Bonjour from Strasbourg!
It has been a little over three weeks since I arrived in Strasbourg.? Oh, how time has flown by!? I began my European adventure in Brussels, Belgium, before coming to Strasbourg.? This was super helpful because it allowed me to adjust to the time zone and start my semester off with a fun adventure.? Arriving in Strasbourg was a little intimidating.? It is a bigger city than I expected it to be, and getting around the first day was a little confusing.? However, once I found my dorm and began settling in, Strasbourg felt like home.
One of my biggest fears before coming to Strasbourg was that I did not speak French.? The language barrier is not nearly as bad as I expected it to be! The more I am around the language, the more I am picking up.? Although I am nowhere near able to have a conversation in French, it is not as daunting to try to speak the language and have very basic conversations with the people.? The only problems I?ve encountered with the language is when trying to get medical help.? Overall, I?ve met people who will translate for me or I can figure out what?s going on with context clues.? The culture is completely different here than back home.? In France, you can be at a restaurant for hours and unless you ask, you won?t get the check for a couple more hours!? At every corner, you can find a caf? or bakery with the best bread or croissants.? Also, walking.? Walking is big here and I love it!? If something is a twenty minute walk away, that?s no problem!? Very rarely have I been in a car or taken public transportation while in Strasbourg.
My experience with EM Strasbourg, my university, has been nothing but positive.? There was a full week dedicated to orientation and getting us ready for classes.? Here, the international office explained how the French school and grading system works.? Although confusing at first, it makes perfect sense after attending a couple classes!? Class schedules are the biggest difference so far between A&M and EM Strasbourg.? Here in France, your schedule can change every week!? Some weeks, I will have all five of my classes, but the next week, I may only have one.? The classes all start at different times too.? I still have not had a session for two of my classes and it?s almost February!? Another major difference is that you only go to class one time a week for three hours.? Before attending classes, this seemed like it would be extremely difficult, but the professors give 10-15 minute breaks halfway through the lesson.
The international organization at the university has also been good about planning events for exchange students to meet other students and make friends.? There are students from all over the world here.? I have met people from most European countries and numerous countries from Asia and South America as well.? Everything is fast paced here when it comes to making friends.? You meet people on Monday and have a trip planned to another country for the weekend with the people you just met.? That?s the other nice thing about Strasbourg- the location.? With Flixbus or cheap flights/train rides, you can get pretty much anywhere you want to go for relatively good price.? The past three weekends, I?ve had the opportunity to go to Stuttgart, Germany; Z?rich and Lucerne, Switzerland; Vaduz, Liechtenstein; and Luxembourg City and Vianden, Luxembourg.? This next weekend, my friends and I are going to Porto, Portugal!? The travel opportunities are endless here!
In just three short weeks, I?ve learned so much about Strasbourg, France, Europe, and other cultures.? It definitely has not been easy adjusting to a new culture and a new country, especially since I?ve been sick a majority of my time here, but I am so excited to see what the rest of the semester holds.? If the next two and a half months are anything like my first month, this will easily be the best semester of my life.
