What time is it? Summertime!

Hey !!

I’m back, at least I wanted to update my blog. I got some hard times for few months, that’s why I didn’t really want to give any news here. Indeed, I’ve been looking for a job in marketing since last February and I still haven’t found anything yet. And it’s very tough to see all my friends going to work and being the only one who doesn’t do anything, I feel kinda useless. Of course people work the week days so I cannot hang out with anyone. Fortunately there are nights & week-ends :)

I still feel blue sometimes (not finding any job is pretty stressful), like everyone else, but for a couple of months I feel better, and I really think it’s because we are in summer. It can sound stupid, but it’s true. I love this season, the light, the hotess, the atmosphere, people are more cheerful… Of course I keep looking for a job (I already sent tons of resume and cover letter, and answered many job offers) but we all know it’s much calmer in summer because people go on vacation. There are several reasons I don’t find a job :

- That’s my first real job. Of course I already worked but only one month as a communication assistant, and I did 2 Internships as a marketing assistant. Companies want to hire experienced people, but if nobody give me a chance it’ll be hard to get experienced ^_^
- In my resume, I haven’t done anything concretely since June 2006. That’s because it took me a year to get my driving license (you all know the difficulties I had, but if you’re not aware, feel free to check my older posts), and another year to have my important surgery for my left foot and recover from it. But of course I can’t say that in my resume. And if you look for someone to hide, but that this person haven’t done anything for 2 years, you can think he/she’s lazy or just not motivated to work. I understand that …
- Too many people want to work in marketing
- The handicap. In France, the unemployment rate for handicapped people is twice higher than the common one. Of course when you have a handicap there might be some stuff that you cannot do, but the main problem is that in France many people are pretty close-minded (especially in compared with English speaking countries like the US where people are much more open-minded about that), when they know that someone is disabled, some people think you re stupid or mentally handicapped, or they just think you re too sick or weak to work. Well I already know what I’m capable of and I clearly say it. But I can’t show my capacities if nobody gives me a chance to do it. There are some companies who want to hire few disabled people because they’ll pay less cost, but some of these companies offer them a way too low salary (or position). I’m not going to apologize for having a bachelor degree, yes I have a handicap, yes it’s tough to not find any job, but I’m not desperate, so I won’t accept every situations.
The other problem is that France is also materially very late. I know that’s hard to believe… But too many common places as schools, buildings, stores, or even the streets are not handicapped oriented. I don’t really know why, because France is supposed to be a developed country! Here is an example: I applied to work at the company where I did my last internship, because I really loved it, there was a good atmosphere, and I learned a lot. I got a phone interview with the vice CEO (he’s really nice) and he told me he would be interested in hiring me because I did a great job as an Intern. Then we talked about the place (because the company moved into another building), and here is the problem: There is a big step to get in the building and it’s impossible to climb it with my electrical wheelchair. And nobody could carry it even for only one step because it’s way too heavy … Damn we are in PARIS , the capital of France!! And many buildings are still not handicapped oriented. It must change! It definitely will, but when, nobody knows. I'm still waiting for some news from the vice CEO but because of this problem I'm quite pessimistic.

That’s why sometimes it’s quite tough for me morally; I know why companies would mind hiding me. But I also know why I must be hired : I’m a smart woman (at least I’m not more stupid than anyone else), I have a bachelor degree, did a couple of internships, speak English fluently, I’m a people person, high motivated, well organized , hardworking,… So why the heck wouldn’t I find a job?! I know I’ll find one, because I deserve it, I just have to be patient (what I’m not LOL).

Anyway ^_^ Fortunately I’m surrounded by wonderful friends, so thank you all so much for being so supportive!! A special thank you to Jaouhara :)
Plus, Monique, one of my good university friends moved in the same town, and now she lives 5 minutes far from my home, what is really practical haha because we hang out together more often. And it’s pretty cool!

I still love cinema and go to the movies about 8 times a month. Here are the movies I saw from the end of May 08:
-What Happens In Vegas : Entertaining. It’s typically the kind of girly movies I like ^_^
- Sex & The City: I loved it. I’m a HUGE Sex & The City fan and I waited this movie for a long time. All the characters of the TV show are there, the story is good, the character of Samantha Jones is way too funny, I love the outfits, and it takes place in NYC (feeling nostalgic). Be sure I’ll buy the DVD
- Affaire de Famille: There are some good actors but the story is kinda weird. I don’t really know if I liked it or not…
- JCVD: I didn’t like it at all. It’s way too long and boring, and I don’t really like Jean Claude Van Damme
- The Happening: I loved it! The story is really weird (especially the end), but I was expecting that from this director. I love lot of his movies!
- 21: I liked it! It is a bit long but the story is pretty good!
- Waltz with Bashir: I didn’t like it. I think it’s a great movie, but I don’t really like this kind of movies. It’s a war movie and of course pretty sad.
- Nos 18 ans: I liked it! It was funny & entertaining.
- Street Kings: I loved it! The story is really interesting, there is some action, and the actors are pretty good!! I was really happy to see a new movie with Keanu Reeves, because I think he’s an excellent actor and I didn’t see him in a movie since The Matrix Revolutions. It was also funny too see Hugh Laurie in a movie (his character is weird haha)
- Made of Honor : Fresh & entertaining . A girly movie. It’s always a pleasure to see Patrick Dempsey on big screen ;)
- Forgetting Sarah Marshall: I didn’t like it. I was way too disappointed, because I like a lot the main actress, Kristen Bell (who plays in the TV shows Veronica Mars & Heroes), and I also like the actor from How I Met Your Mother so I really wanted to see this movie. The story is fun but I really don’t like this sort of sense of humor (there are many jokes I didn’t like), I didn’t think it was funny at all, so I was pretty bored.
- Mes amis, mes amours: I liked it. Entertaining, and there are some great actors
- Made In Italy: I hated it. Seriously, it’s so boring, the story sucks, I fell asleep for 20 minutes and I really didn’t miss anything. The actors aren’t even good (in my opinion)
- Wanted: I loved it! I liked the story, there is some action, and the actors are awesome!
- The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian: I loved it too! I already like the first movie but this movie is much better! I like the story, the characters, the atmosphere … I just love this sort of movies!
- Hancock: I didn’t like it. I didn’t really like the story, the movie is supposed to be funny but I never laughed lol. Plus I don’t really like Will Smith…
- Mad Money: I liked it! The story is deja vu, but it’s pretty funny and entertaining. Besides, I like Diane Keaton.

