Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Paris In Autumn - Hari Raya Open House

Actress Michelle Yeoh and her fiance, Jean Todd.


Engineering students from Normandy : Quah Li Shern, 21,
Tee Yilie, 22 and Wong Kok Choong, 22


Look who's here? Constance Haslam.

Students "mobbed" Mukhriz Mahathir.

Mukhriz arriving at Pavillon Davphine with his wife, Norzieta.

Malaysian students from across France came to Pavillon
Davphine in Paris to listen to what the Prime Minister had to say.

Arlida Abdullah, 23 (engineering), Sharifah Norazihan Syed Yasin, 22
(Telecom Network) and Nurul Nadhirah Abdullah, 23 (electrical engineering).


Aaah...bored Malaysian journalists...


Malaysia's prospective French language teachers : Pamela
Lanyau, 20, Atiqa Saleh, 20, Shakila Zaki, 21 and Ain Izzaty
Alias, 20,

I am always fascinated by people who are fluent in foreign languages. To be able to speak languages other than your own, is quite amazing.

Whenever I meet Malaysian students overseas, in countries where English is not the native language, I feel a sense of pride.

These students are usually majoring in engineering, biotechnology and some science fields.

On Sunday (Oct 4), I attended a gathering of Malaysian students at Pavillon Davphine in Paris. They came from across France -- Nice, Bordeaux, Normandy to name a few -- to meet Prime Minister Najib Razak.

As I entered the premises, I could hear the students chatting away -- in Malay, English and French.

I had a chat with some of them. These kids are smart. It's no picnic learning hard stuff in French.

After a session with the Prime Minister, a 1Malaysia Hari Raya open house was held. The organisers prepared food for some 1,000 people.

And, oh, actress Michelle Yeoh and her fiance Jean Todd, were at the open house. They came to give support to the PM's 1Malaysia.
Of course, she got "mobbed". But she's a good sport. So was Monsieur Todd.

I also met an old friend -- Constance Haslam, formerly of RTM. She's been living in Paris with her husband, for some 9 years.

20 comments:

Wan Nordin Wan Hussin said...

Malaysian journalists feeling bored in gay Paree? Don't think so. Certainly not in the photo. Looking forward to more news from Paris in NST and thirtyfiveforty.

ummisara said...

kak ena...

bestnya :P eh muka-2 journalists yang kononnya bosan tuh...tak nampak bosannn lah kak .... nampak penat jer :P

eh u naper tak terus cross the atlantic? buleh jumpa adel :)

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Aunty Nuraina,
Mama just taught us a Bollywood song, an oldie, An Evening in Paris. And here you are, having a whale of a time in gay Paree...errr..or being bored to bits in old musty Paree? meow....!

the Razzler said...

Ahhhh... Paris! The most romantic place in the world! :)

Wan Nordin Wan Hussin said...

I only know one of the so-caled bored journalists, who needs no introduction. Introduce lah yang lain-lain tu, if that's OK. May be I've seen their bylines before.

Old Fart said...

Students coming from Normandy for this function? The real story is how much they got paid or how much was incurred in getting them there!!

Do you also get as excited when you hear Malay being spoken by the Chinese and Indians here? I think its amazing when I hear a Malay speak fluent Tamil or Chinese. Don't really have to wait for them to speak French, or German or Swahili before I get excited!!

And while you are there, if you are staying in some fancy hotel that serves some decent buffet breakfast....go fill yourself up with the herring and cod and all the other stuff they serve....you could do a posting on just that alone..in which case I shall write my worst possible curses because I could not share in it!!

Anonymous said...

enjoy Aina! work and enjoy the work, the whole process. good to see more pix in the blog. papers can't carry that many pix!

pahit manis

Retrogina said...

What is your problem Old Fart? Your posting is such a damper in spirits.

Kak Ena said, she felt "a sense of pride" not excited.

Anonymous said...

paris hillton ...is she there too !!

zewt said...

the photos sequence are well placed ...

Anonymous said...

The gal in that one pic, Nurul Nahdhirah Abdullah, 23 (electrical engineering) is a looker! She can easily be in the next Nona! Wow! It's truly a women's world now! Electrical Engineering! I bet she's the one that fixes the bulbs around da house. The guy who gets to marry her will be one lucky dude!

Anonymous said...

Comment from anon 8.26 am makes more sense than old fart's....hehhehe

IBU said...

Salam Kak Ena ...

Tak nampak bored pun? More like "err... bila la nak habis ni...nak gi shopping kat LV nih...". Ekekeke....

Thanks for posting the pics. More interesting that the ones available in local newspapers.

p/s Pssttt.... I don't think students are paid to attend any such gathering or function. Students would still come to such gatherings though, jauh or dekat .... raya di rantauan maaaa.....

Unknown said...

Miss the do. looks like you guys had great fun.

Anonymous said...

Anon 0240 PM
Ewah...ewah..Your statement...errrr..something about fixing bulbs, arggh..it’s ‘cute’, isn’t it?
Probably ‘cuter’ than Wikipedia. Can’t help myself…till I bagi komen ‘tak cute’ ni :-))

Anonymous said...

Salam Syawal puan Nuraina,

Terima kasih kerana memaparkan foto 'penuntut yang mengerumuni Mukhriz'. Apa yang ingin dikatakan ialah salah seorang penuntut yang memakai cermin mata dalam gambar berkenaan adalah anak saya.

Sahabat

Anonymous said...

You didn't look bored in that pic. In fact you looked sweet.

Fazilis

Anonymous said...

Sweet Pamela Lanyau in kebaya. AH ther is hope for 1 Malaysia!

Fazilis

sasha said...

I was there too on that evening. maaaan the line for the malaysian food is superbly long. the french delicacies served were so yummy!

Azian said...

Emmm nice gathering.
Need assistance - planned to travel next year early Mar 2012, Need to know place to stay (budget accomodation) for four- five families (5-6 people/family). would prefer to stay at apartment around city centre. Paris, Amsterdam and Frankfurt.