Chez Francine

Sometimes I am in the mood of eating light meals only like salad. I am lazy at times but when I feel really good, I cook something for hubby. As it was very warm last monday here, I decided to prepare a salad. We don’t eat that much when it’s hot. We prefer light ones like salad, a stick of barbeque and then followed by a plate of fromages, cream caramel and tea. I’m not going to make this post that long. If you are interested, here’s the recipe:

Good for 4 persons

Ingredients

200 g Mixed Green Salads

1/2 c Red Grapes, halved (you can add more if you want)

1/4 c Feta Cheese (you may add more)

1/4 c Walnuts, chopped

Dressing

1 small onion

2 tsp Dijon Mustard

1/2 c Balsamic Vinegar

2 tsp Honey

1 c of Olive oil

Pink of salt and pepper

Preparation

In a blender, process oions, mustard, balsamic vinegar and honey. Add oil in slow steady stream until emulsified or thick. Season to taste. Chill dressing.

Assembly

In a bowl, toss salad greens in 4 tbsp of the dressing. Coat the greens very well. Transfer to a plate. Garnish with grapes, feta and nuts.

I was tagged by Francine (the other me), thanks to myself. Hey guys and gals, please add this domain to your blogroll or links. This is my other home but I am still trying to figure out how will I import my files going here and with the plugins and widgets. But here’s the tag:
Where is your cell phone? On my table

Relationship? Married

Your hair? Long and layered at the sides

Work? part-time baby-sitter, full time housewife and a part-time blogger

Your sister/s? Angie, Shirelyn

Your favorite thing? translator

Your dream last night? None

Your favorite drink? Hot Tea

Your dream car? Porche

The room you’re in? Sala

Your shoes? Havaianas

Your fears? Heights and worms

What do you want to be in 10 years? A mom

Who did you hang out with this weekend? With hubby

What are you not good at? Singing and doing my make-up like a pro

Muffin? Hmmm, can I have many choices?

One of your wish list items? A car hehehe

Where you grew up? Cebu City

Last thing you did? Sleep

What are you wearing? Mini skirt and a blouse

What aren’t you wearing? Watch

Your pet? None

Your computer? Acer Aspire 1640

Your life? Happy and content

Your mood? Happy

Missing? My family in Philippines

What are you thinking about right now? To take a nap

Your car? None

Your kitchen? Functional and beautifulYour summer? ExcitingYour favorite color? Brown, Orange

Last time you laughed? Today

Last time you cried? Last month but I am not sure what it was exactly about

School? University of Cebu

 I’d like to tag:

Velika

ZJ

Ylan
 

 Lovely Roses

There are times that I get disappointed coz of so many school assignments. In general, my teacher gives us 2 sheets of paper as our assignment and take note, we have to answer these 2 sheets of paper and back to back. Sometimes I get tired especially with the grammar. I think grammar is really tiring. Weeks ago, I was really very disappointed plus I miss my family back in Philippines. It feels like the world is on my shoulder talaga on that day. But I am thankful that hubby is very supportive and understanding. When he came back home, he surprised me with these beautiful, colorful roses. Romantic no? He helps me with my assignment no matter how tired he is, how busy he was or how long or tiring day he had. I am really happy with my life even if I am still on the adjustment period. He’s been very supportive to me in every decision I make. He chats with my family back in Philippines also. One thing also, I am thankful also because my inlaws are very affectionate and kind and they understand me very well when I don’t feel so good at times on something :-)..Yes, I am happily married

Buttered Pork & Vegetables

What a day I’ve got today. I’ve got so many assignments to do, I changed the beddings at the bedroom, did the laundry (thank God there’s washing machine…ouff), cleaned the house, did the grocery, changed the towels too at the shower room and lastly but not the least, I cooked something for dinner. Para na akong lantang gulay no sa hectic ng schedule ko dito sa bahay. Tapos yesterday morning, hubby requested that I serve chicken adobo, so wish granted hehehe. Syempre dito, yung adobo is parang fiesta na para sa mga frenchies. Aba, ibang klase ata pagkaing pinoy no. Lahat ganado sa pag kain everytime I served them chicken adobo and for frenchies, it is their favorite filipino cuisine. Tapos today naman after lunch, before he went to work, he requested me to serve him something special tonight again, oh la la. Nagiging addict na ata asawa ko. Brainstorming ako dito thinking what recipe I will be preparing tonight. Buti na lang me internet. I served Buttered pork and vegetables. Anyone whose interested to try this recipe, here are the ingredients:

Ingredients :

8 small potatoes300 grams of lean pork, tenderloin (lomo) is the best cut for this dishabout
100 gms.haricots vert
butter
1 onion chopped
lemon juice (half of 1 whole lemon only)
chopped parsley for ganish

Instruction:

1. Boil the potatoes in salted water until tender but not mushy (about 10 minutes). Drain. Peel off the skin if you prefer.
2. Trim the ends and sides of the haricots verts. Cut in half if you prefer Blanch in boiling water for a minute, drain then plunge in iced water. Drain and set aside.
3. Cut the pork into half-inch cubes.
4. Peel and coarsely chop the onion(s).
5. Melt the butter in a frying pan. Add the chopped onion(s) and cook just until they start to turn soft. Add the pork (and chili pepper, if using), season with salt and cook over medium-high heat until the edges of the pork start to brown.
6. Add the potatoes and haricots verts and cook to heat the vegetables and to coat them with butter.
7. Add the lemon juice and stir. Add lots of freshly ground pepper and give a final stir. Sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving.