About TV… It’s a hard time …because all the American series ended up in June and we have to wait until September to watch the next season haha, I told you, I’m not patient at all (big flaw I know).

A couple of weeks ago, two close friends of mine, Chacha & Geri, from Lyon, visited me (but not at the same time) because they were in Paris for a few days. And now every time they come, we eat lunch at Breakfast in America, an American diner we found out a few months ago. And it’s delicious, I love American food (Pancakes, bagels, donuts, hmm yummy ^^).
Geri came with two friends plus her boyfriend, so we made them visit the most popular places and monuments in Paris :) It was pretty fun, even if the weather wasn’t that good (it’s Paris lol).
Chacha made me discover the Pinky Street dolls (if you don’t know what it is, check it out : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinky_Street ), I bought one and now I’m definitely addicted (aww my poor credit card haha). They are way too cute!

This is the one I bought:

Here are some shots I took with Chacha & Geri (if you want to see more photographs, check it out : http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonlitfairy/)

A day with Chacha :

A day with Geri:

I went to Disneyland Paris (I have a Year Pass) with Monique! We definitely had a blast! It was very sunny, and I have a pass to cut the line so it's really cool ! We enjoyed many rides! Monique hasn't been there for 15 years so she was really happy to go back!

I also attended two concerts few weeks ago : Mika’s concert & Duffy’s concert. Both of them were way too awesome.
I went to Mika’s concert with Jaouhara, it was a real show (with dancers and acrobats), and very colorful, we just loved it!! Mika has a huge creative mind and he’s definitely a pretty good artist!

I went to Duffy’s concert with Monique, but we got lucky because we weren’t supposed to attend it. Actually I really do love this singer and her album, I wanted to attend her concert but when I tried to buy tickets, it was already sold out. And then, only few hours before the concert, my best friend Bilale called me and told me he had an emergency and that he couldn’t attend this concert (I didn’t even know he was supposed to go there lol), so he had two tickets to offer, and as he knew I like a lot this singer he decided to offer me the tickets, and I asked Monique to come with me. Duffy has an amazing voice and also very good songs so we really enjoyed the concert! Thank you so much for the tickets Lilou, you really made my day!!

I took some videos of the concert (cameras were allowed), I posted them just under this post; Enjoy !

Now I’m lookin’ forward to going on vacation in a couple of weeks!! Usually every year we do a family trip in August. I really wanted to go back to the US, so I suggested my parents to go to California and visit San Diego & Los Angeles (I know that San Francisco is also gorgeous but we cannot visit all the West Coast in 2 weeks). They were very motivated but one week after I talked to them about it, they found out this trip would be too expensive because we took this decision too late. I’m way disappointed, because as you know I really feel home in the US, I miss this country (and of course I also miss NYC), and I really need to go back. But it’s my fault if we waited until the last minute to book our vacation; I wanted to wait until the middle of June before booking a trip, in case that a company would have hired me.
Instead of going to California, we finally decided to book a cruise of 12 days (from the 11^th of August to the 23rd of August). It’ll be our first cruise. Apparently, the boat is huge, there are 3 swimming pools, 13 restaurants, 15 bars, a bowling, a theater … And we’ll stop at several cities. Here are the cities we’re going to visit: Copenhagen (in Denmark), Berlin (in Germany), Tallin (in Estonia), Saint Petersburg (in Russia) – we’ll stay 2 days there, Stockholm (in Sweden) and Helsinki (in Finland). I’m so excited, I’m sure we’ll have a blast J

Before leaving, here are some photographs of Monique, Jaouhara & me visiting Paris (We live in Paris suburb and we still enjoy visiting Paris, besides we wanted to take advantage of the good weather)

And also other random pics (from Disneyland Paris, Celine's farewell party...) :

Well, now I think it’s time to end up this post! Enjoy the summer! We’re finally having a good weather in Paris, so it’s the opportunity to sunbathe!I haven’t gone to Paris Plage but I’m pretty sure it’s crowded, so I prefer sunbathing on my balcony with a magazine, a book or just my ipod haha

and for the lucky ones, enjoy your vacation!!

xoxo

Duffy's concert

Here are some videos I took of Duffy's concert at the Olympia Theater (Paris) :

Duffy singing Rockferry


Duffy singing Hanging On Too Long


Duffy singing Warwick Avenue


Duffy singing Delayed Devotion


Duffy singing Mercy


Duffy singing Distant Dreamer



If you want to see more videos of this concert, visit my youtube account : http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=tinkerbell92400

Mika's concert

Here are some videos I took of Mika's concert at Parc des princes (Paris) :

Mika singing Relax Take It Easy :


Mika singing Billy Brown :


Mika singing Love Today :


If you want to see more videos of this concert, visit my youtube account : http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=tinkerbell92400