The origin of Phở in Jennie's version

Well, it has started on a day when my friend cooked a pot-au-feu which is a French dish in a cold day. That was such a good idea to have a hot-pot in the winter. I have found how it is really nice feeling to get heat from that smoking bolw in the cold weather day. Then, he asked me about the origin of Phở if it is similar with pot-au-feu's one. And that he got me, I have made a nice innocent smile to realize that I do not have any idea of that. He told me that pot-au-feu has been made from poor people in France; when they I do not have much budget for their meal. They buy all cheapest things and put it in the same jar and boil it. They make it very often in the winter when the weather is cold. In the common way, Phở comes from the North of Vietnam where there are four seasons in a year. Jennie curiously would like to know if Phở was made from low-class. After googling from many Vietnamese cultural websites, I confirm that Phở was not appreciated by upper-class in Vietnam at the beginning of its appearance around the ends of 18th and the beginning of 19th century. I have also read many explanations of the definition of the word "Phở". They try to explain from Chinese-Vietnamese language is quite complex for me to understand. They have perhaps forgot that is made from low-class and in the French colonization's period. And ats many Vietnamese words have similar sound with French words like beurre=bơ, bière=bia, café=cà phê, chocolat=sô cô la, etc ... and why not pot-au-feu --> feu = Phở

Phở is no doubt known internationally as many of others countries soup.

For more info about Vietnamese vs French word: http://projetbabel.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11860

Barcelona, 20 November, 2011 by Jennie Amélie

10 things I like the most in Barcelona

10 things I like the most in Barcelona

Barcelona is one of the frequent destination for small vacation for European. The very first thing that vacationist would love to do is chilling out on the beach after few hours flight from their original city. Beach is evidently first image when I think of Barcelona where allow Barcelonese could relax in the their own town. Why this city is often chosen by youth for their first living aboard experience?

1. People: young, very friendly and open-minded. I think the only one city we are not afraid of going out alone because we will make friends on the street or in a bar in everywhere!

2. Culture: I don’t have to say much but there are concerts, events, festivals, expositions, exhibitions, ... which are organised during the year… specially I often go for free parties!

3. Transportation: it seems never traffic jam is happened here. Street is designed more accessible for public transports. I love using public bicycle called “Bicing”, you pay 36€ for one-year-use for 40 minutes each trip and it is everywhere. Another thing I love is Night Bus which allows to travel more with public transports anytime, everyday and almost everywhere.

4. Languages: I love the country where people can speak more than one language. I can speak French, English and Spanish all the time. Beside the very expensive Spanish course, there exists also almost-free-Spanish-course too. In Barcelona, Catalonia region, people speak Catalàn. If you want to learn it, it is free for beginner level.

5. Public Health Care System: is very very humanity. They take care everyone, YES, everyone (tourist, unemployed or retired people, and of course the others) free for basic standard care. For employees who must participate 8.5% of their wage for Social Security so that they will certainly receive more benefits.

6. Discrimination: there is Discrimination Office next to Town Hall where they protect immigrants from discrimination. Personally, I have never received any discriminative behavior here fortunately until now. However, I used to live 7 years in Switzerland where there are more than 200.000 immigrants. I am not the only one who shares to other friends there in this kind of experiences.

7. Society: it is always easier for rich people than poor one everywhere. In Barcelona, the politic direction is favorable in order to shorten the gap between the poor and the rich. For the small budget, they could get through by the end of month and live sufficient happily. I lived 6 months in Fondo, 20 minutes away where the living cost certainly less than in city center.

8. Education: I will not mention of over two hundreds of professional Schools, Institutes and University in Barcelona. That is just too complete and organised. Furthermore, 36 public libraries is accessible for everyone. Anyone can make free library card and start to improve your knowledge by borrowing books, films, other benefits.

9. Weather: I can not believe there exists a place in the world where the weather is not so hot in summer and not so cold in winter. It is in Barcelona you will feel it.

10. www.bcn.cat is the most complete information than ever website which is offered by Barcelona government. Available in 3 languages. How awesome is it!

In conclusions, there are for sure more than 10 things I like the most here. Moreover, Barcelona is like the most of other big cities. There are also sociable problems and difficulties which exist everywhere such as too much tourists, pickpockets, drugs, crimes, prostitution, tax evasion etc. In the other hand, the young generation manifest to change direction of Democrat, improve living cost, working condition, increase average salary, decrease unemployed rate, … The future of Barcelona is still unpredictable but I believe it is on the good direction.

Barcelona, 30th June 2011 by Jennifer