48 hours in London...

48 hours it's too short to have time to visit London. So let's do it since the begining!

Departure from Southampton at 3 pm... I was at the station at 2 pm... how borring is it to wait! So I decided to go to the shop closed to the train station. I bought a sudoku book - expert level of course - and a bottle of fresh water. Maybe you won't believe me but on Monday it was really hot! I was well dressed - I think - according to the weather. Then I get into the train and did sudoku greeds during 1 hour then I slept... God save me, Waterloo station is the last stop! So at 16:30 pm I was in London. I didn't book a room so I decided to go as soon as possible in a hostel in which some rooms were available on the Internet one day before.

So I took a taxi and I had time to see the landscape. I must admit that my taxi driver drove like a crazy man!!! Finally I arrived safe at the hostel. I booked 2 nights for £24 in an clean and friendly room. It's a share room with 3 twin beds. I met Alyssa and Bonnie, 2 lovely Australian ladies! It was so good to chat with girls about girls' staff! So we took time to meet each other. It was very friendly. Then it was time to have diner... Could someone imagine that I have eaten a spicy Indian curry? I did it!!! Then I cried a long time but it was a good experience!

Wake up Julie!!!

On Tuesday I get to the Centre Charles Peguy, but they couldn't register me because of my soon departure so I must come back next Monday to have an other appointment to evaluate my knowledge of English! So I get back to the hostel to let my staffs and I decided to walk in London. I wanted to go in Hyde Park but finally I get in an other one... and I don't know its name. But the best part of this day was in the evening! I thought I would have a drink with the Australians but in fact there looked so tired that I didn't ask them if they would like to go to the pub. So I get outside, set on the stairs smocking a cigarette. Then I heard 2 men closed to me speaking French. So we chatted, one of them left to sleep. A few minutes later, Olivier and I were chating when a man stopped us to ask us if we are French so we began chating with him, Alex an American man. It was about midnight when we decided to have a drink. But the pub closed soon and the barman asked us "nicely" to go out... So we did! Then we continued chatting and Olivier left to sleep. So I staid with Alex and we walked in a little part of London. Then he told me if I can rollerblade... No I can't but I tried! Julie rollerblading in London at 3 in the morning with a stranger... I didn't really try in fact, he tracked me! ^^ I must admit that it was really funny! If you read it, thx Alex for this funny night, it's the funniest moment of my trip until now. By the way, it's true there are foxes in London city!!!

So you may imagine that it was really hard to wake up at 10 when you get to the bed at 5... Nevermind, I will have time to sleep when I will be dead, not now! So I get to the Café du Coin to have a breakfast. The manager of the caffee is Algerian and he has a perfect French!!! He told me how he did to go in London. In fact he was just in holiday and after one week he decided to stay in! What an amazing story!!! Concerning my breakfast, I took a fresh orange juice and a croissant on the terrace ^^

Finally I was very soon at Waterloo station... 2 hours!!! grrrr...

The last day

Today is THE last day. So I made a recap of the different missions I did. I send it by email to M. B. He told me last week that if I don't find a job, I should contact him. That what I did yesterday and I'm still waiting an answer. I know he's very busy but I can't be patient. I hestitate to phone him... Maybe I must stay zen and wait for Monday to call him. Concerning my 5-week internship in GPS Ltd, I met very nice people so I am happy of it. I made interesting things. But the only problem is that I have not found communication situations in English. So maybe next internship I will go back in England. Whatever it's a good professional experience!

I think I have never eaten so much chips and bananas in my life. Every day I had the same lunch: a little packet of chips and a banana, sometimes with a blackcurrant juice or a cola, sometimes with a piece of flapjack.

Concerning my application... I have no news from my research of job! I still apply everywhere. Tomorrow I will go in Southampton AGAIN to apply AGAIN for a job. I bought a ticket to go to London on Monday 28th and the return is Wednesday 30th. So I will rent a room in a hostel - during week-ends no-one is available. The price is not too expensive: £15 per night and £10 for the round-trip. Then I will go to the Centre Charles Peguy to find a job and an accomodation... but sincerely I would like to stay in Southampton!!! But if I don't find a job in Southampton and I do in London, I will have to move.

