back from the dead
It feels like I am slowly getting into a better mood. I suppose it has to do with the weather that is eventually becoming sunny and warm. It is Spring this week-end (and my brother's birthday, though I won't go down to Paris before April I think).
But also, I have been working on my priorities. And trying to think ahead. My master's degree is interesting but it does not really lead to anything, really. Most of people graduating in litterature end up being teachers, and I don't want to be a teacher. I don't think I'd be a good one.
Then I had a go on the selective exam to enter the Chief Librarian school last week. As I mentioned earlier, I did not prepared it, and they only need 22 out of about 800 people registered for the whole country. So obviously, I don't expect anything from it.
It was a good experience though, because I know what I have to do if I want to have any chance to it.
There are 3 parts (for the written part, for if you pass it, you still have to go through the oral part:foreign language interview, and another interview when you have to discuss a given theme, for example: the relationship between truth and fiction or that kind of art debate):language translation (I took Latin because you cannot take the same language for the oral part), essay on art/social studies (we got something on the notion of a national identity), and a professional report (you have a set of documents on a subject to analyse and sum up).
The only way to be efficient is to practise and read to feed you discussions. So well, that's what I am planning to do next year. Just forget about the second year of master's and get into the prep program for this exam. And then get a job related to library science or in a bookstore or so, because the program takes only two days a way (plus personal involvment, in terms of reading and practising skills). Then, there are other selective states job (of the cultural kind) you can apply to which require the same kind of prep. So I'll just register to as many as I can possibly, and see what happens.
Well, at least that's how I feel right now, as my mentor teacher is not so great as a mentor, and I feel a bit frustrated about it. I am working on another paper about this minor romantic poet called Emile Deschamps, in my poetry class. The teacher is fascinating so I feel more emulated. Anyway I have been reading E. Deschamps's biography, written in the mid-20th century, in this particular precious tone which makes me feel like I have actually known the guy. And I have been checking out old smelly and yellow books from the University lbrary...I'm excited about it.
Otherwise, well, Lazarus (my camera, for those who forgot) and I are trying to make up and starting a new collection of pictures (for all I lost with my hardware breakdown), so here a a few of them:
Bavarois I made when my aunt, uncle and their kids (my godson and his sister) came around a few weeks ago. It's a mousse, so you're supposed to use gelatin, but agar-agar is better =) I made it orange flavored, but you can try your fav one. I made the candied peel myself, and melted chocolate to decorate!
My mum had made this yummy starter (salmon/asparagus topped with lemon whipped cream and shrimp).
This was yesterday night, when I took my cousin Nina for her 20th birthday. We went to this restaurant called Au bout des doigts which is all about 'bouchées' (mouthfuls). We had cheese, vegetables and dessert ones. (Blue cheese and pear in tortilla, camembert and apples, goat cheese and mango).
Hazelnut cookis with apples and mango chutney, rasperry mousse (though topped with a slice of strawberry) and sponge cake, apricot compote with pistachio cream.
and here are the first sunny pictures in a long time, taken in the park behing my place. The building in the first one is the Science Museum. The steeple in the second is actually a 'beffroi', local City Council building. And kids' games.
I went to the 'psalms' exhibit at the library, dispalying old prayer books in all languages. I am going to a show with local folk bands on Thursday whith Lionel.
And voting for the regional polls second row on Sunday.
Happy Saint Patrick's Day you'all!
But also, I have been working on my priorities. And trying to think ahead. My master's degree is interesting but it does not really lead to anything, really. Most of people graduating in litterature end up being teachers, and I don't want to be a teacher. I don't think I'd be a good one.
Then I had a go on the selective exam to enter the Chief Librarian school last week. As I mentioned earlier, I did not prepared it, and they only need 22 out of about 800 people registered for the whole country. So obviously, I don't expect anything from it.
It was a good experience though, because I know what I have to do if I want to have any chance to it.
There are 3 parts (for the written part, for if you pass it, you still have to go through the oral part:foreign language interview, and another interview when you have to discuss a given theme, for example: the relationship between truth and fiction or that kind of art debate):language translation (I took Latin because you cannot take the same language for the oral part), essay on art/social studies (we got something on the notion of a national identity), and a professional report (you have a set of documents on a subject to analyse and sum up).
The only way to be efficient is to practise and read to feed you discussions. So well, that's what I am planning to do next year. Just forget about the second year of master's and get into the prep program for this exam. And then get a job related to library science or in a bookstore or so, because the program takes only two days a way (plus personal involvment, in terms of reading and practising skills). Then, there are other selective states job (of the cultural kind) you can apply to which require the same kind of prep. So I'll just register to as many as I can possibly, and see what happens.
Well, at least that's how I feel right now, as my mentor teacher is not so great as a mentor, and I feel a bit frustrated about it. I am working on another paper about this minor romantic poet called Emile Deschamps, in my poetry class. The teacher is fascinating so I feel more emulated. Anyway I have been reading E. Deschamps's biography, written in the mid-20th century, in this particular precious tone which makes me feel like I have actually known the guy. And I have been checking out old smelly and yellow books from the University lbrary...I'm excited about it.
Otherwise, well, Lazarus (my camera, for those who forgot) and I are trying to make up and starting a new collection of pictures (for all I lost with my hardware breakdown), so here a a few of them:
Bavarois I made when my aunt, uncle and their kids (my godson and his sister) came around a few weeks ago. It's a mousse, so you're supposed to use gelatin, but agar-agar is better =) I made it orange flavored, but you can try your fav one. I made the candied peel myself, and melted chocolate to decorate!
My mum had made this yummy starter (salmon/asparagus topped with lemon whipped cream and shrimp).
This was yesterday night, when I took my cousin Nina for her 20th birthday. We went to this restaurant called Au bout des doigts which is all about 'bouchées' (mouthfuls). We had cheese, vegetables and dessert ones. (Blue cheese and pear in tortilla, camembert and apples, goat cheese and mango).
Hazelnut cookis with apples and mango chutney, rasperry mousse (though topped with a slice of strawberry) and sponge cake, apricot compote with pistachio cream.
and here are the first sunny pictures in a long time, taken in the park behing my place. The building in the first one is the Science Museum. The steeple in the second is actually a 'beffroi', local City Council building. And kids' games.
I went to the 'psalms' exhibit at the library, dispalying old prayer books in all languages. I am going to a show with local folk bands on Thursday whith Lionel.
And voting for the regional polls second row on Sunday.
Happy Saint Patrick's Day you'all!