Today's a national holiday in France (fête du travail - labour day) which means absolutely nothing is open, the buses and trams aren't running, and of course there's a protest at the Comédie. Now, I'm hiding in my room trying to finish my last paper, but I know of this because people have come around knocking on all the doors in the dormitory handing out fliers and encouraging everyone to "venez nombreux" in support of whatever cause they were fighting for this time. I'm down with "fighting for your rights" and all, but it seems to me the more often you do so the less effective it probably becomes. What do I know, though. I'm just another frustrated foreign student who's simply hoping she can take her German test next week since she's leaving a few days later for good.
Can hardly believe that - 10 days until I depart France, 5 more and then I'm home. Time has flown by, but it hasn't seemed to accomplish much. Speaking of which...
Showing posts with label la vie quotidienne. Show all posts
Showing posts with label la vie quotidienne. Show all posts
Friday, May 1, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
My Old School
I think I've been here long enough now that I can tell you about the Université Montpellier III Paul Valéry, where I am supposedly studying this semester.
Now, I say "supposedly" for a few reasons. First, two of the five classes I'm taking this semester are through my exchange programme, so the University here has nothing to do with them. Then of the three remaining classes I have, one is designed specifically for foreign students whose native language is English, another is a beginning German class taught by a professor from Germany, and the last one has been cancelled so often due to the professor's illness or one of several strikes that I haven't had it more than I have. Still, now that I'm travelling every weekend I'm on the campus every day that I'm in Montpellier, and I'm starting to get used to the way things work here.
The campus itself isn't that big, although when it's closed and I have to go around it instead of through it to get back to my dorm it seems huge. And whilst the University system here dates back to the early 13th century, the Fac de Lettres that is the Paul Valéry campus was only established in the late 1970s, and that is definitely reflected in the architecture. It also seems as though nothing has been replaced since then... Desks and restrooms are defaced, and there is enough graffiti around that it could be the set of an early nineties sitcom. Then there's always posters and notices pasted over one another on every wall of every building... Most seem to advertise yet another general assembly or occupation of one of the amphitheatres, prefacing more unrest in the system and another strike or protest. It's a good thing that the class I'm missing is only graded on a final test... Otherwise I might feel bad that I'm not getting any work done! I guess this is simply a cultural lesson for me, so even without actual class I get to learn about French politics.
There are a few places to eat on campus, relatively cheap but as long as I live so close I prefer cooking for myself, which is even cheaper. There are lots of vending machines, including the amazing coffee ones that are 1/3 of the price and taste just as good as what you get in cafés here.
Everytime I walk to class I have to pass through one of the two main gates, and without fail there is some student group hassling people to take their pamphlets. I try not to because it's wasteful; I'd never read them and they probably wouldn't affect me anyway. The ones I have ended up inevitably are about organising together and marching for student's rights, which are clearly being violated. I don't want to get too deep into my opinions here, suffice it to say that it seems to me they overreact to every little move the government makes. But then I'm not usually one to stir up trouble.
Overall I'm enjoying the classes I have, and I do think this is a lovely campus. If only I had been here during a semester where there wasn't so much unrest!
Now, I say "supposedly" for a few reasons. First, two of the five classes I'm taking this semester are through my exchange programme, so the University here has nothing to do with them. Then of the three remaining classes I have, one is designed specifically for foreign students whose native language is English, another is a beginning German class taught by a professor from Germany, and the last one has been cancelled so often due to the professor's illness or one of several strikes that I haven't had it more than I have. Still, now that I'm travelling every weekend I'm on the campus every day that I'm in Montpellier, and I'm starting to get used to the way things work here.
The campus itself isn't that big, although when it's closed and I have to go around it instead of through it to get back to my dorm it seems huge. And whilst the University system here dates back to the early 13th century, the Fac de Lettres that is the Paul Valéry campus was only established in the late 1970s, and that is definitely reflected in the architecture. It also seems as though nothing has been replaced since then... Desks and restrooms are defaced, and there is enough graffiti around that it could be the set of an early nineties sitcom. Then there's always posters and notices pasted over one another on every wall of every building... Most seem to advertise yet another general assembly or occupation of one of the amphitheatres, prefacing more unrest in the system and another strike or protest. It's a good thing that the class I'm missing is only graded on a final test... Otherwise I might feel bad that I'm not getting any work done! I guess this is simply a cultural lesson for me, so even without actual class I get to learn about French politics.
There are a few places to eat on campus, relatively cheap but as long as I live so close I prefer cooking for myself, which is even cheaper. There are lots of vending machines, including the amazing coffee ones that are 1/3 of the price and taste just as good as what you get in cafés here.
Everytime I walk to class I have to pass through one of the two main gates, and without fail there is some student group hassling people to take their pamphlets. I try not to because it's wasteful; I'd never read them and they probably wouldn't affect me anyway. The ones I have ended up inevitably are about organising together and marching for student's rights, which are clearly being violated. I don't want to get too deep into my opinions here, suffice it to say that it seems to me they overreact to every little move the government makes. But then I'm not usually one to stir up trouble.
Overall I'm enjoying the classes I have, and I do think this is a lovely campus. If only I had been here during a semester where there wasn't so much unrest!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Le Théâtre
Tonight was a little theatre outing, to see a two woman comedy show.
I was amazed that I understood about 90% of it.
Sadly, I did not understand what made it funny.
I think the lesson here is simply this: if you're going to see a play in another language, see a drama. Humour just doesn't translate well.
Next week we have off for winter break, so I'm headed back to the UK! Here's hoping I don't get snowed in again....
