Well, I haven't made any real friends yet, but I've been invited out tonight with Cordula; it's one of her friend's birthdays, but she doesn't know too many people yet, so we're going to go out as a small group and hopefully not talk in german all night!
I've decided on some course options, but it might all have to change. I need to organise my timetable myself, and the lecture days and times haven't been posted yet, so no final choices can be made. My first choice looks like this though;
Medieval history, History of middle-age art, Contemporary (1800s) history. Then its a choice of either Greek/Roman civilisation and English translation, or Ancient history to make up the 22 credits I need this term. I'm thinking I might go for option 1, because it would improve my french grammar and vocab, because it's translating things like Dickens and would prpare me for translation next year when I'm back at Kent. However, it would also be insanely difficult for a while and I need to get good grades! I need 10/20 to pass this year, and in France 12/20 is considered a really good grade! Eeek!
Monday, September 7, 2009
Sunday, September 6, 2009
market time!
I decided to go and find a market this morning rather than getting fruit and veg at the supermarket, so I looked at a really useful website found in a helpful student lyon guide. You can select the day or area that you want a market, and theres loads, even on a sunday! So I found one which was alond the saone river, which was packed out but had lots of choice. I went in the afternoon, I got there at around 12.30, and because it closed at 1.30, there were loads of fruit and veg bargains! I got 3 pineapples for 1 euro! Because I got loaded up on fruit I had a fruit salad for lunch, healthy and yummy!
I'm going to the cinema later I think, cos theres nothing else to do on a sunday in france (there probably is in a town this size, actually, but I 'll save that for another day!) I'll go and see if cordula is around (the german girl from 2 doors down) and see if she wants to go out too.
Pretty small post for me today, but life is calming down a bit now, so I won't always be discovering cool new things to write about. I'm getting fed up with the wireless here though! It keeps deciding to turn off. Still, I'm lucky I'm near enough to the computer room so that I can use it in my bedroom!
I'm going to the cinema later I think, cos theres nothing else to do on a sunday in france (there probably is in a town this size, actually, but I 'll save that for another day!) I'll go and see if cordula is around (the german girl from 2 doors down) and see if she wants to go out too.
Pretty small post for me today, but life is calming down a bit now, so I won't always be discovering cool new things to write about. I'm getting fed up with the wireless here though! It keeps deciding to turn off. Still, I'm lucky I'm near enough to the computer room so that I can use it in my bedroom!
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Walking all over town
Well, I've had a busy morning! It's been really sunny and bright today, so when I got up, I decided that it was the perfect sight-seeing and photo-taking day, so I wandered to pont de la guilotterie, crossed the rhone and walked across the centre of town to cross the saone to get to the old town. I thought I'd wander round the streets and then walk up the hill to look at the citadel on top, getting great views of the city.
So, wandered through town and got to the old town, and found one of the stations, which I'm sure will be helpful in the future! then I wandered through the streets looking at the old buildings, many restaurants and shops. I found the most amazing shop in a really wierd place. There was a sign outside encouraging you to walk down a tiny alleyway to get to a medieval shop. So I walked down the alley, marvelled at the small coutyard at the end of the alley, with a stone spiral staircase in one corner, and walked into the shop, which was exactly as it said outside; a medieval shop. There was everything you'd expect to find at a medieval fair, from clothes to jewellery, leather pouches, suits of armour, mead and other such medieval style drinks. It was truly amazing. Will definatley be going back there for mead and some other drinks, which I didn't recognise.
There were a couple of museums there aswell, a miniature museum which also had props from movies; there was a robot from I-Robot and C3PO in the entrance. I didn't go in, because I'd forgotten my student card, so couldn't get a cheap ticket. There was also a french punch and judy museum, which is called guignol et gnafron, and they're on all the postcards here, so I guess it was invented here or something.
Then I wandered up the hill to see the citadel and the view. just before I got there, I saw a metro which I thought would be useful in the future, turned around and was stunned by the roman theatres. I thought I'd go and see how much they were to get in for when I came back with my student card. No need, both of them had free entry, and were just treated like a park! They were so stunning, I spent ages there. That was when I really fell in love with Lyon. The town is great (boasting 16 cinemas, which makes a change from 1 with 2 screens), the old town is beautiful (with the medieval shop being a major plus!), but free entry to two gorgeous roman theatres?! That really sold it for me! I never did make it to the citadel...
Even though it was really close, I was feeling pretty worn out and didn't want to fit everything into one day (I'm not really sure that's possible in a town like Lyon though!) So I wandered back through the streets to the old town, crossed the bridge to the centre and wandered back down rue de la republique, at the end of which I found a stage with a load of street dance going on! I stayed and watched for a bit, some of it was amazing, I think it was a kind of advert for a street and hip hop dance school or club, but I'm not too sure.
