My Third Weekend at Angers

Last night an Algerian student and I watched the movie, Madame Bovary, on DVD in one of the two television rooms we have at Lakanal Residence Hall. The film stayed pretty close to the events in Gustave Flaubert's novel, Madame Bovary, although scenes were much shorter in the film. In addition, Madame Bovary's death was not drawn out in the film like it was in the novel. I also noticed where the film did not have Charles (Dr. Bovary) draw blood directly from Rodolphe, but from a woman whom Rodolphe brought in to Charles' office. In addition, at Emma's death scene, the daughter did not show up in the film, nor was she with her father, Charles Bovary, as he was dying from a broken heart. Anyway, it was interesting to view the film all in French and to make comparisons between the novel and film. My Algerian friend helped me speak French as I was critiquing the film, since she speaks excellent French.

It is the weekend here at the University of Angers and I am spending time in the library where I can access the computers. Since the library is closed on Sundays, I have no computer access on that day. I also walked to the small grocery store down the street and purchased all that I was able to carry back to my room. I spent about 11 euros on food today (equivelent to about 15 dollars in the U.S.) which will get me through a good part of the upcoming week. I seem to have to visit the grocery store twice a week to have enough food for all of my meals and snacks during each week. Plus, I can carry only so much at a time back to the Residence Hall. I prefer to make my own meals at the residence hall because it's cheaper that way on a student budget. I've noticed that I'm not the only student at the residence hall who is utilizing the community kitchens on each floor. It's amazing how many of us are preparing meals at any one time in these kitchens. Because the U.S. dollar is not very strong here right now, I'm trying to "cut corners" where ever possible, so that I can make my euros stretch. Traveling here is also costly, so that I am making the most of my classes and community relations here at Angers to help strengthen my French language. At this point in time, 230 euros is equivelent to 297.80 U.S. dollars; 195 euros is equivelent to 256.89 U.S. dollars. The exchange rate is even worse for the Australian students who are here.

I've been able to keep connected to my four bunnies in Maine while I am here. When I call home, Bob holds the portable phone up to the ears of each bunny so that I can talk to them. Bob says that each rabbit moves her snout under the telephone to get closer to my voice. I will continue doing this during my stay in France so that the bunnies don't forget me and don't feel abandoned by me. In the last three years I've never been away from my rabbits for a full day, since adopting them.

France seems to be very much into recycling and energy conservation. On the corner of my street here, there are four very large bins for sudents to drop off empty cans, cartons, jars, journals, newspapers, etc. In addition, the corridors are not heated in the building where I attend classes; the library is kept cool, as is the market where I shop for food. I therefore have to dress warmly where ever I go. It is also kept cool in the large recreation room of Lakanal residence hall where I live, although my own room is comfortable enough.

I want to write another bilingual article (in French and in English) for the Franco American journal, Le FORUM, while I am here this semester, so I'm trying to come up with a topic to address while living in France. I guess there is a lot I could write about. The Franco American Center at the University of Maine in Orono publishes Le FORUM about twice a year.

Well, I need to sign off for now so I can go do my laundry at Lakanal residence hall. I reserved one of the washer machines there for four o'clock today, which translates to 1600 hours here. In the meantime, keep coming back to my blog spot for updates.

End of My Second Week at Angers

During these first two weeks, Study Abroad students are encouraged to attend as many classes as possible, and then to choose their favorite classes and number of desired credit hours. Here, you literally count the number of hours each class meets per week; the classes meet only once a week. For example, if I need 12 credit hours for the semester, I need to enroll in 12 classes (if the classes meet for one hour per week). If I choose a two hour class and 10 one hour classes, that also adds up to 12 credit hours. Me, after trying out about 20 different classes between last week and this week, I've decided that I want to enroll in 16 of the classes, which will put me above 16 credit hours for the semester, since some of these classes meet for more than one hour per session. In addition, all Study Abroad students are tested on their French proficiency, and then offered three free classes (French language, Culture, and Conversation) which are not obligatory, based on their level of French proficiency. This is under the CUFCO program for exchange students. My test results put me in the middle-range of French Proficiency, so I plan to attend the three CUFCO classes. This will add up to 19 classes for me this semester. However, they all meet only once a week, and there are no assigned out-of-class readings or projects to do. Therefore, the set-up here is very different than at the University of Maine. It is another cultural difference for an exchange student to get use to. However, there are exams at the end of semester for many of the classes. Students are expected to take notes during class.

Since arriving here, I have also had to adapt to different climate and the clocks. By "clocks," I mean that it was still dark outside up to 9:00am in the morning during my first week here, while I was walking to and attending morning classes. It takes me 5-10 minutes to walk to classes from my residence hall. Consequently, I don't think they turn the clocks back here. Plus it stays light up to 6 pm. Go figure. As for the climate, for the most part it has been cold, rainy, windy, grey, with very little sunshine and blue sky. I'll take the snow with the sunshine in Maine. Even though there is no snow here, and the grass remains green, it is still quite chilly and the grass doesn' t grow. There are no leaves or buds on the deciduous trees and bushes. People still wear warm coats with scarves warmly wrapped around the neck, but I don't see many students with hats and gloves, although I wear my berret and gloves.

I tend to hang out with the French, since the American and Australian students hang out together and speak only English. My French won't improve in that situation.

