Enjoying the sun and the city from Park Guell. (Barcelona)

Now, at the beginning of this exchange, having a penchant for environmentally-friendly business, I set out to see what Lille was doing to be one of the most green cities in Europe (with their planned 100% clean public transportation) and other cities of the like. I now have an obligation to answer that question I first asked myself in this blog. My opinion has been formulated from simply what I have experienced, as a resident and as a traveller, and I may be wrong, but from what I could see and take part in, it is what it is.

Opinion #1: Lille didn’t not seem to be very environmentally friendly. If they do plan to be one of the leading green cities, in my opinion, they have a long way to go. Living there, I found it very difficult to recycle, sometimes impossible. All that was available was garbage bins, however sometimes the garbage was simply left lying in the streets for a few days. It is quite frustrating to throw loads of perfectly good bottles, containers and packages of paper daily, and not having a more environmentally-responsible outlet.

Public biking system seen in almost all major and some non-major European cities.

If they had already introduced those biomethane/natural gas buses, I could not spot them, and public/private transportation seemed to be just as pollutant as the next big city. As mentioned before in both Sid’s and mine blogs, street cleaning was not very frequent, so the dog droppings were overwhelming, which was also a downer. Lille has its charm, and is a cool city to do an exchange in, but those things did frustrate me a little and were a disappointment, especially being used to blue bags and the like.

Opinion #2: Germany=great. There they are crazy about recycling, reusing, and reducing. Blue bags and their equivalents are supplied to residents by the government (no going to Walmart for those bags just to recycle!) and everyone diligently recycles every morsel of packaging and material possible.

Example of garbage sorting, in Barcelona

Again, this is based on purely from what I saw and experienced, but it was a drastic change from Lille. Also, you barely every see a garbage disposal bin by itself, they are almost all separated into glass, paper, plastic and composite materials, biological waste, and just regular. This sorting of garbage has really helped Germany cut down on waste, and they have tons of other successful initiatives (research the Green Dot). So, from all I saw in Europe, Germany deserves and A1 (Russell Peters anyone?) on being green.

Opinion #3: Another great shocker was Barcelona. That place is so clean. They have similar sorting techniques as Germany, their streets are spick and span, and all that made it a super enjoyable place to be (other than it being the most incredible city ever!). Also quite cool, the waste disposal bins by buildings, those big ones, all had foot pedals at the bottom. So, instead of lifting the lid up, which is sometimes above your head, and then trying to get all that junk in; the lid lifts for you, making the process a whole lot easier.

View of beautiful Barcelona from la Sagrada Familia

I’m sure all that talk about waste disposal was fascinating, but it was interesting to see how much was invested by governments from country to country and from city to city. Believe it or not, it does make a big difference when you are living somewhere for an extended period of time, and can make it an extra notch better when everything is clean and taken care of. Important to note, in all the places I visited, plastic bags were an almost extinct urban creature; everyone uses high quality decorative reusable ones that are available for cheap at any store. I would say they have a leg up on us in that department.

Well, my travels are almost coming to a close. If you are wondering, no I am not quite done my semester. Even though my exams were in late March, I still have a class that needs a final essay handed in and some loose ends to tie…so yes, I am still an exchange student and not just galloping around Europe and having the time of my life. Also, Sid will soon be posting his 10 top travel tips for Europe, that I assure you are unconventional, tried, tested, and true. They will be your army of tools if you plan to attack the continent anytime soon. We now have such a wealth of knowledge on practically anything to do with travelling as a student in Europe and getting the most out of it as possible, that we are bursting to share all that we have learned. Any questions, please ask.

A peek into the Grand Canal in Venice.

Until next time,

Elena

Ladies and Gentlemen: Barcelona is amazing, but more on that maybe later. This blog was meant for Hungary. As I mentioned in my introduction, many blogs ago, I am a Russian born in Hungary. How is that possible? My parents are both from Moscow, where pretty much the rest of my family lives. When they were 21, in 1982 (ooh, I gave away their age!), they left the USSR to go on an exchange in Hungary as mechanical engineers. They ended up doing their doctorates there, and studied for 10 years in that central European country. When the USSR fell apart, and everything was a big mess, they decided to emigrate. Having various pen pals in Canada, UK and Australia, they waited for the first answer of invitation and moved with little me in ’92. (Canada obviously answered first.) I still have tons of memories from my short toddler life in Hungary, and going back this time, without my parents, I was really able to get in touch with my early childhood. It was amazing.