I'm already thinking about the return. I can't buy a flyticket because of my heavy package! So whatever happens I will have to go in London to take the train!

Once upon a Summertime...

Yesterday was THE summer day!!! But today is my mother's birthday so... HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM!!!!!!!!! I hope my gift really suits you. Lots of Love!
xxx

So concerning the English summer, there are 7 or 8 days that there is no rain, no clouds... I can't believe it! Summer exists in England. Indeed it's really good cause it's not too hot, it's just warm, it's pretty perfect! Sometimes it's a little bit cold but I don't care... even if I am the only person wearing a pull over and a scarf during the summer.

Last week Aurore was in holiday. At the beginning it was really great cause I had many things to do, then there was nothing to the following week... There were 4 or 5 calls, 3 deliveries and 5 mails to reply a day. In fact it was a long week. So I asked Régis to have a day off on Thursday in order to apply for a job. He agreed then he told me that M. B would be at the office Thursday morning. I said that I prefer to be absent on Thursday because on Friday I will prepare every things for Aurore's return. So he reminded me that it should be good that I come to see M. B concerning my mission. That's what I did! ...and it was a very VERY good idea!!! So I made a recap of my mission and the results with M.B. Then he told me that Régis said to him that I was looking for a job. I said "yes" and he said "If you don't find a job contact me, I will check if Aurore needs some help"... And I do know that Aurore needs help!!! So I'm pretty sure that I will stay in Southampton all the summer. But if nothing is signed, it's not sure.

So on Thursday I walked a long LONG LOOOOOOOOOONG time in Southampton. The weather was perfect. I distributed about 20 cv in hotels and restaurants, fill in application forms, etc. I think that next Saturday I will apply for a job... AGAIN! I had a break in Disney Store shop and I bought Pan-Pan from Bambi... Isn't it nice? Don't make fun of me even if I am a 22-year old girl with a cuddy toy!

This week Aurore is back. I'm so happy to see her! I have more things to do and I feel more usefull.

3 situations de communication...

Situation 1: Collaborer avec le manager

J'appelle le manager qui se trouve en France pour avoir plus de détails quant à ma misssion. Il répond, je le salue, il me demande si je suis bien arrivée, comment a été le vol, si je n'ai pas eu de mal à trouver l'entreprise, si j'habite loin de la ligne de bus. Je lui réponds que tout va bien, que j'ai été très bien accueillie, que Régis m'a fait faire une visite de l'entreprise, que la ligne de bus reliant Southampton à l'entreprise se trouve juste à côté de l'appartement où je loge, que c'était la première fois que je prenais l'avion. Il semble surpris et me demande si ça a été. Je lui réponds que j'ai trouvé ça un peu "scotchant" au décollage mais qu'après ça a été fantastique. Je change de sujet et lui rappelle qu'il m'a donnée une mission lorsque nous avons signé la convention de stage. Je lui rappelle donc ce que nous avions convenu: la société A. va très prochainement acquérir une machine qui recyclera les déchets du bois qu'ils utilisent dans l'usine pour les conditionner en briquettes de bois. Celles-ci seront revendues pour fournir de la bio énergie. Le but de la mission est donc de trouver des personnes à qui vendre ces briquettes et plus généralement des renseignements sur la commercialistaion de ce produit. Il me répond que c'est tout à fait cela. Je lui demande s'il a des préférences concernant les personnes à qui revendre les briquettes. Il me dit que pour des raisons d'organisation, il préfèrerait trouver un revendeur qui pourrait prendre le produit. Je lui dis que je vais faire en sorte de trouver ce qu'il attend. Je lui récapitule les composantes de ma mission et ses attentes. Je lui demande s'il a quelque chose à rajouter. Il me dit que non, cela devrait convenir. Je lui dis que dès que j'ai du nouveau je l'appelle ou lui envoie un mail. Il me dit que ça lui va. "Au revoir" puis je raccroche.