I've started working on my CapStone project here at the University of Angers. My focus is on "being an Exchange Student at Angers" and on "being a Vegetarian here in France." I've already taken many photographs for my powerpoint presentation which Julie Nowell has offered to help me put together when I return to UM, as this will be my first powerpoint presentation. Julie is in the Native American Studies office. I will continue working on my CapStone during our February Break which begins February 14th, on Valentine's Day. It is for one week. It seems strange to have a one week break after just four weeks of classes. Then April 4th begins a two-week break. Classes end on May 20th and Final Exams go until June 3rd.

I find it interesting, as a student, that the standard size of paper here is about a half inch longer than in the United States. Therefore, my handouts from the classes here extend beyond the folder that I brought from the states. In addition, students here in France use "graph-paper" to take notes in classes. These are subtle cultural differences, but they still take getting use to.

The Angers University library stays open from 9:00am to 7:00pm Monday through Saturday. However, it closes with everything else on Sundays. Stores, including grocery stores, are not open Sundays in France. I remember when it use to be the same way in Maine.

Yesterday (Thursday), no classes were held at the University of Angers due to a national strike held by students. Over 70% of college/university professors support the cause and do not show up for classes along with most of the students. The French college students were striking against the budget cuts under the Sarcozy Administration, which make it difficult for students who want to become teachers, and for students to pay college-related expenses outside of what the government already pays for. In general, young people in France can go to college at the expense of the government. But apparently not all college-related expenses are covered by the government. In general, the college students here do not seem very impressed with their President, Sarcozy. However, there is much talk about Maroc Obama among the professors and students here, and President Obama and his administration is well covered in the newspapers and journals in France.

After reading the French novel, Madame Bovary, in Kathryn Slott's 19th Century French Literature class last semester, today I was able to borrrow the film (on DVD) from the University of Angers library. The film is based on the novel by Gustave Flaubert. Since there is a television with a DVD player at my residence hall (Lakanal), I will be able to watch the film tonight.

I'll sign off for now, since it is going on 6:30pm and I'm hungry. Last night, in the community kitchen on my floor of Lakanal Residence hall, I cooked up some pasta with tomato sauce and brocoli, along with a side salad and a baguette. I have left-overs for tonight. Yum!

End of the First Week

I was delightedly surprized to find some useful things for my room that were left behind by Orono students and American students who have already been here: hangers for my closet, dishes, pans, utensils, towels, etc. I feel fortunate having my own private bathroom attached to my room. In addition, my room has a small refrigerateur and plenty of storage space and desk surface. I have all the things I need to prepare my own meals in the community kitchen on my floor of the residence hall. I am able to shop for food at a small food market within 10 minutes walk. I'm not able to find all of my favorite food items there, but there are some soy and organic products there. There is a supermarket in the center of Angers which I plan to visit by bus sometime soon. I will also attempt to find a Health Food Store and a fabric store. Preparing dinner in the community kitchen on my floor gives me the opportunity to meet and speak French with the French students on my floor. Already I have had some great conversations in French.

By now I am pretty much over the jetlag. In fact, I attended eight classes this week, where I discovered that I was able to participate in classroom conversations. In that case, I discovered how well the University of Maine has prepared me for this French immersion. I'm trying courses in literature, journalism, translation and oral expression of French, Mythology, poetry, grammer, cinema, art history, contemporary history, and French language & the francophonie. This week I took a French language proficiency test which will help establish what level of French classes I will take following next week. These are classes especially for foreign students who are trying to master French language. Incidentally, since all classes meet only once a week, students here will enroll in up to 18 classes. Most classes are only for one hour per week, whereas others are one and one half hours, with a few at two hours. I have seen a three hour class listed, but those seem to be an exception. This is the reason why I have been trying out many courses; they meet only once a week. It seems very different than in the states. There are other comparisons I will make later on. Until then, please continue to follow my blog-site and feel free to send me your comments (just click on comments). Or, I also have an e-mail address here at Angers: virginia.sand@etud.univ-angers.fr

My First Week Here!

First, I want to comment on how comfortable my two flights were; with Delta from Bangor to N.Y., and with Air France from New York to Paris. I was well fed on both flights, especially with a grand vegetarian dinner on Air France (très impressive), with my own television viewing screen and ear-phones at my seat. I also met some wonderful people to converse with during my flight and while waiting for my flight.

It's amazing how many travelers there are in the world. It's taking me twice as long to type this text, compared to at UM, because the keyboards are set up differently here in France. Some of the keys are the same, but others are in another location. I think it will take some adapting like so many other things around here, which I will address along the way.

During my first week here, I have made my room feel like home, plus I have attended several classes, which we have been encouraged to do. In fact, my French has improved already. I'm on my way to another class now, so I'll sign off until later. Continue to check my blogspot!

I finally arrived at Angers

This is my sixth day at the University of Angers in Angers, France. My trip was not without stress and frustration. My connecting flight at BIA in Bangor was one and one half hours late, so I missed my Air France flight at JFK airport in N.Y. However, AirFrance put me on another flight perhaps three hours later, so that I still arrived in Paris in plenty of time to catch my train reservation. It was difficult for me to transfer and carry or pull my luggage, backpack, and tote bag to the train, then loading and unloading from the train and buses, then to bring all my belongings up eight flights of stairs to my residence room. There are no elevators in my residence hall.