Finding a reason to be here

My mom always asks me how I am doing here and always, I don’t tell her I am doing here. Today me and a friend had a talk and after the talk I realized and remembered why I chose to be here and that is because it is what I needed to do and not exactly what I wanted to. Being here would be good for my future and for me. Well that was what I thought of back then.

But being here in Paris brings me actually sadness. I’ve been ranting about this for months now, sometimes the issue goes off but well it comes back everyonce in a while. Why? I actually felt really happy back home in Manila – and the fact that up to now I am so attached to Manila and all the people I love and in turn also makes me feel loved. Which is not the case here.

I do have friends here now. But I don’t know… must I be constantly and continually accompanied like a baby so I don’t bicker and cry like one?

I’ve been also praying and playing in my mind that someday I will find love here, and still today I hope I stumble upon that luck soon.

It’s an idea which may seem like a panakip butas to the problem but I’d think it may actually be also the solution.

Peace. Exactly what I feel when I’m with Frederic. Exactly what I feel everytime I with people I like.

The feeling of just being contented much with the moment and just being really at peace.

Too bad he’s taken. Drats… that stings.

So still I’m on the search for the thing that will attach me to this city.

I'm back.

This morning made me come back.

It may be the prayers or the efforts, but I'm back on my quest now.

And if there will be a wish... I wish I can make it, and keep my focus.

I'm in Paris... I have shared the same sentiments with a friend but I got derailed somewhere and now I'm back.

We want to make it big in life.

We want to be not just ordinary.

We want to put our name and make a mark on this world.

And this morning made me ask...

How did great people from all over the world make their name big?

What did they need to do and what is it that they did to just be known?

King louis xiv? steve jobs? even my boss. What did they have?

How do I increase my net worth to maybe at least 1 billion dollars?

Great things all start from small beginnings.
And these great things will all start from these questions.

I'm back. yes I'm back.

Observations

I need to be checked how well I'm doing and re-corrected and realigned every once in a while.

If not, I tend to go out of focus, and whine and do evil things.

So now I'm in a better state of mind.

Maybe this is something that kept me so just sharp back then. A lot of people around that acts as my pillars holding me in position.

And now I realized losing them meant a fall not immediately seen by the eye but felt inside me.

When I was asked a while ago... why am I sad?

I couldn't answer the real answer.

Deep inside I found the answer silly so I just kept it in. Actually I feel like I'm just screaming for attention. Wanting some concern. Well really nobody felt like nobody cared about me here. Yeah I'm sick so who cares? This and the old reasons I had and felt ever since a long time ago. Lives until now.

I hope I stop whining now. I need to be like more considerate, thankful, more spiritual, think more of the bigger picture... the blessings that I have and the city I'm in etcetera.

I hope that I pray more.

Bisous!

Envy & Frustrations

And yes the image does look familiar, Envy.

One of the seven deadly sins that has captivated me lately dead on.

Envy. I've been very envious lately... Well I guess having my roomate around is one big mistake I've made lately. Oh envy... layuan mo ako! Well let's just say its 530am now, roomate just got home from another encounter from an uber gorge guy. blah blah.

Why do I feel like this lately?

Well I've just had enough blabbing of my roomate about his fortune and pool of the guys he just had effortlessly met. Silly. I guess that's the core of it all.

Well guess what, I've been wanting to meet a Mister as well. But my spirit is put down by all the.... (lol, actually just writing this down is making me realize already how silly I might be lately well..)

my spirit is put down by all the zero count that I've had. Well consequently, this just makes me feel insecure, unattractive and just way uber focused on that greeny greeny word. My god?! I need prayers, I aint like this.

What the hell!? Silently I said to myself and self crowned myself back then as someone who is just stable, good looking at my own rights, and confident. Where did my mojo go??? Doh.

"I Love Life... I love paris.. Dont you Angelo..?" That's what my roomate said to me before

dozing off. I just pretended I was sleeping.

How about HPV? The thought has been killing me in more ways that one. Screw this mayhem. So what now? Am I a "damaged good" forever? SCREW SCREW SCREW. How effin lucky was that.

You know... when I go out. People do show interest, but I dont even if I want to. Screw HPV.

Welcome to the other dimension!

Mind Mapping October 3, 2010

Gee, here I go again, Imma splurge my pandora's box so that I can reorganize the idea's and thoughts. Much like one of those cabinets that just has a bunch of stuff in this that we throw inside and suddenly a day of cleaning comes to arrange it all the way. Here we go...

Back then I was like having a wish na well I wish I had a friend here.... and well, when I prayed hard enough and I guess when the right time came, God granted me my wish....

I'm trying to imagine the way things are going and unfolding and I've realized something... When I first met him, I thought, hey isn't this nice, having someone around and hey great I've got a good buddy here.

And for the past couple of weeks.... I wasn't aware but only at this second can I say that that way I thought of him as a friend some what changed. It goes like... well damnit I am starting to really like this guy. Oh but pursuing this won't be a smart plan. Oh why am I feeling jealous all of a sudden then moody?

Well Joey, since you do realize now that while you're together... he does so much boy hunting all and this makes you feel really uncomfortable and sad all of a sudden. Now you realize these, how can I find a solution so that next time things will get better?

Are these all just a bunch of fatigue?

I'm trying to be aware of myself.

Okay Joey, tell yourself this. Don't screw up your friend, he is innocent and you won't feel any better if you do. Tell yourself this ok?

Fine you've had enough but control yourself, it will be worth it til the end... ok?

Well... I started to like him, thing is he doesn't like me back. Which kinda sucks. Joey he already sent you the message loud and clear, he's just not interested in you, but well as friends you go along together. He had been a very kind friend to you, screwing it up just because "I guess if someone doesn't love you back... it isn't such a crime", will not be fair and will not be smart. Having him around gives you company and joy of having someone around. I guess uhm... joey would you want this to situation to go away?

I wish I can be smarter and stronger about all these.

So have a bright bright day and few weeks months years ahead with him ok?

So get yourself all composed and realize this.

And gee, at the end of the day I still realize, damnit, I wish there was still that someone that will just be there to give me a hug, kiss, and well love. Some certain part of this world is turning out to be just crazy... well still again, I'm just here for the simple idea of having someone around to just address my desire to be accompanied and loved and be loved.

I'm seeking for that dynamic of love. Like just having someone around... something like you would want to go home earlier than usual so that you can prepare dinner for him and all... something like it's a friday morning and you're thinking what fun and nice thing you two guys can do for the weekend. Enjoy moments with him, with him with our friends, with him and the world. Love will be awesome, but well gruesome sometimes too. I guess that well, a certain degree of frustration and disappointment which I failed to address came in when the situation unfolded.

He could be ideal... but with this situation less the love.

And then maybe something about the past which I still have not reconciled with myself is still here and causing trouble. Something about my health that just causes a misunderstanding at the center of it all...

