:D Things have changed a lot since last update. I spent 2 weeks going at recruiting sessions in a few compagnies (black suit and all ;) ). I was eventually retained by 2 compagnies, and I have just made my choice. So I'm starting the 6-month internship in 10 days, at La Défense (the skycrappers just west of Paris), in a French IT compagny called Sopra Group, in their telecom division. This is an internship that can lead to a real job, so I have to work and learn hard now.

The other possibility (declined) was in the suburbs, in an IT compagny called Getronics, that some of you may know, as it is a Dutch-based compagny. ;) But it was less attractive (the intership at least).

In one word : this may be an important moment for me. The first step (getting a Master degree) is in good shape, and the second one (finding a job) not so far away. Not sure I'll make the third step now (renting an apartment), as I'm close to La Défense already. These are the 3 base things that I must do before thinking of anything else.

I ve been to La Defense [jump]

Not worth much more than a 1-hour visit or so, uh ? It's just the greatest business centre in Europe, but in terms of touristic attraction, it's quite mediocre. I don't like the place very much, it's not in a "city", it's... a weird place. That's also where I took the pics at night (earlier in this very thread).

With the renting of an apartment, is it very hard to buy a house in Paris? In America, most of our personal wealth is tied up in our real estate, helping each individual keep equity. Is it that way in France, and Europe as a whole?
I see from postings that most of the CDZ Europe guys rent, even though they have similar qualifications as I do.
Just curoius.

Yeah. We were there for about 40 minutes. Including a stop to a store that sold makeup. Anette wanted to browse.

We saw the Grand Arch, and the view of the Arche de Triomphe
then we took the metro somewhere else.

Not sure. I'm not as advanced as you are in life : you have a job, you have a wife, so it's more natural for you to own a house. But speaking of generalities, I think many people rent here, yes. I don't plan to buy me an apartment or a house anytime soon, and the primary reason is that... I don't know where I wanna live ! [crazyeye] The other reason is that I don't have a job (yet). Not everyone thinks as I do though.

saving through investing in a place to live is quite a popular way to accumulate wealth in Norway.

buying stocks via funds is also quite common.

Diversity in saving depends on income level....


blabla.

I bet Whomp can come up with some interesting facts on this. Him being the "investment banker" and all.

Internship has started, and all is well so far...

Now to the real thing. This morning I succeeded in buying some seats for a gig in Paris : the Smashing Pumpkins are back, and they've decided to start their reunion here in May !!! [cool] So I got the fucking tickets, despite their server going nuts in less than 1 minute... [crazyeye]

Oh, and their new album is due in July : "Zeitgest".


Rock on.

Awesome Krys!! That will be such an awesome show.
I figured you'd like this video. Billy Corgan doing some AC/DC on the streets of Milan.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=QDnomq8Wf2Q

Already watched it. :) Not sure if you read earlier posts in this very thread, but I happen to have been to such an informal meeting with Corgan in Paris. It was 2 years ago, and the first one of a few meetings of the like.