First school days, first observations

The class has begun on the Monday 6^th January. The first classes from each course were shorter: it was just introducing the topic, the teacher, and how the semester will go on (exams, evaluations, work, group presentations, book…).

I will spend almost my entire courses with Caroline and Jérôme Oudert.

The timetable is really light: there are just approximately 13 hours of class a week. But more preparation for each class is asked, by reading some pages of the book before each class. That’s why teachers wait for us more participation and implication in their course, and a grade on participation is dedicated.

Moreover the academic system is also different. It is much more independent than ours. People are not spread in classes, that mean they don’t stay with the same people for their whole courses. Here, as each student can choose his subject, they have their own timetable. It is a very independent way to work. Students come often alone or in small group in class, and don’t speak between each other during the lesson. In that way, they are more respectful towards the professor. But it is harder to speak to the others and so to meet people.

And I was rather disappointed about it. I knew before coming that academic system was more independent, but I did not think of this consequence. In fact, people meet each other more through the associations, evenings, parties, housing, than in class.

As I really wanted to meet people, I went to the “wellspring group”, that means the chaplaincy of the university, on the Monday evening. It was great! I met quite a few people, really nice and welcoming.

Concerning the apartment, the Canadian girls are really nice, really helpful. They inform us, when we need to have some pieces of information (about how getting that, where is that building…) and we went together to shop some stuffs. That is just a pity that we don’t eat together. The social aspect of the meal is not part of their culture. It is part of the adaptation process.

About the language point, that is not so easy, above all for the beginning. To understand, the professor in class or people in general, it is not so difficult. But to speak and to be understood it is harder, especially due to my very French accent. Even if we are French and come from “the country of luxury, fashion and gastronomy” and so on that people are quite “impressed” and pleased to welcome us, as we don’t speak very well, it is harder to meet people.

But things would come step by step. Let’s wait and see…