From Seine to Thames
I was already missing France even before actually leaving it. The beauty and tranquillity of Nantes were getting my mind tinted with a delicate sense of regret. I went to the operation theatre of the CHU Nord Laënnec de Nantes for the last time. While in the changing room, I remembered the very first day I was in that theatre. I was at that time quite nervous and anxious about what was going to come. In fact, I was then being intimidated by the grandeur of the cardiac surgery which I had always considered the greatest in the realm of surgery. One year is enough for one to conquer all this. I felt now quite natural. I had witnessed and done what I considered the greatest in the world. I had been doing it for all year long. I wondered if it had been merely a dream. I assisted Monsieur Al Habash in the beating heart coronary artery bypass. I always liked to assist Monsieur Al Habash and I was glad my last operation was with him. After the operation, all the nurses were waiting for me in the sitting room. Professeur Michaud had given a bottle of Champagne for my farewell. We opened up the bottle and drank a glass each. After wishing and drinking, it was time to say Au revoir. They all kissed me good bye. Françoise was the first one to kiss me; and I was glad for it because she was my favourite. She once said in front of others “Pour moi, il est un ange” (For me, he is an angel!)
Marie-Claude came to fetch me at the Intern House. After giving the last glance to the CHU de Nantes which had given me generous experience in cardiac surgery, I was off to La Trousserie - the farm of the Delaunays. When we got there, Antoine and Eva were preparing for a special dinner. Marie-Claude told me that the children were expecting their friends for dinner and she, Hubert and me were dining in town. I gave Marie-Claude my token of gratitude and friendship – a framed water colour painting of the landscape of middle Burma done by myself. She was evidently overjoyed and touched by my present. She instantly hung it on the wall.
It was 8 o’ clock and they showed no sign of going out. I was a bit hungry by that time. At half past eight, to my surprise, Radu, Katia, Renée and Michel turned up; and only then did I realise that the dinner they were preparing was meant for my farewell!! I found out that they had been planning it weeks ahead and keeping it a secret so as to give me a pleasant surprise! Their purpose was served and I felt really cherished. Marie-Claude had prepared an oriental theme - a Singaporean noodle soup, cucumber salad as entrée and Indian style chicken curry and rice as the main dish – and we ate with chopsticks which was quite a challenge for the old folks Renée and Michel! I enjoyed the wine and cheese. After dinner, I played a couple of classics for my beloved friends.
Lying in bed in my usual bedroom, a series of thoughts came into my mind. The forthcoming exam was worrying me. The feeling of what-comes-next was overwhelming my thoughts. Despite the anxiety, I could still remember my very first day in Nantes; how I met Marie-Claude while having a great difficulty carrying the heavy luggage in the street, the poorly furnished room in Jacque Tymen, how she invited me to their farmhouse, how I got so much attached to that family, how I got to know Radu who later became like a brother, how my life in France had been comfortable thanks to all my friends and how people who had been so far apart and had not had the slightest idea of the existence of one another became bosom friends in such a short time. All because of an unexpected encounter in a street! Life is strange – pleasantly unpredictable!
Next morning, I was off to Paris with Marie-Claude and Eva. They were driving that 400km distance just to see me off at the Gare de Nord. That evening, I went to a Burmese friend who had invited some of my Parisian friends to bid me farewell. We ate Monhinga and tea leave salad and talked.
Next day, Marie-Claude, Eva and I visited a cartoon exposition by Philippe Geluck – Le Chat s’expose. It was a nice humorous exposition. That evening, I was with another group of friends; this time in a boathouse on the river Seine. We ate, sang and talked all night. My last night in France. Next day, I was going to say Au revoir to the most romantic city in the world. The moon was shining.
I was really grateful to all my friends who had accompanied me to the Gare de Nord. Without them, I would have faced a great difficulty carrying my heavy and awkward luggage which was solely responsible for my fortunate encounter with Marie-Claude in the first place. After giving bisous to Marie-Claude, Eva and two Burmese friends, I set off for the land of Big Ben. The train journey was uneventful except that I fell asleep missing the chance to take a photo before going into the Euro Tunnel. I had to be satisfied with the photo of other end of the Tunnel.
In two and a half hour, I was in London Victoria station where three friends of mine were waiting for me. Again lucky with my luggage! That is why I love my friends!! Going to Beckton where I had to stay for a month, I saw the River Thames. I passed by the River Seine only that morning in Paris. I hope the latter will forgive me for changing to the side of its most bitter rival.
It was great to see my classmates again. And to eat the Burmese food as well. However, I could not savour the pleasure to its fullest because the exam was haunting me. I had so little time left to prepare. The failure would cost me a great deal of time, money and most importantly my morale. I could not take any risk. I had to be well prepared. My proper preparation for the exam commenced the next day. It was best for me to forget the Eiffel tower and the river Seine at least for a short while. I had to cope with the Big Ben and the river Thames instead. This is life.