So that was my day, it's been really great, I'm so glad that I can get the tube across town and see the roman theatres whenever I want! The big church will have it's day, I'm sure!
So, wandered through town and got to the old town, and found one of the stations, which I'm sure will be helpful in the future! then I wandered through the streets looking at the old buildings, many restaurants and shops. I found the most amazing shop in a really wierd place. There was a sign outside encouraging you to walk down a tiny alleyway to get to a medieval shop. So I walked down the alley, marvelled at the small coutyard at the end of the alley, with a stone spiral staircase in one corner, and walked into the shop, which was exactly as it said outside; a medieval shop. There was everything you'd expect to find at a medieval fair, from clothes to jewellery, leather pouches, suits of armour, mead and other such medieval style drinks. It was truly amazing. Will definatley be going back there for mead and some other drinks, which I didn't recognise.
There were a couple of museums there aswell, a miniature museum which also had props from movies; there was a robot from I-Robot and C3PO in the entrance. I didn't go in, because I'd forgotten my student card, so couldn't get a cheap ticket. There was also a french punch and judy museum, which is called guignol et gnafron, and they're on all the postcards here, so I guess it was invented here or something.
Then I wandered up the hill to see the citadel and the view. just before I got there, I saw a metro which I thought would be useful in the future, turned around and was stunned by the roman theatres. I thought I'd go and see how much they were to get in for when I came back with my student card. No need, both of them had free entry, and were just treated like a park! They were so stunning, I spent ages there. That was when I really fell in love with Lyon. The town is great (boasting 16 cinemas, which makes a change from 1 with 2 screens), the old town is beautiful (with the medieval shop being a major plus!), but free entry to two gorgeous roman theatres?! That really sold it for me! I never did make it to the citadel...
Even though it was really close, I was feeling pretty worn out and didn't want to fit everything into one day (I'm not really sure that's possible in a town like Lyon though!) So I wandered back through the streets to the old town, crossed the bridge to the centre and wandered back down rue de la republique, at the end of which I found a stage with a load of street dance going on! I stayed and watched for a bit, some of it was amazing, I think it was a kind of advert for a street and hip hop dance school or club, but I'm not too sure.
So that was my day, it's been really great, I'm so glad that I can get the tube across town and see the roman theatres whenever I want! The big church will have it's day, I'm sure!
Friday, September 4, 2009
Yay! Kettles rock!
I have finally got a kettle, after many days (3) of searching! I met some friendly folks from a uni in manchester yesterday at orientation, and bumped into a couple of them today. One of them told me there was a carrefour at a shopping centre nearby at Port Dieu where her parents had bought her a cheap 'bouilloire' (which is near-impossible to pronounce), so I set off to find it.
Found the metro near the uni, and travelled into the centre to pay some euros into my new account in the central LCL (le credit lyonnaise). I found it easily, it being on the main road (rue de la republique) and while it looked like a normal old french building from the outside, I felt immediatley under-dressed as soon as I walked in the door. It was like a palace! A huge sweeping staircase greeted me, with antique sofas next to it. A woman directed me towards the 'caisses' where I could pay in my money, and I found myself in a massive marble ballroom! It's worth a visit even if you don't have an account there!
Then I went to find the shopping centre and carrefour. I was expecting to have to walk a bit to find it, but no, the tube deposits you on the ground floor of the shopping centre, and the most difficulty I had was navigating my way through the vastness of it to find the 2-storey supermarket!
So I got my kettle, and know that I can go back there for a cheap toaster if I decide I need one. I suppose I'll just be frying all my bread now though, a la francaise!
Found the metro near the uni, and travelled into the centre to pay some euros into my new account in the central LCL (le credit lyonnaise). I found it easily, it being on the main road (rue de la republique) and while it looked like a normal old french building from the outside, I felt immediatley under-dressed as soon as I walked in the door. It was like a palace! A huge sweeping staircase greeted me, with antique sofas next to it. A woman directed me towards the 'caisses' where I could pay in my money, and I found myself in a massive marble ballroom! It's worth a visit even if you don't have an account there!
Then I went to find the shopping centre and carrefour. I was expecting to have to walk a bit to find it, but no, the tube deposits you on the ground floor of the shopping centre, and the most difficulty I had was navigating my way through the vastness of it to find the 2-storey supermarket!
So I got my kettle, and know that I can go back there for a cheap toaster if I decide I need one. I suppose I'll just be frying all my bread now though, a la francaise!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Orientation meeting
Well, the weather's still warm, even though it's a bit grey. It was 31 degrees when we arrived and has stayed around that mark since. Just got back from supermarket buying essentials like chocolate filled cereal and raspberry juice. I also managed to get sponges and washing up liquid so I can clean my plate and cutlery properly.
