Not too personal · Old blog

#GettingPersonal: Happy Birthday to me

Codrin PO

Yesterday (February 11th) was my birthday. Happy birthday to me!

I am not a very sociable person offline so, this year, I wanted to see if I can have a calm, relaxing birthday. I made my birth date private on Facebook. Unfortunately I forgot to do the same on LinkedIn and it seems you can’t do this on Skype.

263 friends on Facebook, 2546 connections on LinkedIn and a few relatives. All relatives called (by phone or Skype) to wish me a Happy Birthday. I received about 10 birthday messages on LinkedIn (from persons I don’t remember adding). On Facebook I received three profile posts (my sister, an old friend and a high school colleague born on the same day) and 5 private messages (from people who I really like). YOU SHOULD REALLY READ MORE!

frenchclass · Old blog

#FrenchClass revival: checking other countries

Codrin PO

Due to personal reasons, yesterday I had to leave two hours earlier from my French course. Today I looked at the others and the teacher as if they were talking another language. They were, but that`s not the point. I had no idea what they were talking about as most of what we learn is done in the last two hours (out of four).

But, through a very carefully constructed exercise, I was able to get back on track. We did a group exercise. Four people in each group, each of them telling the others what their country is like in terms of time and space (aka school time and vacation, work time, open time in stores etc.).

From what I got, here is what I can share: READ MORE!

frenchclass · Old blog

#FrenchClass revival: the games

Codrin PO

My French class isn’t your ordinary “teacher talks, students listen”. Most of the time of those 4 hours/day is spent playing. And I don’t mean playing PS or Xbox video games.

We’re playing “icebreakers” (let`s put them in that category).

Here is an example. Pushing benches aside and making room in the middle of the class for everyone, we played a little game relating our likes and dislikes and discussing them. With five circles drawn in the middle, we were asked to tell others if we hate or adore something like politics, the cold or Belgium.

The most interesting responses came regarding politics. Out of 17 students (+ the teacher), 17 people said they HATE politics and political debates. Guess who said he loves politics?! YOU SHOULD REALLY READ MORE!

frenchclass · Old blog

#FrenchClass revival: the longest trip

Codrin PO

For French class today, I had to write a 1-page text about my longest trip ever. As I travelled a lot in the past 4-5 years, I had a wide selection to choose from. I chose my trip (for a job interview) to Bogor, Indonesia.

Bogor is an odd town with poor sections that intertwine with the new, flashy parts. But the city is still great.

But my story wasn’t about Bogor or Indonesia. I talked about the road to Bogor.

An 8 hours connection in Istanbul, instead of the official 6 hours.

The young couple with a baby boy (it wore blue so….misconception) that sat beside me in a full plane. Of course, the baby cried for 75% of the 13 hours flight.

The high humidity (80-90%)  that complemented the high temperatures. And I wore a suit: pants, shirt, tie etc. You get the picture.

All these were in my story. I`m wondering what the teacher will say tomorrow.

P.S.: I didn’t get the job.

frenchclass · Old blog

#FrenchClass revival: 2nd episode

Codrin PO

The French classes that I am taking are great. Beside that my grammar is bad, but improving, they allow me to do something else: to write. I know that blogging is also writing, but the texts that we are supposed to write as homework (adults can also have homework) are better.

These texts allow me to write what I can`t write on this blog. Those things would be too boring. And I am learning how to keep my articles short (1 A5 page).