Standing in the amphitheatre of Szent Istvan Egyetem, my parents' old university.

I was born in a small town 30km east of Budapest, in Godollo, home to Sissi’s favourite castle and to the largest Agricultural University in the country, Szent Istvan Egyetem. Going back, almost 18 years later, I was amazed to see old ladies remember my parents, and me as a little girl. It felt like a home away from home, somewhere where I would always be accepted. Some of you, who are reading this, must know exactly what I am talking about. Being children of first generation immigrants, or being that first generation yourself, and having a strong upbringing in the style of the motherland, sometimes you feel that you don’t belong anywhere really. The way our parents raised us doesn’t fit in with the rest of the Canadian kids, so we are not 100% Canadian. However, when we visit the relatives in our “home country” they tell us how “Canadian” we are, and how we don’t really fit in there either. This can be devastating sometimes: no place to really call home. While being a citizen of the world is cool, when you have the chance to feel a real connection somewhere, that you’ll always be welcome just as you are, that can be really special. That’s what I felt in Hungary. But enough about emotional me.

Standing in Buda, overlooking the Danube to Pest.

Budapest is like Paris meets post-communism. Honestly. I’ve been to Moscow, and to Paris, and for me, Budapest is like the collision of the two. I find it a lot more welcoming than Paris, and it has so much more charm and Hungarian flavour to it, that it is a must see for sure. This capital is divided by the Danube River into two. Buda is the old historical part with churches, the National Museum, and old Roman ruins from the ancient capital Aquincuum. Pest is the urban and more “grand” half, also home to castles and parks and thermal baths (and the Opera!) but with a more modern and bustling feel. You get two completely different experiences in one.

The thermal baths in Pest. They include a huge indoor section too (steam rooms and aroma/colour therapy included).

Just an example of amazingly affordable delicious Hungarian food.

More advantages of Hungary, other then the fact that there is so much to see and that it is really an amazing country, is that the food is ridiculously delicious and super affordable, and that the Opera House has the cheapest seats in all of Europe, so that’s the way to go. But don’t think the Opera House is cheapy-cheapy on the inside. It is all covered in 24-karat gold, with a 2 tonne chandelier, intricate wood work, world class acoustics, and rivalled only by the Vienna opera house. Hungary is just the best deal.

The infamous Hungarian Opera House.

I also ended up doing a promotional/education U of A School of Business presentation to the heads of the University there, which was a super cool experience. They were also really interested in how our system works, how we are graded on the curve, and how our administration differs. Who knows…maybe in few years there might be exchanges between the two! That would be pretty neat.

Alright, I think I’ll finish this blog here. Environmentally friendly findings are now next, so hold on. The floor of the airport is starting to feel really hard, and the blankets and pillows Sid and I stole off one of the night trains are not offering much cushioning.

Good luck with the end of exams!

Elena

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

I will pick up from where I left off…exams! 

Yes, it was slightly brutal to have five exams in one day. But, as long as you get enough sleep, it’s manageable. One important lesson learned: If you attend every class, do no extra studying but still get a really good sleep before the test, it’s a guaranteed pass. Fellow students, remember that…I tested it out. 

How? I did practically no studying before the eight exams that were about to hit me like an avalanche of rocks. Oh no, not because I am a slacker (I had “perfectionist syndrome” as a school girl) but because I was terribly sick; which brings me to my other topic: French Healthcare. 

On the Friday before exams, my throat started hurting. One of those regular, “it hurts to swallow, my lymph nodes are sensitive, I caught a cold,” types of sick, except that my gum was starting to hurt too. By Saturday morning it was “my throat is closing, it’s covered in white grossness and my gum is so swollen (where a wisdom tooth was taken out five years ago) that it is ripping off my tooth…and I can’t move my mouth”. This is where my experience in the coveted French Healthcare system starts. First trip: pharmacy. For 15CAD I got lozenges, anti-inflammatories and pain relievers. Unfortunately they didn’t help, and I decided to wait another day. Sunday was only worse, and I didn’t sleep all night, so I called a taxi at 9:06am, the taxi was at my flat at 9:20 and I told the cabby to rush me off to the hospital. There are two hospitals in Lille: a private one, run by the Catholic University, and a public one (where I went) just outside of the city.  