I met a girl from 2 doors down (which brings back memories of punk and 'stuff' for those who know what I'm on about!) who's from Germany but speaks very good french, and we had a wander into the centre and got a drink at a boat-bar. That's my name for it anyway, it's really awesome, there's a massive river (the rhone) which has a load of boats on the bank which all have bars in them with tables and chairs inside and on the shore. The one we went into had another boat inside it, which acted as the bar, how cool is that?!
Anyway, had my orientation meeting this morning (when I found the uni-I managed to go the wrong way twice!) which basically told me everything I already knew, but there was some interesting stuff too. As a student, I can buy admission to 10 shows;cinema, theatre, opera, dance e.t.c. for 36 euros. I also found out where I can apply for housing benefits (they give you so much help as a student in france, it's unbelievable!) and where I can get cheaper metro tickets. there's another meeting tomorrow where the school system is explained to us, because in your 1st year you have term 1 and term 2, in your 2nd year it's term 3 and 4 and so on, so its slightly wierd and confusing, especially because as an exchange student I can choose something from any term/year, it's pick and mix which is cool! I'm looking forward to seeing the list of courses tomorrow.
I'm really glad that I've already done all the bank stuff too, I just need to pay money in. I was going to do it today, but people were spilling out the door!
Anyway, I've rambled for long enough for now, I'll let you know if anything else interesting happens!
I met a girl from 2 doors down (which brings back memories of punk and 'stuff' for those who know what I'm on about!) who's from Germany but speaks very good french, and we had a wander into the centre and got a drink at a boat-bar. That's my name for it anyway, it's really awesome, there's a massive river (the rhone) which has a load of boats on the bank which all have bars in them with tables and chairs inside and on the shore. The one we went into had another boat inside it, which acted as the bar, how cool is that?!
Anyway, had my orientation meeting this morning (when I found the uni-I managed to go the wrong way twice!) which basically told me everything I already knew, but there was some interesting stuff too. As a student, I can buy admission to 10 shows;cinema, theatre, opera, dance e.t.c. for 36 euros. I also found out where I can apply for housing benefits (they give you so much help as a student in france, it's unbelievable!) and where I can get cheaper metro tickets. there's another meeting tomorrow where the school system is explained to us, because in your 1st year you have term 1 and term 2, in your 2nd year it's term 3 and 4 and so on, so its slightly wierd and confusing, especially because as an exchange student I can choose something from any term/year, it's pick and mix which is cool! I'm looking forward to seeing the list of courses tomorrow.
I'm really glad that I've already done all the bank stuff too, I just need to pay money in. I was going to do it today, but people were spilling out the door!
Anyway, I've rambled for long enough for now, I'll let you know if anything else interesting happens!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
A wet morning
Well, woke up to greyness in the sky and puddles in the courtyard below my window, with the rumble of thunder moving closer. Had a breakfast of croissants and a really yummy marmalade with blood orange in it, then waited for the rain, that was now bordering on torrential, to stop. No such luck, so I went down to boil some water in my newly-bought saucepan (no kettle-why? Theres a microwave!) for a coffee while I waited for the thunder and lighning to stop at least.
Had another check to see if WiFi was working (not yet!) and then prepared to get soaked, because I needed a phone and phone card! (And a kettle, but I didn't manage to get one of those!) I wandered out of the door, prepared to try and find the centre by walking through the puddles and following my instinct (a map would have been no good-would have turned into papier-mache as soon as I got it out). 30 seconds from the door I stumbled across a tube station and got straight into the centre, just outside a Mc Donalds. I also found Starbucks, Habitat and H&M so I know where the important places are!
Got my phone really easily, although they are a fan of monthly contracts over there- and using all your credit as soon as you get it! If you get 5 euros pay as you go credit it has to be used in 15 days I think, otherwise you loose it! 10 euros is more reasonable, you get a month to use it all in. It's still very strange though! With the exchange rate being so bad, everything costs a bomb at the moment! I'm used to France being cheap, and I keep looking at the Franc prices (which are still there next to the euro price on the tag) with nostalgia!
Well, I wandered for a few hours, got soaked, the blue in my jeans has dyed half-circles onto my shoes, and I found some really lovely and interesting places while getting spectacularly lost. Got tube back, arrived a short while before the internet started working and now here I am! It's not raining, but it's still grey. I've got an orientation day tomorrow which hopefully won't go on all day, but if it does, I really hope there will be coffee breaks!
I'm waiting for some blue skies so I can take photos, things always look nicer in the sunshine!
Had another check to see if WiFi was working (not yet!) and then prepared to get soaked, because I needed a phone and phone card! (And a kettle, but I didn't manage to get one of those!) I wandered out of the door, prepared to try and find the centre by walking through the puddles and following my instinct (a map would have been no good-would have turned into papier-mache as soon as I got it out). 30 seconds from the door I stumbled across a tube station and got straight into the centre, just outside a Mc Donalds. I also found Starbucks, Habitat and H&M so I know where the important places are!
