Stage/internship Schlumberger

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.