I'm also starting to become inggit. yeah. inggit. screw this word. I'm just inggit. When everyone else can just get as much as they want... but for me, I can't because damnit. I still can't. I guess what's worse than a sickness, it a sickness that doesn't heal. A sickness for my body, and a process of reconciliation with myself that just wont happen. Seeing a lot of guys and that desire and being approached and all and at the end I just turn everything down since well... my body and my spirit is still just sick. And I guess ok, now I get now where the need/desire to have someone is coming from, I'm expecting someone to make the step of accepting me because I'm just fed up trying.

I guess after 3...4... years, I ought to reconcile na this issue with myself and just not be so hard towards myself. How do I forgive myself again? I don't know really and maybe that's a clear fault of mine, I didn't think about how to do it. I just went to the battle without studying the dynamics. Something like how? Something like will I need help from someone else? Something like what form of medicine will I require to heal? For once and for all, with all the stupidity and carelessness from the past... I should take the bold step now, Jesus, I need to detach from this na and like heal... start a fresh page.

Hmmm... ok... MIND MAPPING ::: in the middle of these... I realized the thought, it may not be the super center of all the mishaps happening, but it is certainly something that causes the bara in the pipes. Do I feel like I'm exaggerating a thought? pas du tout.

and I still haven't got any friends! roar!

and I realize I self destruct slowly and unconsciously both physically and mentally pag wala akong kausap. LOL

... tak... tak... tak...

so I'm going to go to the club.

fine. oo na.

gee... thing is I need friends... not a fuck.

french guys, sure they fuck well, and then... kthnxbye

Ok, what is up with me being exaggeratedly shy?

just no confidence.

and pessimistic.

roar.

where was me a long time ago?

cheerful

kalog

sharp

just greater than me on this day

fine. oo na. I'm going to go to the club and party and try to meet people.

and what is up with me always thinking that this club is just a place to absolutely look for a fuck.

of course that happens.

but then again, as I said before..

being always the exception aint so cool all the time...

Fuck I'm starting to hate life here now.

Hand me the world on a silver platter and what good would it be with no one to share no one who truly cares for me

What points am I missing? Who will talk to me about this anyway?

I'm stupid now, silly, crazy and loosing directions. I dont know.

I'm miserable.

looking for friends... not even... just someone to talk to.

self destructing.

over spending.

out of control.

anway despite all these drama, I'm still here, smiling. Exerting efforts to make things look seemless. :)

oo na, i'm going to go that club

gee,

roar, in short, kung iisipin, nde nga problema ang pinproblema ko.

i need to pray.

i go to the church.

i speak to god.

but i'm not praying.

i'd think of it like this...

these happen as a sign, that God gives me nobody to talk to, to remind me that remain our connection together.

...

Okay... I'm slipping down.

Always alone. Sitting in a park. Day dreaming.

Under a monument. Wishing. Hoping. Dining out. Along the boulevard. The streets. The lights. Under a tree. On the train. In my room. Living. Breathing

Often alone lately.

Lying on the floor, staring at myself on the mirror.

Alone. Looking for people where I could see myself fit in comfortably.

Looking for someone, though not really stressing much... I'd be really happy if this will happen.

The sadness of being alone is starting to eat my heart and brain... and suffocate me.

Then again, I'd rather be alone than be with people I'd rather not be with. I'm still and will not be that desperate.

To anyone that is not sure on how to express themselves, I would say spend a lot of time reading books and going to museums, watching old films, movies and researching on the internet and make a folder of the things that you really love.

I think thats a good way to start figuring out of who you are, you will see that images will start to make sense... there will be a thorough line of your philosophy.

- Gaga

Accounting

I love accounting... and it drives me crazy when I lost track of where my money goes.

Here goes my kick for putting order in my monthly costs. Gee. Its steep. Nonetheless. Its a decent standard of living.

Rent	500
Phone	61
Internet/Phone/Cable	34
Electricty & Water	30
Workday - Lunch	40
Groceries per month (35/week)	140
Haircut	20
Transportation	30
Approx Monthly Unavoidable Cost	855

Salary - Monthly Cost = Cash I have for having fun and shopping and all.
Gee... I wonder if there is some cost in the middle I can avoid...

On being insecure

Today I had internet and tv cable installed. And before the curry smelling guy left, we had a little misunderstanding since I wasn't able to cope up with his French. Instead to clear up whatever we had not agreed upon on... I told him to call his colleague and ask what I cannot answer.

And in return tells the colleague... that I poorly speak French and has been explained something incorrectly. At some point of hearing that him say that in French which I am sure I full understood, I felt an ego blow, I felt uncomfortable and just wanted that curry to leave.

I felt eaten, insecure somewhere between the lines.

And when I closed the door... I asked... why am I feeling this again?

Is it because I wasn't able to cope up with his expectations for me to converse with him?

Because he said the truth?

Silly.

Usually when I feel bad, I siege to the thought that I'm just missing some explanation or idea that if I discover... everything will be okay and the rest will seem silly.

And I look up to Gaga for more than the music, she gives me ideas sometimes and makes me ask questions on how we feel sometimes...

And a few moments ago, I felt normal again after I asked a few questions which were not necessarily answered... something like...

What actually is the criteria to make me feel insecure...?

Poorly put on clothes?
Unable to speak a language?

Inability to meet other people's demand?

Fear?

Lack of money?

Gee... On my birthday I saw a bunch of people on Manila bay with barely nothing to in their life but insecurity isn't something that worries them.

You think they are higher and better than you?

Who sets the criteria anyway on what is correct?

And I continued to deconstruct ideas that society had made and analyzed.

So what if I'm the only one different looking in a room. Is that a requisite already to feel insecure?

Red + Yellow = Orange... this is chemistry.

Different + passionate = insecurity?

And I continue to play with the idea of human instinct just like merryll streep in devil where's prada... Much like... if you're the one always yakking and blabbing all the time, you're not making other people curious... and humans tend to always want to get something they dont know or don't have. And it makes me raise an eyebrow whenever those character in the movie... just keeps an eye on whatever merryl will be up to. Merryll being a quite, reserved type... the idea that portrays an image that there's something always brewing in the mind.

One more I remember...

This french woman... client. I greeted her warmly with a smile... Came over my first day at work... calls the products we made in bulacan shit... even gazed an eye on to me and asked.. "Are you tired?"

I just said no and smiled. I pretty much didn't care, really. I was prepared that day for some reason to meet people that are just silly. With much confidence and a boat that still floats on water I continued my day.

And the other day she came back... I just kept me to myself and continued rolling and counting the fabrics. The idea and image that portrays that something is brewing in my mind and that is you just got yourself a bad impression on me. I barely bothered myself with her. The cold shoulder treatment. And surprisingly she was so warm at me and all and all and smiling that second day.

Was it that she was just having a bad day the other day? Could be. But I'd stick to my beliefs.

So really now... people make stuff, beliefs and all for their own benefits but with the price of misfortune of others. Silly.

But I'd make and live on my own.

iPhone

gee.... Finally I got me an iPhone 4. I love it.

I remember that back then when I was working in Geneva... on my third salary, the 3GS came out, but I locked my hands in my pocket and thought that its just not right to buy it yet and I saved the money.

Okay so I got an iPhone finally. Awesome.

How am I doing?