Inside a real French house converted into medical clinic. Very welcoming for a usually quite sterile environment.

The public one covers a territory similar to our Main Campus and was something I was quite impressed with. Instead of having just one Emergency section they had an Emergency building for children, for adults, for pregnant women, for cardiac problems, for dental emergencies, etc. I thought that that was great, because it broke up the waiting lines accordingly. Actually, I was the only patient signing into the emergency room, which gave me a lot of hope that I would be looked at soon. Unfortunately, the throat-mouth-and-ears doctor was not in yet, and I waited for over an hour (still better than the eight hours I’ve had to wait at the U of A hospital). Diagnosis: an exemplary bronchitis and the strep test took only 5 min, not one week. Price: free. Prescription: three more types of drugs and direction to see an emergency dentist the next day for my gum. With detailed explanations on how to get to the only pharmacy open on Sundays, and where the dentistry faculty is, I metro-ed home relieved. The next day, the student dentists fit me in, even though they were booked full, and took care of me well. Diagnosis: unknown. Price: 28CAD. Prescription: kill-all-germs mouthwash (13 bottles) and a freezing-gum tissue-regeneration spray. Those last drugs were the best, and after 4 sleepless nights and 4 days without eating anything but 1 Activia and 1 soup a day, I could finally breathe. 

After just two days of getting medication (half of my loot)

Next problem: that was Monday, exams started Wednesday. The symptoms only started to let go on Tuesday, which is when I started studying, and was by then having a break down. I don’t fail exams, and now I was thinking I would fail all and would have travelled all the way to France to study and would have no credits to bring back to show for it. Tip 1: this is panic. Never let it get in the way of thinking, just push on forward. Lesson learned 2: This experience in France enriched me more than I ever thought; the credits would just be the cherry on top. Just making it through alone was a huge accomplishment in itself. Never get discouraged. 

The exams did go well though. I did get enough sleep every night, I reviewed over some notes the night before or the morning of, just lightly on a fresh head, and because I attended every class, I was able to recall the big lines of the lectures and regurgitate them on paper. However, I purposefully didn’t study for Finance. Not only was it the last one to write, but out of the 15 rooms assigned for the exam, 5 of them were make-up exams, including two lecture halls…and the students making them up dated from 2005. I thought I had no chance of passing anyway, but, when I received the copy and realized that it would have been easy had I just spent a little time, I learned Tip 1, which I will never forget. No panic should ever stop anyone…just keep pushing on and studying, even if you think it’s futile. Always. 

The organization side of EDHEC still baffled me, as they did forget to assign us “French Track exchange students” into rooms for two exams, and we had to start 20 min late, and only posted rooms the night before or the morning of, but that is just something that will probably always have to baffle me. 

Also, I did have to go back to the doctor the day before I left France, because the first antibiotics weren’t strong enough. In one week, I accumulated 130CAD of medicine (or 35 boxes, bottles, pills, capsules, washes, and sprays). But I learned some valuable lessons along the way – this sickness being paired with exams taught me that I can handle a lot when in a foreign country by myself. (Just know where hospitals and doctors are in advance and learn/write down those key words!). Never get discouraged. I am feeling better now. 

The street where I live...finally warming up in Lille (can almost smell some flowers)

Blogs to follow: my arrival into the gorgeous Oestrich-Winkel, where Sid is currently studying, and a trip to Hungary – a country of contrasts and my trip down memory lane. 

Healthiness to everyone, and until next time, 

Elena

Saturday shopping frenzy in Lille

On another note, I have just realized it has been a month since I blogged! I am very sorry about that, I should have been more on the ball. In the mean time, I went to a film festival for short films, one of the biggest in Europe after Cannes, I just came back from Paris again (another amazing trip), and religiously went out to my new favourite club called Network Café (finally a place where dancing nonstop till dawn is both possible and necessary!). Shopping has also been an activity because I have now reached a crisis with all the things I own. Let me explain. Being the savvy packer and world traveller that I am, I packed my best and most favourite things, and I packed light. This means I only brought one pair of jeans, my most coveted, and one pair of black boots that go with everything and a few other statement items. I’ve been walking so much that I rubbed a whole through my jeans, at an unfavourable spot, re-sewn them, and ripped through them again. This week, I broke through the inner lining of my boots and cracked the plastic structure that holds the heel in place (making walking not a pleasure anymore (I have rolled/torn my ankle three times already during the course of this trip). My carry-on suitcase broke, two of my belts split, sweaters have holes in them, tops are coming apart, and passport holder snapped… the list amounts to 24 things already. Each time something breaks I just want to surrender but I can’t do anything else but laugh. Good thing though…Italy is next month and I have no worries that it will all be replaced better, brighter, shinier, (and more durable) than before.