I was amazed that I understood about 90% of it.
Sadly, I did not understand what made it funny.
I think the lesson here is simply this: if you're going to see a play in another language, see a drama. Humour just doesn't translate well.
Next week we have off for winter break, so I'm headed back to the UK! Here's hoping I don't get snowed in again....
Thursday, February 5, 2009
University Strike
I mentioned the strike yesterday, but today I find it in full force. The professors are upset over changes being made by the French President to the public university system, so they've voted to strike. The campus was filled with signs declaring it "en grève", on strike. There were gatherings and demonstrations, including a large one I sort of ran into whilst heading toward the Comédie...
This large group managed to disrupt bus and tram service for a little while. Since I'm still exhausted from my ordeal in London, it was nice to have an extra day off - though for me it meant no classes this week at all!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
En grève
If there's one thing the French like, it's strikes. Instead of merely complaining when things go bad, they go out and demonstrate their impatience with the government by skipping school and work to gather and show their solidarity with one another and demand change. Today there's a sort of nationwide general strike, at it's worst in Paris, but it's affecting us in Montpellier too. The entrances to the University were filled with people handing out pamphlets urging us to go to the demonstrations. I had someone knock on my dorm room door last night asking me to participate (I can't, as I'm pretty sure it's against a lot of rules.) My class this morning had only 6 of about 20 people show up, since the tram system is also affected by the strike and most of the people living off campus had too many difficulties in getting here. While this strike is only for today protesting the state of the economy, there are rumours that starting next week there could be a professor's strike. I'm hoping it doesn't come to that, since I did come here for school... I'd hate to lose out on that experience, but then, as my lit professor said "for all of you foreign students: welcome to France!"
Monday, January 26, 2009
La vie quotidienne
It has occurred to me that the things that have become trivial 
to me may still be interesting to people back home, so it's high time I started writing about them. I did a similar post in Korea only toward the end, so maybe if I start early I can really be more thorough and informative.
First thing that I'll talk about is food. Now, obviously French food is supposedly very delicious and healthy etc., but I find the kinds of foods that match that stereotype are only found in expensive restaurants. I've come with a mission of living as cheaply as possible, in order to save money for travel and hopefully even have some left when I go home. This means rather than eating out, I try to make most of my meals myself, but that in itself can be an interesting experience.
That of course isn't to say that I never eat out, just not very often. Most of the times that I do buy food, it's a snack. Which of course brings me to crêpes. The crepes here are not quite what you get at the state fair or such back home. There are two kinds: sucré, or sweet, and salé, savoury. I've only tried the sweet, but I've had a few different very tasty varieties. My favourites so far are lemon sugar and maple syrup, both way tastier than you'd think.
Then of course there's the grocery shopping I have to do in order to eat,
which is an adventure in and of itself. The large grocery store that I usually go to is called Monoprix, and there are a few locations a couple tram stops from my dorm. This is where I go when I need a lot or need things besides food, as it's also a sort of department store. It is absolutely insane. It's not open on sundays, closes by 8:30 at night, and no matter when I go I always seem to wait at least 20 minutes in line to check out. I like the nice selection, and I usually get things like eggs, milk, cheese, and juice. I try to get a variety so I'm not eating the same thing every day, but it's not always easy. I usually stop at various bakeries to get a baguette, which are very cheap but really don't last more than a day. This usually means I eat some in the afternoon with cheese or nutella, have a few slices with dinner, and turn any leftovers into french toast or eat it with jam for breakfast. Besides that I'll stop at some of the smaller markets if I just need a few things or for the fresher fruit and veggies.
I'll be posting more entries like this, so keep an eye out for ma "vie quotidienne"!
to me may still be interesting to people back home, so it's high time I started writing about them. I did a similar post in Korea only toward the end, so maybe if I start early I can really be more thorough and informative.First thing that I'll talk about is food. Now, obviously French food is supposedly very delicious and healthy etc., but I find the kinds of foods that match that stereotype are only found in expensive restaurants. I've come with a mission of living as cheaply as possible, in order to save money for travel and hopefully even have some left when I go home. This means rather than eating out, I try to make most of my meals myself, but that in itself can be an interesting experience.
That of course isn't to say that I never eat out, just not very often. Most of the times that I do buy food, it's a snack. Which of course brings me to crêpes. The crepes here are not quite what you get at the state fair or such back home. There are two kinds: sucré, or sweet, and salé, savoury. I've only tried the sweet, but I've had a few different very tasty varieties. My favourites so far are lemon sugar and maple syrup, both way tastier than you'd think.
Then of course there's the grocery shopping I have to do in order to eat,
which is an adventure in and of itself. The large grocery store that I usually go to is called Monoprix, and there are a few locations a couple tram stops from my dorm. This is where I go when I need a lot or need things besides food, as it's also a sort of department store. It is absolutely insane. It's not open on sundays, closes by 8:30 at night, and no matter when I go I always seem to wait at least 20 minutes in line to check out. I like the nice selection, and I usually get things like eggs, milk, cheese, and juice. I try to get a variety so I'm not eating the same thing every day, but it's not always easy. I usually stop at various bakeries to get a baguette, which are very cheap but really don't last more than a day. This usually means I eat some in the afternoon with cheese or nutella, have a few slices with dinner, and turn any leftovers into french toast or eat it with jam for breakfast. Besides that I'll stop at some of the smaller markets if I just need a few things or for the fresher fruit and veggies.I'll be posting more entries like this, so keep an eye out for ma "vie quotidienne"!
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