I sometimes find, and I am sure you know the feeling, that I simply have too many thoughts and memories crammed into my mind.... At these times... I use the Pensieve. One simply siphons the excess thoughts from one's mind, pours them into the basin, and examines them at one's leisure. ~J.K. Rowling, "The Pensieve," Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, 2000, spoken by the character Albus Dumbledore

So today at the church… the most simple questions struck me in the utmost mythical manner. Il faut demander soi-même… “comment vais-je?”, how am I? And «Is there a problem ? »

I’m doing really great here in Paris, I have a super nice apartment in the 16th district. Really safe. I have a great 32 inch television here. Big bathroom. Nice kitchen. A good job. A really kind boss. I don’t have friends yet but I’m not stressing on this too much for now. I’m living the dream.

But really… how am I? I actually have been really stupid with actions and words lately that it bothers me to the point of disappointment to myself. Well I’ve been stupid with words and actions are not upto what I had expected them to be. Only will I realize the sense and them impression only after I had done it. I’m not able to focus on thoughts. My French stops. A lot of thoughts bothering me. I’m going to siphon the ideas and thoughts in my mind that’s just making me feel enclosed. Regardless whatever I will say what I will say. Some may be stupid. But this is how I feel. Just like in highschool, when we go on retreats to release pressure… I’m gonna do some excercises like those just right now…

And so I forgot what my boss tells me… that our mind is like a box, it gets full, and when its full, nothing can get in. So keep out stuff that you will not use so new ideas can come in.

Jamie, I never got the chance to tell you I love you. Not a single chance. I realize that upto here where I am now, I’m still mentally attached to your memory even if I want to break free. I feel like I felt really frustrated that I never got the chance to say what I really wanted to say back then, and when I was just about to say so, things went berserk and out of proportions… In a sense that telling you so will not be fitting anymore. I feel like it was a bit of a game when I cannot fully say whatever I wanted. It enclosed me. Cheesy, yes. Some level of vulnerability and something you were fighting, I respected. But now I find myself in the idea of just feeling frustrated and emotions that locate themselves close to the grudge section. So for all I wanted to say… I just want to let go… and hope that siphoning this will work to kill my useless anxiety… Jamie I love you. I really did love you. I wish I could’ve said it to you personally. I wanted us to experience more what was then available for us. I love you. Dearly I miss you. I thought about you a lot. And thought a lot about you for a lot of time. I love you Jamie.

I’m frustrated that my French is not playing fair with what I had expected it to be. I thought it was fine already and usually I conversed well already in class. But surprises surprises… I want to be able to converse well in French.

I’m excited and hoping to get an iPhone tomorrow or at least within the week.

My apartment costs 830 euros a month and I find myself silly that when Pinoys this morning asked me how much my rent was, all I said was mura lang. Back then my mom often said that when she’s asked about me, she often didn’t tell how I was doing career-wise and education-wise. And much was about was she was thinking how others might feel envy or feel bad on how I was doing. I guess she was thinking of something more why she did this. But well… fine… silly my rent is 830 euros a month. And the electricity water wifi internet phone cable is not included ok?

I’ve held on to money for the strongest of the strong for the past months… but yesterday I broke myself free. I bought a lot from Celio and felt great after. I finally got the jeans that I wanted to buy. And tomorrow I’m going to get an iPhone if the lady was kind enough to keep it reserved for me. And its 200 euros + 49 euros a month for 12 months.

So my idea of money now changes. I usually worried about it before. But I’m loosening the screws now. I’m working now, and I’m spending what I had earned before. I deserved

I’ve been pressured lately to fuck around. Geeze these men look awesome. Why are they just by default more muscular and all… suddenly I feel insecure. I hate this because I should not be at all… I should think that I look good in my own respective way. Funny even how this morning someone told me that I even look better than victor basa… Victor basa is great looking, but again in my own respective way, I do too. And now I feel really fat, I don’t know how much I weight but this belly is just making me insecure. Damn. Genes. I want to get rid of them.

Fuck around with anonymous men here? That’s hot. But damn, I just don’t feel 100% that I wont get any form of STD. Seriously… with the safest of the safest form… 100%?

What have I got to do to clear the cloud on this? Well I’ve learned back then and then after I don’t do that just with anyone. Yeah I’m like this… So what have I go to do to clear the cloud on this?

I’m not like anybody else, I am Angelo M. Reyes, of course I deserve what I have been getting lately. But being brought up to a high level is not the point of it all, the idea is sustaining it and raising the bar… one/I should be able to achieve or create something that is bigger than me.

I really do not believe in Noynoy at all, I want him to portray a smart looking aura. Again I often say and wonder… back then it was Aquino as senadors and Marcos as president… now, its marcoses as senadors and aquinos as president. And then I ask… “ano kaya ang mangyayare… ano kaya?”

I feel like I’m raised up and suddenly at this level, even Filipinos I’ve talked to lately have been awed by the status of my work. My mom should be well be given credits to what I have become now and how high I am… true that still one should keep his feet on the ground and that I shall forever do. Being up high isn’t the end of the game, Noynoy makes me wonder if he can sustain the flight… when we cannot break something, say a jar or an egg, we raise it to give it more force when it hits the floor to release what is inside. Noynoy is way up there… he wasn’t my pick, but okay I do wish with passion still that he would be there to do the country great and not great cheap chismis.

Ika nga…”Minsan itinataas tayo, para lang ibagsak tayo at makita ang anumang mali”.

For me, I certainly wish that I sustain this flight and still climb and raise it high. Slowly but effectively. And for it to be called a really successful flight, is to land only when at the will of the pilot given the right time, and the right distance. Sure there may be turbulences and storm during the flight… but it’s a must to know to maneuver well all throughout, even using fuel wisely that opportunities do not go to waste.

And I’m loving great architecture lately. The Opera, Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower has been the ones that I see most often. I even dedicated an hour last night just watching documentaries about French history and engineering.

I realize there is so so much to do in Paris, so for now I’m still okay not having friends here. But really a part of me wishes I find some soon. Great angels to be there with me and have fun with me in this city called Paris.

Yes I will be here, for a long time… I don’t know until when.

So there… I hope everything goes better with me.

Williams Theorem

So its 433 am. I still can't sleep since I slept too early and all them excuses. So there is a thought in my mind that has been running around.

I'm glad to know that someone that I was madly in love with before is going to visit me soon, probably within the month of July. It has been since last September 1, 2009 since we last saw each other and it has been quite some pain having seen him for the last moments. He even woke up at 5am just to take me to the train station and well... when the train started to go... he left me with his last memory when he ran along the platform to wave farewell. Just like in the movies. Sweet. But not entirely.

It has been since last September 1, 2009. We had communicated for a few times thru internet for the next few days or weeks until we eventually moved on to our own lives and barely lost communication.

So uhm... Yeah there. He's going to visit me soon and I'm excited and happy to see him. But with the time gap between the train and today... I realized... I don't actually feel the same feeling towards him anymore. But take note that I still treat him and really honestly find him as a really great friend upto now. So communication loss + time = depreciation of love?