Learning french language isn’t easy at all and it doesn’t happen for 1 night only. You must have the interest to learn the language and you must have super patience as it is quite difficult. What makes it difficult? First, the pronunciation. The way it is written and the way it is pronounced it completely different. Second, each verb has it’s own conjugaison from first person singular form to the 3rd person plural form. 3rd, everything has a gender here. For example: a chair is a feminine form, Cambodia is a masculine form. Each phrase must coordinate to eachother but it isn’t bad to have an incorrect grammar at all. Besides, it’s part of learning right? What is interesting in travelling here in France is not just the tourist attractions here or the very famous Eiffel Tower but the language itself. I tell you, if you can interact with others even just the simple words or phrases, it feels good. It is a challenge. So right now, I am sharing you some of the basic french just incase you’ll visit me here in France hehehehe….OPPPS

Bonjour = Good morning (bonjor)
Bon apres-midi = Good afternoon (bon apre medi)
Bon soir = Good evening (bonswa)
Bon nuit = Good night (bonwe)
Bonne soirée = Have a great/wonderful evening (bonsware)
Je parle (un peu de) français = I speak (a little) French.
(je parl ang po do frangse)
Parlez-vous anglais ? = Do you speak English? (parleyvos angle)
Que veut-dire ___ ? = What does ___ mean? (ke vo-dir)
Comment dit-on ___ en français ? = How do you say ___ in French? (komong ditong)
Répétez, s’il vous plaît = Repeat, please. (repete sil vos plet)
Plus lentement = More slowly (plus longtomong)
Encore une fois = One more time (angkor on fwa)…tama ba ana?
Je ne comprends pas = I don’t understand. (je nu komprond pa)
Je ne sais pas = I don’t know (je nu ses pa)
J’ai une question = I have a question (ji une kestyon)
J’ai un problème = I have a problem (ji ang problem)
oui= yes (we)
non = no (no)
si = yes (in reponse to a negative question) (si)
d’accord = OK (dakor)
et / ou = and / or (e, o)
qui = who (ke)
quoi = what (kwa)
quand = when (kong)
où = where (o)
pourquoi = why (porkwa)
comment = how (komong)
Merci beaucoup = Thank you very much (mersi boco)
Please = s’il vous plaît (sil vo ple)

If you need tutorial, you can hire me at a cheaper price hehehehe just kidding. So pano, punta na kayo dito ASAP

NOTE: pronunciation requested by Girlie. sensya na, hirap ng vowels on how I’ll write it down here

French language is said to be the most difficult language to study as the pronunciation is different compared to how it is written. Hirap ng pronunciation. I will honestly say that I am still working at it lalo na I am a Cebuana, so there’s a difference on how I pronounce the vowels. Things are so fast at the school. Teacher here explains the lesson so fast. Di katulad sa atin na sobrang matyaga mga guro natin sa pinas for the sake of the student to understand the lesson.

At Alliance Française de Manille, it is indeed a very serious establishment to study language lesson pero here in france, they are more serious and they are more strict. Kasi sa pinas, pag di na talaga kaya ng estudyante or di talaga maintindihan kung ano yung word, the professor himself will say it in english pero dito sa france uhuhuhuhuhuh la talagang translation in english. Super hirap especially na mga classmates ko are of different nationalities tapos sobrang galing pa magfrench. Class ko is in the morning but when I arrived home for lunch time, mukha ko nasa harap lang talaga ng book to study tapos super dami ng devoirs. I don’t have the time to go out at the mall or to watch a movie or to do belly dancing here at home infront of the DVD player. I can say that I miss doing all these stuff especially belly dancing. But on the other hand, it is such an accomplishment lalo na if the teacher will tell you na she finds you smart and she can see in you the interests in learning the language no matter how hard it is. Super sarap ng feeling when hearing these words. Now, kahit pagod na pagod na talaga ako, I am inspired to work hard more on my studies and not only that, it is such an accomplishment for me also na I can now understand what I am reading on french books or novels and my favorite….poésie (poems). Demain will be the last day of the class for this session tapos next monday will be the start of the class for next session. All I can say is : Bonne chance à moi

As we are the nouveaux voisins here in Bordeaux, little by little we discovered some of their touristic spots here nearby. Heuresement, there is a cute park which is just walking distance from home. It is Park Bordeaulais. At first, I was amazed how people take advantage of the weather when it is sunny. So crowdy and majority of them spent their time with their family and kids. Para pala silang pinoy. I found them very friendly and respectful towards the animals and the nature itself. Was shocked also that cagnards, ducks, squirrels, swans, birds are free to roam around the park. Sabi ko asawa ko na pag sa pinas yan, for sure nasa frying pan na kaagad mga yan and he laughed. But anyway, weather here is crazy kasi pabago bago but not bad. Je suis pareseuse especialement si je me réveille à 6:45 in the morning. Right now, I am having my french lesson at Alliance Française in Bordeaux. Super hirap pala tapos daming asignments. I am able to adjust here petit à petit.

I got married last year 2006. It is a dream wedding I can say and an answered prayer. To get married is one of my ultimate dream and to be able to find the right guy for me. Finally, we tied the knot and shared our “I do’s”. Click pictures to enlarge.

A cebuana and a french guy finally tied the knot last November 25, 2006 at Moalboal, Cebu

First time to be in this beautiful country. What’s my experiences here so far? That’s kinda difficult to answer but I made sure that I savour every moment of my life here and enjoy each minute of my life in this beautiful country. So far, I love everything what I’ve done here. The white and red wines, different kinds of famous cheese; du foie gras et du cagnard, the good and bad side of le printemps and the people itself. I just realized that I am now really in a new world, far away from my homeland Philippines. I can say that I miss my home and the atmosphere with your co kababayans.

Just checking how it works. New home means new job. But I am hoping that things will work out fine and I will easily understand the things here hehehe. A little bit tricky but interesting. Thanks to my friends who helped me in setting up this page. That’s too nice of you guys but thank you very much really.