Arriving to Oestrich-Winkel was like stepping into a storybook, and I finally understood how Sid’s exchange experience so far has been vastly different from mine. After arriving in Frankfurt and taking a 2 hour train trip to Wiesbaden, I was greeted with picturesque little tidy houses in tightly wound cobblestone streets. The smell of a warm evening air and flowers embalmed our walk to Sid’s house, with all my suitcases in tow. I was so happy to arrive, and to leave busy and winter-weathered Lille. This was such a contrast, and maybe the best place to come to after having lived alone for three months in a big city environment.
In the morning, it only got better. Birds were chirping, the morning breeze was bristling through the surrounding vineyards…and it was great. OW is the exact opposite of Lille. Quiet, clean, uber-safe and small, it offered the perfect European small town feel. The school, EBS was also quite cool, campus-wise (there is an antique castle tower planted in the middle) and building-wise (modern mixed with historical). However, the organization and class scheduling seemed to be even more hay-wire then EDHEC. I think that that is the hardest thing for us UofA-ers to get used to when studying in other countries, with other university systems. Honestly, after having experienced other enrolment and schedule planning, ours is the best. We get to log on to Beartracks, build our own timetables, choose our classes, decide where they are going to be, with which prof. and we know what dates our exams will be held on, months in advance. That is something to be proud of, and something that really plays a central role in our university of experience.
Other interesting contrasting details between EBS and EDHEC: they have a much larger international program that EDHEC. It was as if the half the student population came from somewhere else and was taking their classes in English. I think that that is great if you want to meet more people from all over the world, but I would have to say I preferred the smaller group of internationals at EDHEC, where we could really feel we were studying at a “French” University, less than an “International” one. Other contrast: Lille equals big city equals vibrant night life with entire streets for clubs. OW equals small town which then equals retirees and consequently to no clubs, although I did hear of an underground pub that is there. The students have to travel to neighbouring big sister Wiesbaden or Mainz for that nightlife experience, and train it back in the morning. Conclusion: great for the young student who loves the quiet and charm of a vineyard surrounded little town in southern Germany, not so great for the hardcore party animal. However, if you don’t mind travelling a bit and rounding up all the students for riot house parties, it might just be the right fit. For me, like I mentioned before, perfect. I didn’t realize how much tired out I got in Lille, and also the stress of living alone in big streets finally got to me. Oestrich felt like a relaxing breath of fresh air. I thrive on change. So from Edmonton to Lille to OW was each time a revitalizing experience.
Also in Brussels: the garden of a famous person's Art Deco house
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to explore much, as I was only in OW for two days. Then I flew Sid and I to Hungary, to see where I was born and to do a mini-business trip. But that will be the topic of my next blog! More Oestrich-Winkel discoveries will come later…hopefully with a tour of the castles and a trip on horseback through the wineries. Also, I will finally do a recoup on what I found out about the eco-friendly side of Lille, and will compare it to
Impromtu trip to Brussels: Me in la Grand Place
other cities that I have been to so far. Oh, and I did finally get around to going to Brussels, the day before I left for Germany. Tip: when doing a tour of Europe, maybe leave Brussels lower on the must-see list. Not only is it not in the top-four of cities to see when in Belgium, but while being the de facto capital of the EU, it does not offer much for eye-candy.
Until Hungary,
Elena
