Journal Entries
SF's NaJoPoMo 7th November : Methods
Posted Nov 7, 2014
For the past couple of years, I've been trying to go up the ladder at work. That's done through a competitive exam. 
The exam consists in 3 written tests : statistics, summary, and synthesising a bunch of documents.
Then, if you do well on the written bit, you go on to the oral part : a discussion with a jury starting with the analysis of a text (usually economics-related, but not always), and then talking about your current job and what you know about the Institute.
And the best after that get to spend 6 months in Libourne for training and a better pay.
I've never managed to get to the orals so far.
This year, I signed up for a training programme where they give us methods and techniques to help us do well.
We had 5 sessions of three to five days each, in Paris, where teachers told us all there is to know about how to summarise a text, and how to synthesise a pile of articles and about how to calculate average this and yearly that.
It was intense, it was hard work, but it was interesting.
We'll see if it was also effective next month, when the exam takes place. (Although the results won't be made public until March or April).
The group was nice too, there were 12 of us at the beginning, but one gave up and another one was promoted halfway through (so she didn't need to pass the exam any more, lucky her!).
So ten of us were left for the end of the training, and a pleasant group it was. We had a couple of nights out together (most of us were staying in hotels, not being from Paris in the first place).
I don't know if I'll pass this time or next year, or the year after, but I do know I've learnt things, so I'm quite happy I did it. 
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Latest reply: Nov 7, 2014
SF's NaJoPoMo 6th November: Mercenaries and Mafia.
Posted Nov 6, 2014
So you're a hitman for a Russian mob boss. You're the best there is.
You fall in love, you get retired , you get married.
Then your wife dies.
You're alone with your beautiful car and a puppy she gave you.
And the idiot son of your former employer steals your car and kills your puppy.
Much killing ensues. 
This is one of the advantages of having an unlimited cinema card thingy: you can go see pretty much any movie you want, and if it turns out not very good, all you've lost is 2 hours of your life.
Like for example if you go watch Ninja Turtles.
But the hitman movie, John Wick, I really rather enjoyed.
It *is* violent (enough for it to be rated "not for under 12s" over here), but well made and it ends on a nice touch.
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Latest reply: Nov 6, 2014
SF's NaJoPoMo 5th November : Minds, great and others
Posted Nov 5, 2014
Last night was an adventure.
Questions pour un Champion is a TV game show on public television, and my parents watch it regularly. My sister and I watch it too, but notion a regular basis.
Two weeks ago my sister told me the show was going to hold selections in my town.
The plan was to tell our Mum that I'd like to go, but not on my own. We knew she would go alone, and we knew she had the culture to get through.
But she refused.
My sister said she'd go with me. (Remember the previous JoPo? That was the phone call there
)
I also managed to convince four colleagues to go too.
In the end my sister had to give up due to little G being I'll. (He's 2 months old).
It started at 6pm, we arrived around 5:30. The average age in the waiting room dropped dramatically: five 20-to-30-year-olds in a room full of retired people. Everyone was very polite and nice. There were around 80 candidates.
At 6 sharp they opened the door. Two people, a man and a woman, were waiting for us.
We were handed a sheet of paper each. On one side of it were several questions about ourselves (who are you? What are your strongest subjects? Why do you want to take part?).
Then came the serious part.
That's what the other side of the sheet was for.
The lady had a list of 40 questions on many different subjects. She read each question twice and we had to write down our answers. Spelling wasn't important, since the TV game is not written, but titles had to be complete and first names had to be the right ones (but no first name was fine, so when in doubt, don't put it!).
At the end of the series, we swapped sheets and the lady read out the answers as we corrected our neighbours.
Everyone who had 20 or more correct answers was allowed to go on to the second round.
Two colleagues had to leave, three of us five were left.
The second round was the same, 40 questions, but more difficult. We three failed to get 20 good answers, and only ten people managed to go through to the third and last round (an interview I front of a camera).
All in all it was a fun evening, we had a laugh, and they're holding another selection I the area next year so I'm hoping to drag my Mum and sister along this time!
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Latest reply: Nov 5, 2014
SF's NaJoPoMo 4th November - Mail Misfortunes
Posted Nov 5, 2014
All right all right, this should have been posted yesterday. 
Last month I ordered a few things from Internetland. There was a comic book, two necklaces, and a certain collection of thirty short stories.
The comic book promptly arrived.
The other three items didn't.
Ever.
The delivering service's website said the package had been delivered to my letter box. I checked, several times, the box was empty.
Now, a few weeks before, I found in my letter box a package that was for a neighbour. So that might have happened. Not very professional of them but hey.
So I posted a notice in the entrance hall asking for my package back.
Nothing happened.
I then went to my post office, where the ladies said "oh, it says here that it was delivered. We can't help you. The postman probably chucked your package on top of the postboxes. Have you looked there? Or you could call customer service."
So I called customer service. A young lady in Morocco took my complaint.
Meanwhile, I also complained to Nileriver, who were a bit more helpful. They gave me my money back for the necklaces and sent a second book.
Guess when the second book arrived...
Never.
Customer service again. Delivering service says I'll get called back within 5 days.
So I wait, I don't think Nileriver will take me seriously this time.
A week later, no news from delivery, so I call again.
"Oh, no, they wouldn't have called you, see, they won't do anything if the recipient complains about a lost package. The *sender* has to complain."
And you thought that wasn't worth telling me because...?
So I call Nileriver again.
And I talk to a really nice, understanding guy who tells me he's posting a complaint, and he'll call me back the next day, and what time would suit me best?
Ooh, that sounds promising.
Next day, my phone rings.
It's my sister. (I'l tell you all about that one tonight).
The phone rings again.
Mr Nice-Guy Nileriver!
They haven't found anything, so he's giving me my money back, and advises me to choose another means of delivery next time: they have delivery at shops for no further expense and that's safer.
I'll do that, then.
Now, to order thirty shorts for the third time... 
Discuss this Journal entry [8]
Latest reply: Nov 5, 2014
SF's NaJoPoMo - November 3rd : Migration.
Posted Nov 3, 2014
Every year at the end of Summer, some of us go for a trip.
Not always the same ones, not always to the same place. 
They gather their things in boxes, and take them along.
Some go up, some go down, some go left, some go right.
Stairs, lifts, corridors.
Offices, desks, computers.
This year, after five years watching others do it, I was a part of it.
I went up, and across too.
I packed my things, took my chair, and off I was.
I said good bye, took the posters down.
Left the postcards, though.
And into the lift I went.
And up it went.
And out.
And all the way to the end of the corridor.
And there I was.
My new place.
Shiny, spotless and postcardless.
It's been two months, and it feels nice.
I think I'll stay for a while. 
Every year at the end of Summer, it's job-changing season for us civil servants. 
Discuss this Journal entry [7]
Latest reply: Nov 3, 2014
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