Yummy desserts in a world famous Lille patisserie "Le Meert"

My biggest point to mention, however, is that I came on this exchange for too short of a time. I wish so much that I was staying longer. Exams will soon be over, and then I have a month of travelling before I come back to Canada to start spring semester. The friends that I have made here are incredible, and the opportunities to enjoy oneself are unsurpassed. I feel like I haven’t had enough time here and just when EDHEC started to feel like home, I have to leave. Advice to all, if going abroad, make sure to double check that your trip is not for three months only, or you will have a very hard time leaving. Go at least for six and don’t look back. You will experience things that you in no possible way can by just sitting at home, and doing the regular things a student at home does. The people are amazing, the locations to explore are fascinating, and all the little discoveries you make will stay with you for life.

Student trip to Musée de la Piscine (lit. Pool Museum) in Roubaix. An industrial revolution communal pool that was converted into Roubaix's fine arts palace. Also home to haute couture fashion shows and concerts.

I have one other piece of advice, if you’re a girl and travelling alone for exchange to a metropolitan city, especially in winter, where the sun goes down by 7pm, make sure you get pepper spray right away. Even if everyone tells you it’s safe, and you really feel that it is, there is a big difference when you know you have it on your side.  Ladies, travel safe. Nothing is worth the risk.

And on that happy note, I will continue with my studying so I can fit some more partying in before I leave Lille! I will update very soon:).

Having fun at the Rodin Museum in Paris on a Sunday morning

Bisous!

Elena

View from hotel room - lovely Montrmatre

Under the Eiffel Tower at night

Having fun in Versailles - the Queen's bedroom

Our walking destination, la Grande Arche, only 30 min of walkin left.

Impromptu parade at l'Arc du Triomphe - being at the right place at the right time.

Yummy tarts at a Patisserie

Being cultural tourists - Getting to Versailles

Sid came over from Germany last Wednesday, with train problems yet again, (they always seem to be messing up), and we packed that evening with intense grocery shopping (my fridge was reduced to 2 Activia yoghurts and a tomato) and to the Palais des Beaux Arts for a nocturnal exhibition just for students. The exhibition was pretty cool, and the night ended with an artistic film about flowers and connecting quivering light dots that was made much longer than anyone should have had the right to do. It was accompanied with electro music and a live violinist. But honestly, a person can only take so many flowers and light dots in one sitting. The audio-visual artist who put it all together is Quayola, with the film called “Natures”, if anyone is interested.

But the excitement really started Friday. After coming back from my earliest class yet (8am-9h30 – Excel Basics), I packed my suitcase and sped off with Sid to the train station. Cruising in first class on the TGV to Paris, proudly munching on Canadian Beef Jerky, was exciting – an adventure was about to start.

First night - Arc du Triomphe

Arriving 1hr later, we metro-ed off to our hotel in the beautiful Montmartre. Note, when arriving to the Abesses metro station…do NOT take the stairs, a lesson I forgot from previous trips. The stone spiral staircase probably has at least 10 flights, and when armed with luggage, as well as a hotel room that’s on the 5^th floor of an elevatorless building, the stairs are not your friends. The room was really nice, balcony and everything, but no time for rest! We sped off to l’Arc du Triomphe, then walked to the always stunning Eiffel Tower, which was sparkling in the night sky. Unfortunately, the top of the Eiffel Tower was closed, so we have to save the trip to the top for another Parisian visit.

Jardin de Tuileries in front of the Louvre. Too bad its winter.

Saturday was equally packed. The Louvre started off our daily adventure (via Place de la Concord and Jardin de Tuileries), with a lovely, albeit expensive, lunch at the Café Mollien, tucked away in the museum. Unfortunately again, my favourite section of the museum, the Greek Sculptures, was closed, but the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo still had their pictures religiously taken. With walks along the Seine and a peek inside Notre Dame, the day ended with the most amazing dinner in the Latin Quarter. People, when you are in France, have “Raclettes”. It is the most delicious thing on Earth. It is a fondue of special cheese that you spread over potatoes and eat with a meat of your choice, like duck, which is tender and thinly sliced. Super super delicious.