Thura Tun
February 2, 2004
I was already missing France even before actually leaving it. The beauty and tranquillity of Nantes were getting my mind tinted with a delicate sense of regret. I went to the operation theatre of the CHU Nord Laënnec de Nantes for the last time. While in the changing room, I remembered the very first day I was in that theatre. I was at that time quite nervous and anxious about what was going to come. In fact, I was then being intimidated by the grandeur of the cardiac surgery which I had always considered the greatest in the realm of surgery. One year is enough for one to conquer all this. I felt now quite natural. I had witnessed and done what I considered the greatest in the world. I had been doing it for all year long. I wondered if it had been merely a dream. I assisted Monsieur Al Habash in the beating heart coronary artery bypass. I always liked to assist Monsieur Al Habash and I was glad my last operation was with him. After the operation, all the nurses were waiting for me in the sitting room. Professeur Michaud had given a bottle of Champagne for my farewell. We opened up the bottle and drank a glass each. After wishing and drinking, it was time to say Au revoir. They all kissed me good bye. Françoise was the first one to kiss me; and I was glad for it because she was my favourite. She once said in front of others “Pour moi, il est un ange” (For me, he is an angel!)
Marie-Claude came to fetch me at the Intern House. After giving the last glance to the CHU de Nantes which had given me generous experience in cardiac surgery, I was off to La Trousserie - the farm of the Delaunays. When we got there, Antoine and Eva were preparing for a special dinner. Marie-Claude told me that the children were expecting their friends for dinner and she, Hubert and me were dining in town. I gave Marie-Claude my token of gratitude and friendship – a framed water colour painting of the landscape of middle Burma done by myself. She was evidently overjoyed and touched by my present. She instantly hung it on the wall.
It was 8 o’ clock and they showed no sign of going out. I was a bit hungry by that time. At half past eight, to my surprise, Radu, Katia, Renée and Michel turned up; and only then did I realise that the dinner they were preparing was meant for my farewell!! I found out that they had been planning it weeks ahead and keeping it a secret so as to give me a pleasant surprise! Their purpose was served and I felt really cherished. Marie-Claude had prepared an oriental theme - a Singaporean noodle soup, cucumber salad as entrée and Indian style chicken curry and rice as the main dish – and we ate with chopsticks which was quite a challenge for the old folks Renée and Michel! I enjoyed the wine and cheese. After dinner, I played a couple of classics for my beloved friends.
Lying in bed in my usual bedroom, a series of thoughts came into my mind. The forthcoming exam was worrying me. The feeling of what-comes-next was overwhelming my thoughts. Despite the anxiety, I could still remember my very first day in Nantes; how I met Marie-Claude while having a great difficulty carrying the heavy luggage in the street, the poorly furnished room in Jacque Tymen, how she invited me to their farmhouse, how I got so much attached to that family, how I got to know Radu who later became like a brother, how my life in France had been comfortable thanks to all my friends and how people who had been so far apart and had not had the slightest idea of the existence of one another became bosom friends in such a short time. All because of an unexpected encounter in a street! Life is strange – pleasantly unpredictable!
Next morning, I was off to Paris with Marie-Claude and Eva. They were driving that 400km distance just to see me off at the Gare de Nord. That evening, I went to a Burmese friend who had invited some of my Parisian friends to bid me farewell. We ate Monhinga and tea leave salad and talked.
Next day, Marie-Claude, Eva and I visited a cartoon exposition by Philippe Geluck – Le Chat s’expose. It was a nice humorous exposition. That evening, I was with another group of friends; this time in a boathouse on the river Seine. We ate, sang and talked all night. My last night in France. Next day, I was going to say Au revoir to the most romantic city in the world. The moon was shining.
I was really grateful to all my friends who had accompanied me to the Gare de Nord. Without them, I would have faced a great difficulty carrying my heavy and awkward luggage which was solely responsible for my fortunate encounter with Marie-Claude in the first place. After giving bisous to Marie-Claude, Eva and two Burmese friends, I set off for the land of Big Ben. The train journey was uneventful except that I fell asleep missing the chance to take a photo before going into the Euro Tunnel. I had to be satisfied with the photo of other end of the Tunnel.
In two and a half hour, I was in London Victoria station where three friends of mine were waiting for me. Again lucky with my luggage! That is why I love my friends!! Going to Beckton where I had to stay for a month, I saw the River Thames. I passed by the River Seine only that morning in Paris. I hope the latter will forgive me for changing to the side of its most bitter rival.
It was great to see my classmates again. And to eat the Burmese food as well. However, I could not savour the pleasure to its fullest because the exam was haunting me. I had so little time left to prepare. The failure would cost me a great deal of time, money and most importantly my morale. I could not take any risk. I had to be well prepared. My proper preparation for the exam commenced the next day. It was best for me to forget the Eiffel tower and the river Seine at least for a short while. I had to cope with the Big Ben and the river Thames instead. This is life.
Thura Tun
February 2, 2004
