Aug
31
A summary about my financial situation.
Net Income (after tax): +2398 Euros
Housing: -600 Euros
Transport + insurance: -247 Euros
Food/Living: -394 Euros
So that makes my monthly saving: + 1157 Euros
Not too bad! However I will get these restaurant vouchers (170 – 68 selfcontribution = 102 euros) for lunch starting this month, that will help a bit more since supermarkets accept these when you buy food.
That would bring the net income to a nice: 2500 euros / month
Aug
28
LasT QuIeT WeEk!
Filed Under Daily
I will regret these 2 weeks. It was quite nice working alone in the office with no social activities to disturb you. It was quiet and it was effective. I came in early and left around 17:10 ( a bit earlier on Friday). Even though it was a bit stressful to finish the old job from the colleague I replace, I managed through with her kind help.
The roads are obviously a bit more crowded this week already but since I avoid the busy highways through Paris and take national/slower roads, it remains smooth and no accidents. All in all, it is just a perfect transition so far. The right timing! Everyone should be back next week. O well! All good things must come to an end.
Mr bro started his first introductory day today as a math teacher. The whole week is about administrative stuffs. School starts next week as well. I think my parents are relieved that their two elder sons are working. It is indeed rare to see both of us going to work the same day the last 2 years.
Actually, the three of us (sis, bro and myself) are working. We cannot be accused of being lazy or exploiting the french social system.
Aug
24
OnE moRe WEek!
Filed Under Daily
And another month pass by. It will be 2 months soon that I am working and it is still great. Especially with everyone on vacation, I almost have the whole floor to myself. Next week should be smooth since all the hard work is done. I will just have to prepare in advance the next publication (Nov/Dec 2012).
My parents’ car is finally repaired and it is back. One month blocked in the garage and 731 Euros. That was time consuming and expensive. Could it be shorter? If it was not for the vacation probably but I doubt my parents’ think so. Could it be cheaper? They always think that people who are not vietnamese will always try to charge more or do more than what is required. I think that too but for everyone not only for people who are not vietnamese. The funny thing is that my mother always told us stories in which a vietnamese dude has discovered a way to cheat on tax or other things.
Anyways luckily, I had my car so things were a bit easier.
Aug
16
5 dAys oFf
Filed Under Daily
Wednesday the 15th of August is a holiday in France and I added 2 paid days to get a 3-day “bridge” and the weekend off. I had to do some homework on Thursday morning so that I do not get behind any schedule this month. It is indeed summer time and people I work with are slow to respond to requests.
I am glad to enjoy a small break even though I’ve just started a month and half ago. It is just that everyone is talking about vacation and I do not have any yet. I’ve just started to accumulate some paid days for next year.
From now until the end of the month I am all alone at work.
Aug
10
Mine…All Mine!
Filed Under Daily
I love this office. 5 windows and extremely spacious! But more importantly, all mine! No sharing! And birds are singing in the morning when I arrive early. Delightful! The view is lovely as well. Just a perfect office, I am telling ya’
Aug
8
Back Then!
Filed Under Daily
Thinking back about my job search period, I sometimes get chills. Indeed I was close to accept really shitty positions back then for much less. I could not, of course, predict where I would be today and back then it was hard to be choosy. The economy looked so bad, even now, that one would rather have something than nothing during this time.
What kept me on track during my search was probably the fact that I was getting paid for unemployment benefit. I had like 1340 euros per month so all the shitty positions that came by were neglected.
So far so good at my new job and I am keeping fingers crossed. I enjoy as long as I can. I am sure there will be hard times ahead, ups and downs … such is life but why bother with the future for now!
I love my huge office surrounded by 5 windows! Work is cool and not too boring. I am relatively busy but not over stressed especially during summer time.
I get along with 2 colleagues and my boss. I am not sure about the 3rd colleague. You cannot get along with everyone anyways, besides there is always someone who isn’t happy at work and who conveys negative feelings. As long as we don’t interact I really don’t care. I ‘ll live my life.
Aug
6
Good …good!
Filed Under Daily
I am happy to see my blog working again. I was a bit worried after 5 days of a deadly silence! I was right and it was just a temporary httpd problem. All is back to normal now and all is good! I need to make regular backups because I don’t see myself writing all this again!
Work is still nice! It is a bit depressing to see all these people going on vacation. The work place is really empty during August but it allows me to take things slowly and to enjoy a smooth transition.
Jul
27
AlMost OnE MoNth!
Filed Under Daily
In few days, it will be one month. That means my first salary at my new job. I will be on my own soon, and of course, I will enjoy the big pretty office. It also means more responsibilities. Cannot wait to be there!
So far so good! I enjoy going to work everyday but also look forward to going home at the end of the day. I am busy at work so time flies quickly. Things are going smoothly and nicely. I will try to keep it this way. Thanks to the trip to Denver, I am fully integrated to the team. The fact I enjoy a high position and a nice office don’t make everyone happy but I cannot do anything about it … no I am not giving away this office easily!
Let’s keep fingers crossed and hope for the best in the near future!
Jul
25
WiNd Of ChaNge!
Filed Under Daily
Well Well Well!
My bro passed his “CAPES” exam to become a math teacher and he was assigned to a school very close to home. Like 10 kms away only. That is good! Hopefully the students aren’t too hard to handle. Anyways this year looks promising for both of us. We both got a job! France’s economy looks gloomy so we are happy with these changes.
I finally subscribed to a phone/internet plan for my Iphone 4S. I wanted to avoid using the network at my work. I do not want to mix work/personal stuff: 19.99 Euros/month on Free mobile plan.
Jul
22
We were supposed to spend the weekend in Belgium with my cousins but life has decided otherwise. My parents’ car had some engine’s problems and it could not accelerate on the highway. We had to stop near a highway exit, left the car there and got back home in my sister’s car. My sister had an accident earlier as well and she had to drive all the way from the other side of Paris to pick us up. Our cousins decided to come instead on Saturday and dropped their dog before their vacation in Vietnam in August. They left early on Sunday so that one of my cousin can have time to practice her driving before her exam next Thursday.
I have Monday off to recover from the hectic weekend. At least we have my newly bought car to drive around.
« go back — keep looking »