Got my phone really easily, although they are a fan of monthly contracts over there- and using all your credit as soon as you get it! If you get 5 euros pay as you go credit it has to be used in 15 days I think, otherwise you loose it! 10 euros is more reasonable, you get a month to use it all in. It's still very strange though! With the exchange rate being so bad, everything costs a bomb at the moment! I'm used to France being cheap, and I keep looking at the Franc prices (which are still there next to the euro price on the tag) with nostalgia!
Well, I wandered for a few hours, got soaked, the blue in my jeans has dyed half-circles onto my shoes, and I found some really lovely and interesting places while getting spectacularly lost. Got tube back, arrived a short while before the internet started working and now here I am! It's not raining, but it's still grey. I've got an orientation day tomorrow which hopefully won't go on all day, but if it does, I really hope there will be coffee breaks!
I'm waiting for some blue skies so I can take photos, things always look nicer in the sunshine!
Settling in on 01 september
Busy day yesterday! First stop: University. Had to queue with other erasmus students to collect the paperwork for my CROUS accommodation while I watched others queue who hadn't organised anything/applied too late (thank god I applied the day after application opened!) Then I found out I needed some stuff from a bank before I could get my student card. It looks like you can put money on it too, so I guess thats to use in on-campus canteens e.t.c... Well, I'm lucky we decided to do everything around the uni that we could because I got insurance from the bank which was needed for the accomodation. I also got civil liability insurance there, which was needed to get the student card. After signing about 50 sheets of paper at the bank (I'm sure there's only a little exaggeration there) I left with a bag full of paper, including the 2 sheets that I needed. I wouldn't mind all the paperwork in France, it's just everything still seems disorganised!
So I had my student card so me and dad walked over to the residence to queue there. I vaguely understood something about buying a box in the fridge in the kitchen so I agreed to that, filled out paperwork, signed on the dotted line, paid and went to find the room. It was bigger than I expected, and being situated in a gorgeous old building, has high ceilings, big windows (a rare find in france), wooden shutters and is just lovely. Ok, the paint is peeling towards the ceiling, but that adds to the charm and character of it. Maybe. I do get my own sink in my room though! There's lovely long coridors (20 rooms on each floor) and big common rooms, it makes me think of somewhere Madeline might live when she grew up. We were starving by this point, so we went to find the supermarket, not very far away and got some lunch and essentials then went back to my room to eat.
After lunch dad went to get the car while I went to try to find out about the kitchen and my fridge-box and the kitchen. despite desperate searching we could only find one kitchen with 3 fridges and several hobs. The fridges all had numbered metal boxes with padlocks on them, up to 26, and there are at least 3 floors of rooms. There was a larger queue than earlier on, so I decided to leave it for now and ask about cuisines later. Dad came back, we unpacked the car, said goodbye and I was unpacked by 5pm.
The storm started at about 8, shortly followed by torrential rain. I'm not normally a fan of storms, but in the south of france they take on a spectacular, dramatic quality, often accompanied by torrential rain, thunder that echoes off the mountains and old buildings and flashes that light up the purple sky. As long as you're indoors to enjoy the show, it's ok!
So I had my student card so me and dad walked over to the residence to queue there. I vaguely understood something about buying a box in the fridge in the kitchen so I agreed to that, filled out paperwork, signed on the dotted line, paid and went to find the room. It was bigger than I expected, and being situated in a gorgeous old building, has high ceilings, big windows (a rare find in france), wooden shutters and is just lovely. Ok, the paint is peeling towards the ceiling, but that adds to the charm and character of it. Maybe. I do get my own sink in my room though! There's lovely long coridors (20 rooms on each floor) and big common rooms, it makes me think of somewhere Madeline might live when she grew up. We were starving by this point, so we went to find the supermarket, not very far away and got some lunch and essentials then went back to my room to eat.
After lunch dad went to get the car while I went to try to find out about the kitchen and my fridge-box and the kitchen. despite desperate searching we could only find one kitchen with 3 fridges and several hobs. The fridges all had numbered metal boxes with padlocks on them, up to 26, and there are at least 3 floors of rooms. There was a larger queue than earlier on, so I decided to leave it for now and ask about cuisines later. Dad came back, we unpacked the car, said goodbye and I was unpacked by 5pm.
The storm started at about 8, shortly followed by torrential rain. I'm not normally a fan of storms, but in the south of france they take on a spectacular, dramatic quality, often accompanied by torrential rain, thunder that echoes off the mountains and old buildings and flashes that light up the purple sky. As long as you're indoors to enjoy the show, it's ok!
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