Classes and Traveling

With my classes now in full swing, I thought it might be a good time for another post. So much has happened my first 3 weeks here, its hard to think back and remember everything. I'm sure I won't be able to think of everything.

The courses are going well. Since my first post, I have had a slight change in schedule, due to some issues with the course that was offered as Real-Time Systems. I have switched to a Software Engineering course, and I think the change has made things much better, especially for future semesters back home at Embry-Riddle. The grades here are on a scale from 0 - 20, 20 being the best (although from what I hear, its nearly impossible to get a 20). I haven't received an actual grade on homework or labs yet, so I can't say how the grading scale compares.

The cafeterias on campus are really interesting. When you have a prepaid meal card, you get a large lunch for 3 €! Here's an example of a meal from the cafeteria:

Unfortunately, every student on campus eats at the exact same time, so the lines are really long. But the prices and quality of food are both very good.

This weekend, some friends and I went to Mont Blanc, which is the tallest mountain in the Alps and in Europe. We rented a car and drove to the closest town, Chamonix, and stayed at a bed and breakfast. We  were able to ride a cable car up a mountain called Aiguille du Midi, which has an altitude of 3842 m (12,602 feet), 900 meters shorter than Mont Blanc. We were able to take many great photos from the top of this mountain. Here are some of the better photos of the day:

This was taken on the way to Mont Blanc, in a town called Chambéry.

Annecy, France

The bed and breakfast near Mont Blanc, in Chamonix

Mont Blanc is the tall, round mountain towards the left (shot from the top of Aiguille du Midi).

A panoramic shot of the range, from the top of Aiguille du Midi

My friends and I. From left to right: Me, Jaime, Lina, and Jean

I hope to do more traveling throughout France and other countries in Europe, if money and classwork permit.

Lastly, I wanted to say a few more differences I've noticed with the culture. Thankfully, some of these things are not personal observations, but taught to me:
- Tipping is not necessary at restaurants. You can, but it is not expected.
- It is considered rude to ask to take food home from a restaurant. Also, expect to spend a few hours for a dinner.
- Tax is included when the price is listed. Usually things are rounded to the nearest euro.
- You have to bag your own groceries at the market, and the bags are usually not given to you. You buy a large, reusable bag (or several) and bring it with you each time you shop.
- The first floor is not the Floor #1, but rather the ground floor. So the floor above that is the first, then second, etc. Think of it as counting from zero.

I'm sure there are others, but I will post more later. My French language courses will start next week, but I have learned some French in the meantime.

Registration and Classes

I have finally registered at UJF! The process was long, but now that I have my student ID card, I have access to a lot, including internet on campus, buying a meal card, going to the library, etc. We have not really started classes, except for a Labview class I had yesterday, and a Real-time modeling class I should've attended today, scheduled for the same time as orientation.

Some interesting observations:
- They do not teach with textbooks. The concept of a textbook was lost on a few professors, actually. They simply teach the lectures and assign homework/exams. At least I don't have to buy books!
- Each department of the university maintains their schedule for their courses, which may change from week-to-week. Unfortunately, each of my classes is in a different department, which means attending several different orientations and managing several different schedules, making sure no classes overlap.
- They use Azerty keyboards in France. (Here's a link to what those look like: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b9/KB_France.svg). It is very difficult to type. I think I will be using my laptop on campus frequently.

Yesterday, I tried to put my ATM card into an ATM here that has an agreement with my bank in America. It ate the card. It took it, did not respond, and didn't give it back. I went inside to ask them to help, and the lady said to wait until Friday. I can't believe they can't retrieve the card before then! Right now, I have no way of getting money. It was my first truly negative experience here. I was not happy.

I will post after some more of my classes have started. I hope to start posting in French as well soon. I am learning it slowly. The formal French classes don't start for another month I believe

I Have Arrived

I am here now in Grenoble, France. I arrived yesterday around 1 or 2pm, local time here. I took a train from Lyon, France to Grenoble, which took about an hour, and cost 25 €. Then, I learned that the bus I need to get to my housing does not run on Saturdays. So I took a taxi up there for 12 € (might have been ripped off a bit).

My room is small, but so far, I like it. The students staying here are very diverse, although most have a better grasp on French than I do (hopefully that will change soon). Tomorrow I will meet at the Université Joseph Fourier for orientation, and to meet with Dr Thiriet. Here are some pictures of the housing: Le Rabot

I have already experienced great food, and a bit of the French/European culture. So far, it has been very positive. Everyone greets each other and is polite. If you try to speak French, they will usually try to help. Of course, switching to English is possible for most, but it is discouraged to start speaking English with a local. This is my experience, anyway. The streetlights are much smaller, and easy to miss. I am glad I won't be doing much driving. I will post pictures of the city/university later.

Almost Ready to Go

It is 9 o'clock at night, and I am almost fully packed for my flight at noon tomorrow. I will be arriving at the airport in Lyon, France on Saturday around noon, which is 6 am EST.

This being my first post, I just want to say that I plan on discussing a few different topics regularly. I will talk about my observations of French culture (or other cultures depending on where I travel) and some of the differences I encounter. I will also talk about my academic experiences. As a Computer Engineering student, I will be taking courses such as Real-Time Systems, Telecommunication Systems, and Operating Systems.

I will try and post pictures, and maybe even videos. My next post will hopefully be from my dorm room or at Université Joseph Fourier.

Also, since I will hopefully be learning French along the way (I know very little French right now), I may try to post things in both languages. We'll see.