Infamous Hall of Mirrors in Versailles...quite modestly decorated, no?

Sunday started with the honorary trip to Versailles. Note 2, also when in France, visit the most expensive museums the first Sunday of the month, which it was, because it’s free. For those who don’t know, Versailles is the luxurious palace of Louis XIV-XVI. Think of  Marie Antoinette with Kirsten Dunst. After Versailles, I wanted to show Sid la Grande Arche. It is perfectly lined up with the Arc du Triomphe, only like its super modern bigger sister. Thing is, I forgot which metro station it was at, but figured that if we could see it from Arc du Triomphe, we could just walk there. Not such a cool idea. We ended up walking for probably two hours. Not only did we pass the sign that said exiting Paris, entering Town X, we also passed the sign that read exiting Town X, entering Town Y. Yes…I made us walk through three cities to get to this futuristic site. Note 3, do not travel with me.  However, do by the books I swear by for travelling, Frommer’s (Insert City Name Here) Day by Day. They are literally the best if you only have a few days in the best places on earth.

We did end up staying an extra day in Paris, so we parted ways on Monday, me going back to Lille, and Sid to Oestich-Winkel. My spring/winter break starts on Feb 15, and ends the 23^rd so I am already planning for next week. I’ll have an impromptu trip to Belgium for a day with my Russian friend, and Paris to go to the Hungarian Embassy to prolong my visa-less status! (But that’s a long and stressful story).

Our Exchange Students class in one of eight main lecture halls. Discussing what we hate and love about France, according to our origin countries.

Finally, I also want to mention that I had a really cool European classroom experience. In a class for exchange students, topic: French Accounting, the prof spoke to the class in English, asked another girl and I questions in Russian, to which we would respond in French. I thought that was ridiculously awesome, to have such a multi-lingual/cultural exchange in a random class…definitely a globalized experience.

Spring Break madness to report next time!

Bisous !!

Elena

(Last Note: Holders of the International Student Identity Card (ISIC), we have only been able to use it once so far, ironically, at the Musée d’Eroticisme. Yes, that is what ISIC helps us students do, visit a museum of phallic sculptures.)

As the title claims, yes, I finally feel like I have settled in to this city named Lille.

The last week flew by, as I am sure weeks are flying by in Edmonton too. I’m pretty sure this means that everything is no longer new and that life is passing at its regular fast speed. I have now finally had at least one lecture for all my classes, and I am actually done all the lectures for one course!

As I have mentioned before, schedules seem to change last minute. I got to experience that first hand as one of my 9:30am classes was moved from one lecture hall to another in a building 10min away (one that I have never heard of) half an hour before the start of class! If I hadn’t run in to a classmate who was on her way there, I would definitely not have known. And, if you’ve read Sid’s blog, it was led by that infamous prof who orchestrates his financial formulas and whispers profound “Voilà”s after each conclusion.  It is just as funny if you do understand the language…if not funnier.

Sadly, I can’t say that I have gone out much this week; I was so exhausted after the Tuesday before last (there was a yearly Striptease party at the student’s nightclub), that I still haven’t been able to recuperate. Some days, I sleep 6 hours a day, and others, like last night, 20 hours. I am sure you can all relate. However, the parties here are still worth mentioning. This Tuesday there was a “Choppe’n’Shop” party, whereby if you kiss someone in front of a certain association, they give you a free shot. Or, Open Champagne parties, where the booze is endless, or this week, we will have Open Chocolate, sponsored by Hagen Dazs…something to do with continuous ice-cream and chocolate syrup…a student life like no other.

Best hot chocolate in the world!

I did however go out on the town last night for some higher class cultural entertainment. Oh yes, I went to a conference in the Opera House about a certain rendition of the ballet Gisèle. It was quite interesting, I must admit, and now I can’t believe I still haven’t gone to a single ballet or play since I got here. After that, I did a tour in Vieux Lille (Old Lille) where there are narrow winding streets and shops everywhere. A friend showed me a popular hangout, the café Kremlin, a small café/bar decorated with tons of nostalgic communist propaganda and the longest Vodka menu I have ever seen (and being Russian, that says a lot!). Vodka, sadly, I didn’t have, but they have the most amazing hot chocolate ever.

Wazemmes market on a Sunday morning

Me at Wazemmes. Still tired from my long sleep!