Makes me wonder on another note... So I guess when I said "let's remain great friends" to you whom I said these words and I'm aware that I did/do love you... Will we eventually really just become friends and the next time I see you, will I still feel the same warmth that sets my soul on fire... or will "communication loss + time = depreciation of love?".

Thanks

Gee... Lord.... thank you... I'm just really overwhelmed. I don't know where to start. The small spoons? The tv? Can I just say thank you for everything.

Possibilities

Since life is not always about all work and all fun... A quick note to myself of things I can do here in Paris later when I'm more stable

1. Look for opportunities... Money making opportunities? friends... networking

2. Bikram yoga

3. Join the gym

4. Running 10km runs

5. Visit museums...?

6........

How much will you pay to see me in Paris?

I'm just toying in my head how much will it take for someone back home will spend to pay me a visit here in Paris...

Airfare: I'll say 1000$ = PhP 45,000

Schengen Visa: PhP3,600

Hotel / Accomodation (hey even for 2 weeks or more if they want): Free

Airport Shuttle Bus roundtrip already: (18.20 Euros) PhP 1,050

Entrance to attractions & museums: (90euros?) PhP5000?

Dining Out... this is a tricky. Ill say 180-200 euros is more than enough for a week. And we can always dine at my apartment. this saves a lot of money so I'll put PhP10,000

Transportation: (30 euros?) : PhP2,000

Miscellaneous (50 euros?): PhP3,000

So approx PhP70,000. My mom can do this in just 50k. She just sits in a bench on a Park... bring a big baguette and some cheese... and she's really happy already.

Gee... This sounds nice for a basic free & easy trip to Paris. And normally I spend very basic and simple when I travel.

Travelling doesn't have to really cost a gazillion amount of money. Some people spend so much while travelling, spend a lot and then complain that travelling costs so much. Silly. But then I believe that are always loop holes in the process that gives us convenience. Like a friend who lives in Paris.

Then again people tend to go to other European countries for a grand eurotrip when get the chance to go here... erm... that costs and not part of my calculation. Again this is "How much will you pay to see me in Paris?"

Gee... I do hope friends and families visit me soon.

Prayer

Okay… I was overwhelmed about how the past 48 hours have been… I’ll take the hour off by untangling a mess I’m feeling inside my head.

So I though I’m leaving Manila with an 830pm flight via Thai Airways… surprise! it was moved to 10pm. So this was the Buena mano stress thing for me. I was transferred to a 730pm flight via Philippine Airlines which meant that we were taken via a old Japanese bus to the PAL NAIA terminal which just made me carry all my luggage by myself and through that really mataas na bus. I was tired already.

And things went on smoothly (though I was in a hurry) and I got on my 1205am flight in Bangkok to Paris where I was seated at seat A59. Surprise! My seat is broken… when I lie on my back the chair just reclines itself even if I didn’t push any buttons. So at dinner time, I lied on my back and this French lady behind me told me…

“No! No! No!”… and I gave myself defense that it is not me… it’s the chair. She didn’t listen and gave me a bad face… well I spoke in English. So I called up a flight attendant and I wanted to be transferred to another seat because of the seat I have… but before that the friends of the lady started making explanations and all. Well… “ce n’ètait pas moi, c’est la chaise, vous voyez... il y a une problème avec la chaise, si je me reste le dos sur la chaise, automatiquement, la chaise se recliner.” (its not me, its the chair, you see, when I rest my back on the chair.. it automatically reclines.) So I gave my press release in French and they just finally toned down. Surprise!!! I can speak French.

Beuhhh.. enough of that.. at least I got myself transferred to a better seat. Exit row seats.. these cost an extra 50euro a pop! Sweet. Yeah, as they say, there are great opportunities in times of crisis. I think I could have transferred to the first class seats. Damn. I ran out of gas… ok I’ll fill up more gas next time.

Throughout my flight… I can’t help but feel oh so nostalgic. Memories of the past few weeks just played itself inside my head. Again I hate this that I appreciate things more when they are gone. And I’ll regret that damn… I wish I could have done more. I wish we could have talked more together. I wish I wish. And yeah now, I do realize there are so so much things I loved and will miss back home. Especially the people whom I have been with and enjoyed so much moments. The group of people who touched my life, the one who touched my heart.

And I finally arrived in Charles de Gaulle Aeroport at around 640am, out of the airport by 730… Took the bus going to Paris at 745am… got to Paris by 845am… In the hotel by 930am.

Sat down for an hour as I was just lost and excited to be connected to the internet after having been disconnected for a little less than a day! Haha.

So what else happened uhm…

I finally met my boss at exactly 12 noon, but before that I got lost since I forgot already the streets! Haha.

And she showed me my desk… once more… the office. The warehouse of more than 8000 articles for making hats and other fashion accessories that is H.A. Schmid.

Lunch was something… I oughta get used to this. A salade ceasar au poulet (chicken ceasar salad) then a steak with fries for main course, and tiramisu for desert… + coffee. I was full.

And I opened a bank account. Took me 1000 signatures. Yeah in france.. everything is just more complicated. Vachement compliqué. As my boss tells it.

And I signed up for internet at Orange.. gee! July 10 pa ang connect! LOL dito ako na errr…

While me and my boss was talking and walking along the streets from the bank…

I asked her... that I wanted to deposit the money here in my pocket. Well she told me to go to the bank and the place where she showed me… “but you’ll probably spend it anyway”… and so here I find myself clashed between two worlds where I’m now focusing to find that balance.

I couldn’t remember quite all the words said… but the idea is… my mom is someone who saves money, for the future, economical, practical.

My boss… lives for the moment, get what you want.

And after that day we went to Mercedez Benz garage to get her car.

Gee… I need to find friends.

And I died from the tiring day that I had. At the beginning my French was okay, then nung gabi na… from the fatigue and all. Kung anu anu na ata ang sinasabi ko. haha

My Prayer.

Oh Lord Jesus… There is quite some handful of thoughts playing inside my head…

I remember my tita armi told us this before… “Ang mga tao dasal ng dasal na humihingi ng bahay, pera, manalo sa lotto etcetera… pero lahat yan ay binigay na ng Diyos, dapat ang dinadasal ng tao ngayon ay kung papano nila makukuha yung gusto nila… kung anu ang dapat nila gawin para makuha yoon.”

And so that will be my prayer. I do wish that I will be able to keep the right balance where I can respect my current identity, my past and my now. That I wish I will remember always the people, lessons, objects that had contributed to what I am right now.

And I just want to think that one reason kung bakit binigay sa akin itong opportunity na ito is because I can be someone who can handle the balancing act. I’m going to try to be the best Gemini that I am, a personality that fits well with the French, and still keeping that me towards my other beliefs.

What I am is from what I have been throughout the life before this, taking that away is like taking away my foundation, doing this is like not a good idea.

I do hope I will always be smart and find humility in mistakes that I will commit. And this shall be something to will make me better and something not to tip me off my focus.

I pray that I will be strong, and will be able to find peace inside myself.

I wish that You will help me more and more intelligent. Become a better person. And have that skill that easily sweeps off stress.

I wish you will never get tired of taking care and blessing my country. For no matter how much of a circus show it can be, it is what it is. And do always remember especially my family, relatives, the people who have touched my life, and the one that has touched my heart.