Situation 2: Contacte d'un client potentiel

Suite a la mission j'ai contacté un client qui semblait interessé. Après l'avoir prévenu par email de mon appel et d'une heure convenue ensemble, je l'appelle. Je me présente et lui rappelle le but de mon appel. Je lui demande s'il est toujours intéressé par ma proposition. Il me répond que oui mais qu'il a besoin de plus d'informations. (nd: Informations que j'ai préalablement cherchées avant mon coup de téléphone car il me les aavait demandées au prélable par email) Je lui dis que j'ai les informations dont il a besoin. Je commence donc par lui présenter l'entreprise, son business, sa localisation. Je lui explique que l'entreprise a récemment acheté une machine qui fabrique des briquettes en bois recyclé mais que la machine n'est pas encore en fonction. Il me demande quand elle sera en service. Je lui réponds que la machine n'a pas encoré été livrée et qu'elle sera installée fin juin, début juillet. Il me demande quelle est la taille des briquettes et leur poids. Je lui donne la fourchette de taille qui dépendra du réglage de la machine. Il trouve que la taille maximale est trop grande. Je lui dis que je tiens compte de sa remarque et en ferait part à mon manager. Puis il me demande le diamêtre des briquettes. Je ne comprends pas le mot "diamêtre" en anglais, je lui demande donc de bien vouloir répéter. Par déduction, je devine qu'il s'agit du diamêtre et lui donne les dimensions. Il me demande quel est le taux d'humidité (nd: j'ai préalablement cherché le vocabulaire des caractéristiques du produit) Je lui annonce un taux de 15%. Je lui rappelle que notre capacité de production est d'environ 17 à 22 tones par mois. Il me demande si je peux lui faire parvenir un "sample". Je ne comprends pas de quoi il parle, le pris de m'excuser pour mon manque de certains mots de vocabulaire, ce qui fait rire ce Monsieur. Il répète sa phrase en utilisant le mot "example" donc je comprends et lui explique que tant que la machine n'est pas là il m'est impossible de lui faire parvenir un échantillon. Ce monsieur me demande quand est-ce que je pourrais lui faire parvenir un sample, je lui dis que dès que la machine sera installée, il ne manquera pas d'en recevoir un. Je lui annonce donc dans le courant de juillet. Il me demande finalement quel sera le prix à la tone. Je lui annonce aux alentours de 250€ en sachant que c'est légèrement au-dessus du prix voulu par l'entreprise comme me l'a recommandé M. B, le company secretary. Ce monsieur répond en riant que c'est cher. Je lui réponds sur le même ton que je ne suis que stagiaire et que malheureusement pour lui je ne peux pas négocier de prix. Puis il me demande si l'entreprise s'occupe des livraisons. Je lui réponds que oui mais seulement en camion plein (full load). Il me dit qu'il suppose que le prix de la livraison n'est pas compris dans le prix de vente. Ce que je confirme. Il me demande soudainement si l'entreprise pour laquelle je travaille fait partie du Groupe A. Je suis surprise et réponds que oui. Puis je lui demande s'il a déjà fait affaire avec ce groupe. Il me répond que non mais qu'il en a entendu parlé. Puis il enchaine sur l'échantillon, il me dit que ça peut l'intéresser mais qu'il faudra revoir le prix et qu'il attend un échantillon. Je lui dis que je ne le contacterai pas personnellement car mon stage sera bientôt fini mais que je fais passer toutes ces informations au responsable qui le contactera. Il me dit très bien, me souhaite une bonne journée, je fais de même puis je raccroche.


Situation 3: Faire le point avec le manager

Suite a l'appel passe au client, je décide de téléphoner à M. B pour lui faire un compte-rendu du client potentiel. Il me demande si ça a été, si je n'ai pas trop eu de mal à comprendre ce que ce Monsieur me disait, je lui réponds que ça a été mieux que je ne l'aurais pensé et que le client a été très compréhensif. Puis il me demande en détails tout ce que je lui ai dit. Notamment concernant le prix de vente. Il semble satisfait et peu surpris de la réaction du client potentiel quant à sa réflexion sur le prix honéreux proposé par la compagnie. Il me demande de faire parvenir un mail à ce Monsieur pour lui faire un récapitulatif de l'échange. Je lui dis que je le fais de suite. Il me précise de ne pas faire apparaitre de prix sur le mail et de lui faire parvenir en copie. Il me remercie, me souhaite une bonne journée, de même, puis je raccroche.