Sunday morning, I went the Wazemmes market, an open air market for everything from the south, be it from France or from the other side of the Mediterranean. The selection varied from cheap clothes and shoes, to flowers, to produce of all kind. I was always kind of shocked, like most North Americans, that all stores are closed here on Sundays, but now that I went to the market, I see that there is no need for them to be open.

The traditionnal roast chicken and potatoes at the market. It is what the Lillois eat on their Sunday outings.

Sunday is a great day to go out with the family, to buy some fresh produce for the coming days, and spend some time outside in the crowd eating traditional roasted chicken and potatoes.

Bargaining for fruits and veggies. ie: lots of yelling in every language

Flower merchants at the end of the day.

I am also proud to say that I have finally acquired a taste for beer. My first favourite, Leffe 9, a Belgian beer like no other, apparently not the best there is, but for me it was by far enough. So next time you guys go out on Whyte Ave or Jasper, see if there’s any Leffe available. I have a need to share this new love, and it might mix up your guys’ drinking routine as well.

Cheers!
Elena

P.S. I’m going to Paris (with Sid) this weekend for the first time since two years (it’ll be my 4^th time altogether), and I’m interested to see how it has changed.  I have a long list of best hidden cafés, bars and boutiques to visit. Mission: discover “hidden-gem” non-touristy Paris.

A full week of school has now passed and it has definitely been an experience. I am enrolled in eight classes, all taking place randomly in two months, with most exams worth 100 per cent of my final mark!

Finance and Tax Law is just killing me, but Marketing and Human Resources is actually really fun. The profs, apart from one I had a seminar with today, are amazing and keep me awake through the whole three to six-hour-long hour lectures.

Of course, that might be just me, as the rest of the students seem as enthused as us U of A-ers sitting in the Tory Lecture Theatre with several hundred of our classmates.

Here, I feel more than ever that I am getting a very “global” education.

For Logistics and Production, the prof constantly refers to how things are done in Japan and then applied in France. Or in Human Resource Management, we learn about the techniques so intensely put in place in North American firms and how they can be integrated in French business culture.

I feel fortunate to not have a language barrier that would make it brutal to take all these classes in French, although it was interesting when an hour into a lecture I learned we were discussing International Tax Law for branched and subsidiaries…I had no idea what was happening there just ‘cause the terminology is different.

The crazy random schedule has its pros and cons too. The bad is that there is nothing fixed to rely on, but the good is that every day is different, usually with many sleep-ins and several gaps for travelling.

The week has been jam packed with parties, outings and grocery shopping, but the highlight was definitely the trip to IKEA.

Shopping at IKEA! Home away from home.

Two fellow internationals and I headed to IKEA (two towns away, equivalent to a 15 minute metro ride). That was one of the most satisfying shopping trips ever, as it made my bland room feel beautifully decorated and welcoming. And having lunch in their restaurant was satisfying to my stomach and my wallet.

The three of us did note how everything in the “French IKEA” was cooler and better decorated…although that was probably just a “the grass is greener…” situation.

My most important discovery here, so far, is the way in which these students party.

It’s different, refreshing and I like it: most clubs here are closed on the weekends. That’s right; they make all their profits during the week.

That is because students here party hard Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. The weekend’s purpose is to recuperate and rest.

Why do I like this system better? If school is only for weekdays and partying is for weekends, then every day is spent preparing for that day’s main purpose and you never have full opportunities to have some Zen time because each day is always chopped up.

Here, however, all possible outings are done at once and then you have two full uninterrupted days to spend on you.

Sid and I at Place de la Republique, by the Palace of Fine Arts, 2nd in France only to the Louvre.

Also much worth mentioning: Sid, my fellow U of A School of Business blogger, came to visit me from Germany, after only having been there for one week.

His trip to get here was crazy and I know I would have never survived, had it been me. I will leave the juicy details for him to tell you, but as a spoiler, it involved a sleepless night in Paris, a 24-hour café, and two strangers off the train station.

I must say that I have written this whole blog during a marketing seminar. The seminar is three hours long with two of the hours consecrated to us doing a brand analysis on Senseo (first to bring European coffee pods into the American market) and its position in the coffee world, entirely on our laptops.

On that note, I hope everyone enjoys their multiple daily coffees and tries to remember to drink water, as it is vital to keep up the much-needed energy for our student lifestyle. Until next time,

Elena