When I feel weak and in crisis, I wish You will teach me directions towards that opportunity of finding the awesome from the unpleasant.

And oh… help us to find peace. Patience, help me learn patience. Stable personality. Firm identity. Happiness always. Positive thinking. Choosing the best among the choices. Intelligence. It’s all in the mind.

Please do help me know where I can find angels that will be good for me that will be my friends here in Paris. I hope they pass by my way soon.

Thank you for this great opportunity. This will be a part of a great chapter of my book.

Sweet Tweet

You have a special place in my heart. Now, maybe we choose to be friends. Thank you too. Loving you has been such an awesome pleasure.

Unloading

Gee. I’m tired

From the aloneliness….

When will I finally finish my papers ba??

When will I go?

I’m now 6lbs heavier than what I want to be. I used to be 170 some 3 weeks ago. Stress? Loneliness? Petiks?

I lost my phone today. I wished I could’ve saved the messages. Hayaan ko nang manakaw pero the messages. And my half naked photos… dapat nabura ko. Anyway if someday kakalat yun , I’ll face the music. I’ll be like… yeah that’s me! Haha.

I want something to make me laugh…

I want someone/some people out there to cheer me up…

Yeah of course don’t take life so seriously and lighten up. But I can’t help it. 

When was the last time I shared a meal with someone else?

Gee. Mom let me cool off and stay away from my space when I tell!!

I miss being with friends.

But I’m so busy so occupied with this god damn motherfucking time consuming useless papers redtape and inefficiency of Philippine government no wonder mabagal ang pagasenso ng bansa.

My bff told me about something… now I am bothered by it again. It made me lose the optimism… so I’ll be single til when? What are the odds…

WOW naman. This dating show on tv just said… secrets can be a good or bad thing… it can destroy the relationship or make it stronger by the trust it builds. Basta ganun ganun… else… surely you wouldn’t want your partner to know your secret from someone else.. that would make him very upset… but if you tell them before anything else… it could build a trust and make the relationship stronger… hay… okay… don’t tell me I didn’t know this. Effers.

I want to gain back optimism.

Bulacan -> Ortigas -> Cubao -> Ortigas for hours -> Makati -> Fort -> Bulacan

Tomorrow I’m going to have a driver to drive me wherever I want to be in… I have had enough.

I threw away my ego already! What else!?

And after all these byahe today… nagawa ko pang mag gym. It was a bad workout with no program and just angry lifting. But it made me release my aggression… my tension… yeah that fine kind of tension at 10pm at the gym on a dark corner.

I was irritated when after the way the day had unfolded… McDonalds was the restaurant of choice of my mom at the Fort. I decided to just remain hungry.

I was in a rage… a lost phone made that spark on an already building pressure tank of gasul. Ehhh tingin ko kase aalis na ko eh so I said to myself to just suck up all them insects and this will be the last roar.

When mom told me maswerte ako phone lang ang nawala eh ngayun meron na ang dali palitan…buti nga hindi nawala ang passport or nasaksak ka… well true. Ako naman deep inside I wished I was nasaksak or something bloody.

I’m silently and subconsciously screaming for attention.

I want someone to talk to? Where are all my friends? Everyone else had a new network of their own… and me… floating out there… yeah right… “Kids, men, marriage… we’re soulmates!”… I wish they happen in real life.

I know life is playing a trick on me lately. Ako naman loser… nagpapatalo.

Take me away… but sit beside me…

20 Hours

From the pouring rain this afternoon which actually made me think na babaha na sa amin...

and now... 1257am. With the sky so clear I can actually see stars.

From the anxiety of all the rush, stress, logistics, smuggling...

and I appreciated the happy thought of you appearing in my mind when I was going through it all.

It was not strange... it was real, I found myself relaxed whenever I recall.

If only I can hold your hand once again, see that smile of yours which stops my world,

have you beside me, and hush... that feeling of everything is fine. everything is alright.

Then... I would just have that most perfect thought, the best gift I can take away with me.

and I even got to midnight exercise for 15 minutes awhile ago to sweat a bit... something to improve the current condition of my hair maybe.

finally I can sleep. From waking up at 5am.

Gee. What a night.

OR

or these could just be a bunch of produce out of the pool of stress I am swimming in lately that I'm doing some effort to keep aside.

A storm of financial, family, friends, social, emotional stress in my head that I try to wipe off like that screeching windshield wiper and just continue driving.

Parapara pa pa pa paaaaaa.......

Die it

+5 lbs heavier

brittle hair

grainy skin

slow metabolism

Gee. I certainly need to eat more healthy and be smarter with my choices lately.

I actually had to use a conditioner today on my hair to make it feel right... Beuhhh.

And enough of the slipping out.

Less fastfood. Less starbucks grande dark mocha. Less chocolates and peanut brittle. (roar)

More fruits. Veggies.

Smarter carbs.

Smarter choices.

For a healthier, stronger, younger, better maintained, happier me.

Necks

Yeah, I often wondered what I would have been seeing in the mirror if I tilt my head way up...

Cous. Fabien Breuvart

Baby turn around and let me see that sexy body go Bulk Bulk Bulk

So I'm having the eagerness to improve my current physique...

and this week that I have been at the gym was pretty much horse play. Not following my old program, over training, looking at too much bodies and shirt off guys at the gym LOL. (&@^%^^#%@#!@*&#&#!!!!)

Okay, time to mobilize and put the system back again into where its supposed to be. Gee why am I doing this ? (5 page Cap'n Joe Signature Classic philosophical explanation not included)

New workout regimen that I'm going to do… Just taking notes so I remember...

Duration: Max 45 minutes. After 45 minutes, get the hell out of the gym. Manage time wisely.

Tuesday - Thursday - Saturday - Or at least try to do your best.

Cardio: 45min - 1 hour run - 1x a week

5 minute stationary bike included as warm up

Notes:

Three times a week

Lift to Failure. Max up the weights.

Warm up properly.

Don't fool around.

Be serious.

Workout buddy.

Bring music player if needed.

Barbell Squats: 1 Set Of 8-10 Reps

Leg Extensions: 1 Set Of 8-10 Reps

Lying Leg Curls: 1 Set Of 8-10 Reps

Dumbbell Pullovers: 1 Set Of 8-10 Reps

Military Press: 1 Set Of 8-10 Reps

Seated Cable Rows: 1 Set Of 8-10 Reps

Barbell Bench Press: 1 Set Of 8-10 Reps

Barbell Curls: 1 Set Of 8-10 Reps

Seated Triceps Press: 1 Set Of 8-10 Reps

Pullups: 1 Set Of 8-10 Reps

Bench Dips: 1 Set Of 8-10 Reps

Standing Calf Raises: 1 Set Of 8-12 Reps

Crunches: 1 Set Of 10-15 Reps

AND OH!

I just remembered...

This music video influenced me big time with clothing at one big fuzzy blurry point in my life back then...

oh those shades of red. white shoes, jeans, khakis. oh

Birthday!

Oh Oh Oh, Just for the sake of having a post on my Birthday which still has 111 minutes to go!