A busy week

I'm really impressed because the sun wakes up very soon in England. In fact, the photo below has been taken at 4 am... Unbelievable!!! I can explain that in French but in English, it's gonna be very hard! Ok, I try... The rotation of the Earth is inclined and "moves". So during half part of year, the northern hemisphere is pretty in front of the sun. For example, during the summer solstice, the extreme northern point of the Earth has no night. So it's normal that the days are longer in England than in Spain between spring equinoxe and automn equinoxe. Is that clear??? If it's not, check on wikipedia... So it may explain why English are not depressed even their bloody English summer. No I'm kidding them ^^


We have a new housemate... He's ginger. He's not wild. He likes hugs, so it's perfect. His name is Le Chat. Don't you find him nice? ^^


So what else? Maybe a few words about my housemates and the life in the house... Ok so after 3 weeks living with them, I can see that they are very different. Yesterday James told me that I'm strange... YOUPI!!! I love when people say that about me. I have the impression that I'm always washing up. I think I am a good housemate. I love me so much that I would like to get married with Myself and rear children like Me! Saturday night, it was the first match of the England team of football. So the "strange" Martin - that's what J said - was here. England matched a goal so they were really happy, then the USA matched... Oh... My... GOD!!! They were so upset! I told them that it's just a game but it seems that in this country no ^^

Concerning my internship, since Wednesday Aurore is not at the office anymore. So I must handle the scheddule, take appointements for deliveries, prepare deliveries, check Aurore's emails and answer, sorting mails and answer to the phone. The hardest thing I have to do is phoning... It's not really easy cause you often ask people to repeat and you don't want them to be angry cause you don't understand. Some customers are very cool, some are very impatient. So next week, I will do the same things and I will contact by phone companies in order to sell the futur wooden briquettes. I hope it won't be too hard.

An advert... a stupid advert!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vY_70InjCvM

This link is the link of an advert that I often see... What a cliché!!! What's wrong between English and French people? My housemates asked me if there were adverts with English in France... I don't think except the add for tea. If someone has an other example or could explain what happens with French in England, do not hesitate to post a comment! Thx

The end of the week and... SHOPPING!!!

Friday, Aurore showed me how to create a delivery and how to handle the scheddule. Next week, she will be here Monday and Tuesday, then she's gonna leave us for one week and a half cause she has an exam. I hope that she will pass it and I cross the fingers. I'm not afraid cause there is Régis if something's wrong. But I would prefer doing that myself as good as possible. Monday and Tuesday I will make deliveries again in order to be ready for the next 10 days. Then she drove me to home, so I had time to see the landscape and take a picture!


For diner I cooked some crepes!!! I made 2 kinds of crepe one with bacon and cheddar and the other just with goat cheese... It was really tasty but, sorry, I have no photo!

Today, I woke up very late... about... 1pm... then I get shopping!!!!!!! I took the bus to the city centre and get in the West Quay centre... OH MY GOD!!! England is really expensive! So I decided to go out and visit around West Quay centre. The weather was really good so it was a perfect day for shopping and visiting! I saw many things, I have taken some photos you may see below. There is something strange... people I met think I am German or Polish. So a seller told me "tschüss!", an other one told me "hello, how are you?" in Polish. Today I met a French sellswoman in Zara, she didn't thought I was French. That's only when she saw my blue card Caisse d'E. that she asked me if I was French. I told her what I wrote just before and she said "it's true you don't look really French"... What is it to look French???



Of course Southampton is on the south coast,so there are seabirds everywhere in the city, so I was not surprized to see that in the shopping centre.







That's something unbelievable... People have no respect and let get down clothes everywhere in shops!!!









Today was the first day of the summer market. In fact there was only food... ^^








Then I came back home, took the bus, missed my bus stop... So I walked "a little bit" and I met Vicky from Little Britain, isn't she lovely? Isn't she wonderful?