borders between London, Belgium and close to Amsterdam and Germany). Companies always ask for experienced/qualified candidates and I ask how much chances are giving to students who do not have the absolute possibilities to be qualified because they are busy with their paper works.

I received a call this morning for an interview scheduled for next Monday. The job is supposed to be an internship in the human resource department, in a city 3 hours away. Given the fact that I am a foreign student and do have enough holiday to spend away from the city where I live, I do not have to worry about going to work in a far away city because, I already live far away from my home land.

I will keep my dear readers informed about the out come of the interview. It is my first since I have been applying (so you can imagine how nervous I am) . Only a few companies have taken the time to contact me, while some others only reply by mail, informing that even though your candidature is very convincing, they are sorry not to offer you the job because your spoken french is not up to the standard required.

I do not get very sad because I am still in school and do know that it will not be the case when I would be through with school. But one still needs some professional experience to boost ones CV.

I promise to keep you informed.

Travel preparatory steps, visa and integration problems

2008-04-18T14:12:00.000-07:00

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Etant donné que mon blog est centré sur ma vie ailleurs, je m'intéresserai aussi de parler de pleines de choses comme: ma préparation pour venir étudier en France (comment j'ai dû laisser ma famille et mes copains), le problème de visa (étant anglophone), mon arrivé en France, comment j'ai repri mes études (mon esprit de "never say die), rencontré des amis chinois (centre de langue pour étudiants étrangers), mon intégration en France, la possibilité d'avoir décroché une place à l'université après ma réussite au examen de Texte de Connaissance de langue Française (TCF), ainsi que mes nombreuses voyages et découvertes.

Mon blog comportera de deux langues: l'Anglais (langue officielle de mon pays) et le Français (langue adoptive, où je vie et poursuivre mes études).

I invite interested readers of my blog to bear with the fact that I write both in French and in English. This is due to the fact that I am originally English speaking; the French language is because I was an undergraduate of "Modern European Languages" majoring in French language, a discipline I droped out from in my third year to follow up studies in France on a fresh slate.

My choice to study French language in the university in an English speaking country came from the fact that my country Nigeria (in West Africa, popularly called "the heart beat of Africa"), is surrounded by the francophone African countries (former French colonies). I always envied the tranlators at the Economic Community of Western African States (ECOWAS) meetings and I saw the need in acquiring this knowledge. When the opportunity came knocking on my door to live and study abroad, I decided to give it a try. Besides, my university was always on strike!

And here, the trouble begins. The difficult task to convince the embassy to trust in one and let go of the visa. When you are an African and wish to study abroad, you have to give the benefit of doubt to the embassies that your mission is genuine (mostly our europian counterparts) and my Nigerian brothers can testify.

You might wonder why all these stories, it still relates to my ideology of fighting and never give up. Of course I finally got the visa (after three refusals, a meeting with the vice ambassador of France to Nigeria in Abuja, and three meetings with the consul at the French Consulat in Lagos), if not I would not have mentioned it that I live and study in France.

Eventhoug I was an undergraduate of french language, on my arrival in France, I had to start all over. I was asked to register into a programme of french for foreigners if I wish to follow up studies in the university. At first I thought it was useless and a waist of time but I finally realised how important it was. I strongly advice that a student, worker or a wife of an expat who wishes to spend quality time in a country that does not speak ones language of origine, should try and enroll in one of the language classes. This will enable your easy communication and understanding of your new environment.

Some list of language centres in the city of Lille (France):

- CLARIFE LILLE
Campus Saint Raphael
Université Catholique de Lille
60 Boulevard Vauban

Tel: 03.02.57.92.19

- CUEEP LILLE
9/11 Rue AngellierLille

Tel: 03.20.58.11.11

- DEE VILLENEUVE D'ASCQ
Université Lille3
Domaine du Pont de Bois

Tel: 03.20.41.63.8362.96

You can as well check on the "EduFrance" site. You will find all the adresse you need.

I met with lovely friends, mostly my Asian friends at the centre of French language for foreign students, with whom I shared very wonderful time. I later moved on into the univerity of law and I am at the moment in the departement of administation, economics and social sciences, where I am expected to graduate in the next two years (with hope there are no carry overs).

While in school, I profit of my holidays to visit the world, meet new people, learn new cultures and expand my horizen in every way that I can (intellectually and ortherwise).

A peep into my world in image. I live by the day to discover new things and seek for more adventures.......

Posted by jennifer iwuoha at 4:12 PM

New home away from home

2008-04-18T14:00:00.000-07:00

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Hello every one out there,
My name is Jennifer from Africa but I live and study in Europe. My blog will mainly focus on life away as an expat.

Many of us live, work, study,or travel far away from our loved ones. This is due to time, time that brings about changes in ones life. We grow up and make decisions on the part to follow, on what studies we wish to pursue, on issues concerning relocating abroad as expats or as residents, meeting people and making new friends, career changes and then we look forward to new adventures in life.

If you find yourself linked to these aspects of life, then we most likely share some ideas and might have some common interests like: traveling to visit places, change completely our life style and discover the hidden passion in us, the true you.

So join me as we take a trip into the world of travel, to discover new places and different cultures. Welcome aboard the mile high club of globe trotters with Jennifer IWUOHA and discover the whole new you.