It's been a great great day. Awesome.

Thanks thanks all to every all who had it all to make all these over all a big ball!

Happy Birthday to me!

Photog

So I remember... photography is one hobby I want to take on someday in the future.

There is just something in a great photo that captures a great moment and just wonderful details that is difficult or impossible to analyze with the eye in the same time frame. And of course the great stories behind them...

" Fingertrips"

Anatoliy & Kate. Zurich, Switzerland. September 27, 2009

With no formal lessons yet on photography... so far for me, the best photo I have taken is this shot of Anatoliy and Kate along the banks of river Limmat in Zurich. As far as I remember, Anatoliy told me to take photos of Kate (his girlfriend) for him... Aww so sweet. So here I was being the personal paparazzi for Anatoliy. And at one point along our day in Zurich, when our other friends told the two to pose for a shot... I saw a moment that was picture perfect, and lucky enough, I was able to press the shutter button at the perfect instant.

Also, this photo poses a question... When I was able to level properly on the horizontal stone at the bottom of the photo.. How come the rest of the background is slightly angled downwards? Okay, now I realize, the stone is angled downwards, the roofs and houses should be the proper leveling guide I have used. Okay... so that's one more thing that makes this photo great, it has imperfections ready for disposal for the audience who may even deem this as an imperfection.

Among the great smiles, poses, angle, color, lighting, and focus which I like in this photo, I especially adore the detail of Kate's finger tips grasping Anatoliy's. It explains so much.

The following days... I saw this photo on Kate's notebook computer, it was her wallpaper. Awesome.

And of course, as an artist who appreciates appreciation... it puts a smile on my face when I see people appreciating the photo I've taken.

Hobby: Photography. Okay. This photo was taken using Canon PowerShotA610 which was stolen in Madrid last December 26, 2009.

Canon PowerShot A610

With over 500 photos during my first 3 days in Spain... when I got to Barcelona, I had no camera. Darnit. This A610 had been my camera for 4 years and had taken over 10,000 photos.... maybe even 15,000. Sulit na. But the fantastic photos lost... Uhhh...

Canon PowerShot SX110

I will go full throttle on this hobby some day, right now it's me and my Canon PowerShot SX110 which I got myself last year for my 22nd birthday... good thing it has CHDK so I can bend the settings to my will.

I am actually a great photographer, it's just that for now I am not one yet.

All We Need is Love, Art & Each Other

Back then, when I was squabbling along Damm Square in Amsterdam in Holland, I took this photo of two guys playing music. Who knows... they could be artists just trying to wander around with their music or something else.... Anyway, I just thought of putting a caption to this...

"We don't have much except for the clothes we wear and this music box we play, but I have you, we have each other, and you have me... simple as it may seem... together, that is all we need to play the music of love."

Hmm... it doesn't sound right... anyway that is not the f'n point.

Plan C

So today I got fed up.

This is wasting my time.

As the over achiever that I am... this is humiliating me to myself.

For the next few weeks I'll be working in our home business.

and a few weeks later I am planning to work for free in a restaurant in the Fort.

In cordial preparation to Plan B which is well on its way though I got a notice that Plan A is still a hanging thought.

And another plan came up. Plan C.

CIA.

Excuse my French but.. putain ! je veux que ce "PLAN A" se terminer deja!!! putain. ça me coute trop de temps déjà!!

No, my emotions are not getting over me, its just the way plans are going to unfold.

23 - 23

One week left. I'm really really excited. It's that day of the year. From the planning I start being excited, from the minutes and seconds waiting I feel glad, during the hours I enjoy every moment.

This Saturday had been spent preparing.

Hotel booked. Clothes pre-fitted on my petit luggage bag. Budget allocated. Time frame and itinerary taken note. Menu items to order had been chosen. Sequence of service modified.

Its a self made tradition.

2009.

Wake up late... have a relaxing morning doing groceries

Cook Lunch.

Train to Montreux.

Buy wine, cheese, chips, and fruits.

Walk along the lake.

Have a picnic along lake Geneva with friends

Train to Lausanne.

(Censored)

Train to Geneva

Watch Filipino concert

Go to Geneva Airport to fetch sister

Dinner with her at apartment - having mom's morcon for dinner in Geneva - cooked all the way from Bulacan was quite interesting.

2008.

Woke up early in the morning to go to my friends house.

Donuts for breakfast

Make sandwiches.

Gym with friend.

KFC Bucket meal for two.

Distribute sandwiches to hungry people at the streets.

Rest

Combo dinner at Fort with Highschool and College friends.

On another day: Charity visit - donate rice. Dinner with family.

2007. A bit boring.

Happened a couple of days when I arrived from England. Jet lag killed me and I was sleepy all day.

Snack at McDonalds.

Chinese resto dinner.

2006.

Big Breakfast with my Accom mates.

Attend Class from 810-11:10 AM

Lunch with mom

Early dinner with college people

Late dinner with highschool people

Midnight fun with room mates

2005 - ?

2004 - Rented a swimming pool for the highschool classmates ?

Gee. I don't remember much anymore.

Hello. May 23, 2010.

Yeah. 23 years old. Well it's about time.

23 years old. Let me welcome you avec un grossss bisous!!!

Again... I'm excited.

Edward Theorem

"Have we been hiding from each other? I wonder..." - Rod, Avenue Q

I was in the gym, doing my thing... Prepping my stuff and somethin' somethin'. And he approaches me. "Hey, matagal ka na ba nagygym dito?" - with a smile, and he was kinda pretty. And gee, he was wearing white undies only.

"Mga ilang months na din... ikaw?"

"Ah, ngayon lang ako nandito... nagpapaspa lang ako, binigyan kasi ako ng friend ko ng GCs kaya ginagamit ko today..."

"Ahh... Parang ngayon lang kita nakita dito.... Naggygym ka ba? San ka ba galing? What do you do?"

"I work in Singapore, ngayon lang ako nandito kasi vacation ko, I work out sa fitness first pero dun sa Singapore. Mukha nga... maganda na katawan mo..."

"Huh... not really... madami pa kong kelangan iwork out... tingnan mo to..." Here I found myself showing him a portion of my body... "Diba...?"

"Hindi.. ok nga eh..."

.... (and we talk about each other's life for a few solid minutes) ....

then suddenly....

"Hey by the way I'm Edward nga pala..." Said with a sweet smile, with the looks of his eyes sharp enough to pierce through my soul...

"I'm Joey..."

And we shook hands... a handshake that was revolting enough that it solidly made me feel a strange rush of embarrassment, and it seemed that he did as well...

Corruption

Gee. Finally my laptop is fixed!

The long time screen flicker is gone... LCD Cable fixed.

So I dropped by the service center of my computer and there I told the service guy my dilemma.

Well... we collided on an agreement that he can have this fixed himself.

Instead of the 20 working days that I had been told at the other service center of the same brand.

Instead of the alleged 500 pesos diagnostic fee + cost of parts (no less than P2500) + cost of labor.

I got mine fixed under 15 minutes + 500 pesos.

The sweet convenience of corruption.

At the end of the day... service guy gets 500 pesos for his outstanding service. (fun intended)

And me... with a grin.

