4 posts tagged “grenoble”
I didn't post for 3 weeks.. that's a long time ! hopefully it was filled with a lot of things to do ! As I found a job in Grenoble (800km far away east from Bordeaux), I needed to go there to meet my colleagues and work with them on the Drupal project we currently have.
Even if I've internet at work, I just didn't find time to write something consistent. And having no internet connection in my hotel room didn't help. And honestly it helps me a lot, not to be 90% of the time on the net.
Working at home is nice, as you have your own timetable. You can go out when you want, do some shopping at descent hours of the day. The client was calling always around lunch time, this was the only real fix meeting on my planning.
The drawback of this is that you can't see your colleague easily to talk to him, so we can go faster on the project. Well my colleague was at that time, also working 100% with another client at its local place.
Hopefully last week we meet together (the colleague and I) for one week. And obviously this went a lot faster. We did in 3 days what we waited for 2 weeks.... And the client is happy !
At the same time, my actual boss, have been asked if he knew anybody for a job... in Paris... Of course I pull up my finger. even if I'm almost perfect for this job offer, I doubt I will even accept it. Wonder why ? Because another problem is occurring at the same time.
This would have been pretty simple and easy to work, but my dad has still his heart issue, and I had to handle this also. July is/will be a huge mess in my planning.
Yesterday, my dad is admitted to the Saint Augustin hospital in Bordeaux. And tomorrow he will be operated. a valve on the aorta is not closing perfectly, letting blood coming back to the heart. The valve is still ok, but the aorta seem to show some weakness. The doctor didn't know yet if he has to change the whole valve or just tighten again the aorta. we will see this tomorrow...
Of course, my dad is frightened by the operation. He didn't tell my, but he is speaking so much about it that I doubt he is calm ;) (and being an introvert, it's almost surprising to see him talking like that).
So from now on for the nex 3 or 4 weeks, I'll live on a daily basis, between work and dad. I already announce at my work place, I won't be as free as I'm supposed, I guess they comprehend. A least the client does :) (I like this client ! ).
And about summer holidays ? W00t ?
Now I got a real issue with the job.... Short said : Should I keep the job and then definitively move from Bordeaux to Grenoble. Or Should I leave it and go back to Bordeaux.
I made a list of points (good and less good)...
Pros :
- It's a new city, meaning new relations, new environment.. a lot to discover,
- I may switch from technician to project manager.
- Being in Grenoble, I'm not far from big cities or jobs (Lyon is just 1 hour far away, Switzerland : 2hours). So I may be find other opportunities more easily.
Cons :
- the city is very dirty (they forget to maintain the houses or what ?)
- the area is polluted (Grenoble is the most pollutd city of France, but it's because of the encircling mountains). You like living in such a city when you are coming from a clean one ? I'm ont so sure.
- the living is slightly more expensive than Bordeaux. Gas is 2-5 cents more expensive, Sandwiches (for lunch) are 2-3 euro more expensive (but not more delicious ;) ). A flat will cost about 100-150 euro more than in Bordeaux.
- Loan : I will earn about 200 euro / month more than my previous job. But I will have more expense... Is it worth ?
- I may switch from technician to chief. But when, and will Ihave a better loan ?
- flat : Grenoble is one of the most expensive city for flats. So I need to go out of town to find less expensive flats, but I will need to find a way to come to town everyday (train or tram... Cars aren't welcome in Grenoble because of the anti-pollution politic).. Means : more expense....
- Bordeaux is not that bad after all....
I'll sleep on this and tomorrow, the sky will be clear again (I guess).
I'm one more time in Grenoble for my work. This time, I'm staying 2 weeks long... Enough time to discover a little more the city, people, etc...
Well, last sunday, I went to the old Grenoble : Notre Dame. I hope this area was more "old" but restored.... I was wrong. Days are passing, and the more I'm looking at the city, themore I find the dirt covering every piece of the building, roads...
I wrote earlier on Jaiku : Should I stay (in Grenoble) or should I go (back to Bordeaux).... Is it better to have a job in a dirty city you don't like or being jobless in a nice city ?
Get a look at the pictureI took. This picasa album will be updated with more photos during the next days.
I drove about 7 hours, stops included, the 680 km. I even tested my brand new GPS tomtom 510 :)
Now about Grenoble :
The city is located in a cul-de-sac, meaning it's surrounded by the moutains all around except on the north-west (to Lyon) and north-east (to Switzerland). Obvioulsy it can't expand, and obviously you get a lot car traffic in and around the city. and because of the surrounding mountains, you obvioulsy have a lot of pollution satying all year long.
My first impression of the city was : well, it's just a city... Nothing to cry about... Very common, with some even ugly (strange building design) parts. And honestly seeing the Alps one hours before was really a lot more exciting.
The picture you can see was taken by night (really ?) from the World Trade Center place. You can see the back of the railway station.