How can I make this work?

First, the average cost of hiring someone per day is how much? It's so little that a little amount can afford it. Its the same ol' technique we love doing in the streets of metro manila. In a way I corrupted the brand, but they corrupted me one time too much already.

With such an over complicated layer of what it takes to get the product from the manufacturer to the consumer... practicality and wits taught me to find ways to find convenience and economy in the word hierarchy.

And I've been eF-ed up too much already by the trouble of this brand. And certainly in a world where one gets eaten and the other is the one who eats... I don't want to afford all them shenanigans no more. You've got to play smart, and that one time is enough for you to do all the research, homeworks and upgrading for yourself.

Wohoo! Laptop fixed.

Pinoy Tortilla de Patatas con Mah-ling

So something to cheer me up...

I remember a few nights ago that Giada de Laurentiis was cooking tortilla so here I was today hungry and wanting to eat something more human-ly than the day old food in the kitchen.

I reminisce with what she added to her tortilla...

Eggs, cream, grated parmesan cheese, basil, thick slices of prosciutto, salt, pepper, potatoes, onions

My version since I don't have all ingredients...

3 eggs less 1.5 yolks for less cholesterol, all purpose cream, cheddar cheese, basil, pre-cooked until crisp mah-ling, salt, pepper, thrice cooked potatoes (boil, fry, bake), onions.

And here it is. Served with 7 buck kick ass bread from the nearby tindahan.

It was superb. Perfectly cooked, great texture, great color, calm and balanced taste, potatoes were crisp and tender, mah-ling was crisp and tender too.

It's love until the last bite.

BITCH

I am having a really bad bad mother fucking day.

Mother fucker.

Someone save me.

Please.

Chueca

I love the costume. I love the choreography. I love the effort. Love this video.

And so I realized this video was taken in Chueca, the more gay and fabulous district in Madrid, Spain. And so I remember the night I when I walked alone the streets of Chueca, looking for sympathy, a little company. Well, I didn't! But I saw great looking Spanish twinks holding hands on the streets over there. It's a romantic place, great bars along the streets, great restaurants, and it felt very liberating being there. Being alone and a naive 21 year old Pinoy at Madrid on a cold winter eve, gee... all that I'd prepare myself for was be a tourist... (What does this mean? I don't know)

And I don't wonder much now why every one was Gaga looking, its in Chueca! Awesome!

7 Course Meal

Gee... I woke up in the morning looking my mom, can't find her. Not here, not there, not anywhere at home. Turns out she escaped the province and went to Fort. Hmm... leaving me with nothing to do at home. Gee. It's mother's day! Oh... it's also my mom's birthday today! Anyway...

I also woke up feeling energy-less... not the type that relates to calories and mitochondria but uhm... I didn't feel anything exciting, I felt like a sleeping tiger, dozing dragon. Much like a can of Coke with no fizz.

So I thought I'd do something to cheer me up and make the day fun... Mini project for today was make me a T-Shirt with this design...

So off I went to SM North EDSA to make it happen... and read a book with a bottle of iced tea on a corner for a couple of hours. Off I went roaming the isles of the department store... looking for a good fitting nice simple white shirt, simple and smart.

Gee, I was looking left and right while walking down the isle of the department store... looking around and I saw someone. Gee. It was a salesman of the department store who was looking at me with a soft smile, with his face a bit angled downwards, but with his romantic eyes piercing through me. I died.

I don't know who he was, but he had the mix of something that just had that power to knock me off. Strange. I blushed, I felt torpe, I looked the other way, I looked at him back, he was still looking at me, I felt happy, I felt energized, I couldn't stop my feet from walking, I took my last look of his eyes looking at mine, and so I escaped like a mother who wanted to escape the probinsya.

That guy, he just, he recharged me with one look. I consciously felt a rush of blood on the right side of my stomach and me... couldn't stop smiling after.

And after reading my book, I kept myself busy with the great furniture haven that is now at the SM North EDSA Carpark building.

It was a great place, a quiet place for people to roam around and see great furnitures. And also I saw a lot of great looking people. The place felt romantic on a not very busy afternoon. I often found myself playing a staring game with guys I found interesting in that place, not for the sake of anything sexual, it was just for fun.

So I decided to drop by Fort area to have dinner with mom, gee... I'm still so busog over that 7 course meal at Chef Laudico Bistro Filipino

2 Appetizers

3 Main courses

2 Deserts

It was amazing, I love it.

And on my way home, at the FX... there was a nice looking guy who sat beside me, I didn't know who he was or what he does for a living, he looked fine... looked good actually, felt like he was in his mid 20s. But in my moment of being alone that moment, I found comfort having someone's legs brushing mine, someone's shoulder's beside mine, his elbows resting on my knee, someone's forearms brushing mine...

And through those moments, I just closed my eyes, being very aware that that fantasy will last as long as the ride. Enjoying that awesome feeling of being at peace and relaxed, an awesome feeling I feel when I find myself beside someone I can enjoy the moment with.

I closed my eyes, savored the moments and took deep breaths that filled my lungs and filled my heart with happiness through a simple imagination in my head that... well... someone is beside me, and as simple as the situation was, it made me really feel good.

I don't know if he was connecting with me, but well, not knowing was fine with me.

Thus, despite with all them beliefs and rules, them images and impressions... I'm still someone who appreciates the presence, that feeling.

A night where my stomach was filled with great gastronomy, my brain filled with advices and ideas for the future, and my heart filled with something not really real, filled with the imagination that felt pretty damn romantic.

To Kiss

Just when I woke up on a morning when I felt genuinely confident to say "I am okay"...

Rararhoahoawhourlostzhrohaarrrawexarhayroah!!!

Okay okay, skip the hulahwurtsalhalastahrahvinskytyalemiskazckaya... and to KISS... (Keep it Short and Stupid Simple), all that I felt and all that I wanted to say when you popped on my screen was...

"Gee... I missed you"

"... can I invite you for coffee or something?"

CP PC

Je me fermes les yeux, en pensant d’une lettre lequelle je suis obligé de se terminer. Et après cet idée, beaucoup beaucoup de problèmes stupid apparaissent dans ma tête.

Lesquelles sont les resultats d’ennuyance... Tout simplement, je veux finir cet papier, un document donc le consul m’a dit à faire, une lettre de contestation contre le refus de mon visa.

D’abord, je ne veux pas encore à travailler en France, a cause de cette idée, j’ai perdu la passion à se terminer. Merde, mais je sais qu’il faut que je fasse ce document. Ce n’est pas juste que ma patron en France a fait tout ce que possible et puis j’arreterai puisque je suis paressous. Gee.

A cause de cet indolence, apparaissent plusieurs de stupidité.... comme je mange plus qu’avant, ou je pense des autres problèmes d’amour ou amical. Mon Dieu, arretez-moi s’il vous plaît et laissez-moi terminer ce document tout de suite svp. Vraiment stupide... comme à l’université, certified procrastinators, professional crammers.

I want this - The morning after

And so I realized I need to secure at least 2 million pesos for this once this Paris job confeerms its denial for me. I'm giving myself a year or maybe two years to raise this money. Independently.

I want this.

Damn. Screaming on the top my lungs whats going onnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn I want this. I want this. I want this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GEE!!!

I need to really start the tactic going to come up with the money for this. And I doubt momzy is going to finance me, or maybe a little, of course I should put my somethin somethin as well.

€ 22,650.00 + a tipid mode of 1,000 euros a month to survive in Paris + uniforms + plane tickets + stuff. GEE!!!!

Forget the car, forget the condominium, they can wait!

I know what I want!!!! I'm dreaming. Oh someday someday !

Paris

Description
The Cuisine Diploma is earned when the student successfully completes the Basic, Intermediate and Superior Cuisine courses. The student will also receive a certificate for each course successfully completed.

The Cuisine Diploma Program content:

BASIC CUISINE COURSE
Introduction to French Cuisine:
French culinary terms & definitions
Organization, safety and hygiene in the kitchen
Professional knife handling and introduction to diverse cuts
Classic French techniques
Learning foundations : stocks, sauces, forcemeats & doughs

INTERMEDIATE CUISINE COURSE
Prerequisite: Basic Cuisine Certificate
In-depth study of classic French Regional cuisine:
Product origin and influences on regional Cuisine
Perfecting professional kitchen skills
Advanced technical cuts and presentation
Seasonings & flavour appreciation in classic French regional cuisine
Introduction to colour, taste and texture combinations


SUPERIOR CUISINE COURSE
Prerequisite: Intermediate Cuisine Certificate
Classical and contemporary “Haute Cuisine” :
Precision and efficiency in the kitchen
Mastery of intricate techniques & methods
Recipe production with high quality & rare produce
Mastery of classic “haute cuisine”
Adaptation of menus based on the season & product availability
Development of personal creativity


Basic and intermediate levels are translated into English.


SPECIAL PACKAGES
Diplôme de Cuisine and Diplôme de Sommellerie 34 720 euros *

* L’uniforme et l’équipement sont inclus dans l’ensemble des diplômes.


Prerequisites
- High School Diploma (USA)(CAD)
- High School Certificate (Japan)
- GCSEs (UK)
- Baccalaureat (France) or equivalent

Conditions
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age at time of course commencement

For a Diploma, all courses must be completed at the Paris school and consecutively.

Some of these Diploma date options combine regular and intensive courses. Please verify carefully the dates before applying.

Click on a group of courses to add it to your bag. All dates are in the format 'mm/dd/yyyy'

06/14/2010 - 03/18/2011
Minimum Payment: € 1,500.00
Tuition: € 22,650.00

Courses that make up this diploma

Basic Cuisine:

2010 - Term 3 - Session 1 (06/14/2010 - 08/26/2010)

Intermediate Cuisine:

2010 - Term 4 - Session 1 (08/30/2010 - 11/12/2010)

Superior Cuisine:

2011 - Term 1 - Session 1 (01/04/2011 - 03/18/2011)

06/14/2010 - 12/17/2010
Minimum Payment: € 1,500.00
Tuition: € 22,650.00

Courses that make up this diploma

Basic Cuisine:

2010 - Term 3 - Session 1 (06/14/2010 - 08/26/2010)

Intermediate Cuisine:

2010 - Term 4 - Session 1 (08/30/2010 - 11/12/2010)

Superior Cuisine:

2010 - Term 4 - Session 1 (11/15/2010 - 12/17/2010)

06/21/2010 - 12/17/2010
Minimum Payment: € 1,500.00
Tuition: € 22,650.00

Courses that make up this diploma

Basic Cuisine:

2010 - Term 3 - Session 1 (06/21/2010 - 07/23/2010)

Intermediate Cuisine:

2010 - Term 4 - Session 1 (08/30/2010 - 11/12/2010)

Superior Cuisine:

2010 - Term 4 - Session 1 (11/15/2010 - 12/17/2010)

08/30/2010 - 06/03/2011
Minimum Payment: € 1,500.00
Tuition: € 22,650.00

Courses that make up this diploma

Basic Cuisine:

2010 - Term 4 - Session 1 (08/30/2010 - 11/12/2010)

Intermediate Cuisine:

2011 - Term 1 - Session 1 (01/04/2011 - 03/18/2011)

Superior Cuisine:

2011 - Term 2 - Session 1 (03/21/2011 - 06/03/2011)

08/30/2010 - 03/18/2011
Minimum Payment: € 1,500.00
Tuition: € 22,650.00

Courses that make up this diploma

Basic Cuisine:

2010 - Term 4 - Session 1 (08/30/2010 - 11/12/2010)

Intermediate Cuisine:

2010 - Term 4 - Session 1 (11/15/2010 - 12/17/2010)

Superior Cuisine:

2011 - Term 1 - Session 1 (01/04/2011 - 03/18/2011)

11/15/2010 - 06/03/2011
Minimum Payment: € 1,500.00
Tuition: € 22,650.00

Courses that make up this diploma

Basic Cuisine:

2010 - Term 4 - Session 1 (11/15/2010 - 12/17/2010)

Intermediate Cuisine:

2011 - Term 1 - Session 1 (01/04/2011 - 03/18/2011)

Superior Cuisine:

2011 - Term 2 - Session 1 (03/21/2011 - 06/03/2011)

01/04/2011 - 08/26/2011
Minimum Payment: € 1,500.00
Tuition: € 22,650.00

Courses that make up this diploma

Basic Cuisine:

2011 - Term 1 - Session 1 (01/04/2011 - 03/18/2011)

Intermediate Cuisine:

2011 - Term 2 - Session 1 (03/21/2011 - 06/03/2011)

Superior Cuisine:

2011 - Term 3 - Session 1 (06/14/2011 - 08/26/2011)

03/21/2011 - 11/10/2011
Minimum Payment: € 1,500.00
Tuition: € 22,650.00

Courses that make up this diploma

Basic Cuisine:

2011 - Term 2 - Session 1 (03/21/2011 - 06/03/2011)

Intermediate Cuisine:

2011 - Term 3 - Session 1 (06/14/2011 - 08/26/2011)

Superior Cuisine:

2011 - Term 4 - Session 1 (09/01/2011 - 11/10/2011)

06/14/2011 - 12/16/2011
Minimum Payment: € 1,500.00
Tuition: € 22,650.00

Courses that make up this diploma

Basic Cuisine:

2011 - Term 3 - Session 1 (06/14/2011 - 07/13/2011)

Intermediate Cuisine:

2011 - Term 4 - Session 1 (09/01/2011 - 11/10/2011)

Superior Cuisine:

2011 - Term 4 - Session 1 (11/14/2011 - 12/16/2011)

07/25/2011 - 12/16/2011
Minimum Payment: € 1,500.00
Tuition: € 22,650.00

Courses that make up this diploma

Basic Cuisine:

2011 - Term 3 - Session 2 (07/25/2011 - 08/26/2011)

Intermediate Cuisine:

2011 - Term 4 - Session 1 (09/01/2011 - 11/10/2011)

Superior Cuisine:

2011 - Term 4 - Session 1 (11/14/2011 - 12/16/2011)