A working life
Archive for November, 2008
TP: IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH
Nov 6th
At THIS very moment the blog is about 2 weeks old, one of which I was absent. So far the feeling of blogging is good and I enjoy alot the comments and feedback I get!
At the moment I feel very bad. As I told you in the last post, I’m on my way to re-catch the holiday cold from Paris. It was painstaking to complete today’s two exams (the ones we do not speak of), but I guess I can use the illness as an excuse not to do very well on either of them.
I was invited by Etienne at the BEE to talk to a group of Lycée students (high school?). The whole thing was quite nice, they had to ask questions in English and I could answer in English (me having the upper hand). I think they did quite well, considering that the French in general speak English very poorly.
I also had one hour of French course today before the English meeting with Etienne and his group. Our French teacher (Any) was as always talking a lot and we had trouble getting a word in. But I like her, it’s not too bad (Elle est sympa).
Right now I’m dead tired and my head weights at least 25kg. It’s time for bed, I have 8 hours of mandatory TP tomorrow(the French TP, sorry. TP = Traveau pratique = Lab) – hoping to feel better then.
PS. I now see that the post isn’t short at all, sorry for letting my mind wonder. DS.
NO HAT-TRICK
Nov 5th
It’s about living in France and experiencing the French university system.
I came home from the holiday on Sunday, I hope you’ve read the posts and looked at the pictures!
Monday I was back to school, with a lot to do! I’ve been studying like a madman the past three days to be able to figure out how to survive – not one, but two exams on Thursday! When they’d already put in two – why not go for the hat-trick?!
In the meantime I’ve managed to get my holiday cold in return (the one I got in Paris). My head is heavy as never before and my throat hurts. I’m trying not to complain, it’s my fault anyway.
I’m amazed on how INSA manages to set up two exams on the same day, and they are even successive, only 15 minutes brake in between. This is a problem because I have extra time (for being a foreigner and all). So I might not have time to finish the first exam before the second starts. I love it …
When that is said, I’m now feeling confident that I won’t do great on these two tests. Time will show – I will update on that later!
TOUSSAINT: DAY 3-4 (PARIS)
Nov 5th
Day 3 – 27th:
The first problem we encountered in Paris was the one of finding the correct line to buy the Carte Orange – the metro card. After some asking and pointing we found the correct one an bought the tiny tickets (2x4cm). Day 5 we found out that we were supposed to have a card (with picture) in order to have a valid ticket.. This essential piece of info was forgotten by the man selling us the tickets.
Our hostel in Paris was the Friends’ hostel just next to the metro station Berbès-Rochechouart a few minutes away from Sacre coeur. The first night we couldn’t get a room together so I slept in a different room than Geir, Cate and Nina (Juha and Tom booked room at a seperately from us four).
After leaving our bags we went out to see the city. At the Berbès-Roche station I almost got my wallet stolen. It was completely my fault – I had it in my backpocket. Luckily I sensed the pickpocketing before the wallet had left my backpocket.
After this somewhat shocking experience we headed for Sacre Coeur, only 5 minutes to walk from our hostel.
Sacre Coeur by night
Two sentences about Sacre Coeur:
Situated on top of Montmartre, the Sacre Coeur basilica is located on the highest point of Paris. It’s building of the Paul Abadie designed basilica started in 1875 but the last tavertine stone wasn’t laid until 1914 due to a “quarrel” about it’s daring design.
From left: Me, Juha, Geir and Tom
After enjoying the view we took the cable cars down from Montmartre (it’s not far down, like two minutes to walk – but it was free with our Carte Orange ticket …) and headed for Moulin Rouge! We wanted to go, but with the cheapest ticket going for more than 70€ we soon figured out that it wasn’t going to happen. Instead we took the metro to the Eiffel tower.
Left: Sparkling every hour at night! Right: Cool car!
There we saw the marvelous sparkling show that is every hour and tried to get a coffee before going home. Once again it was very expensive (seems to be like that around great landmarks), so we skipped it and left for the hostel.
Day 4 – 28th:
A new and beautiful day in Paris makes you smile, even though you didn’t sleep much because of intense heat in your room. I got up at 8h30 and everyone went to buy baguettes. Breakfast in front of Sacre Coeur. We skipped visiting the Sacre Coeur dome (you can get up to roof level) because the crypt (also included in the ticket) was closed.
Dead sad from the fact that we didn’t go to the Sacre Coeur crypt, we took metro line 2 Cimitère du Père-Lachaise, a graveyard with famous people. We actually spent more than two hours walking around in the graveyard seeing the grave of Jim Morrison, Edith Piaf, Oscar Wilde and Chopin himself. I started to feel a bit off myself. A running nose and a heavy head – hoping it isn’t something serious.
Tired of the dead?
Tom’s precious Welsh Dragon eating lunch in front of Notre Dame
We took the metro back to the center and ate our lunch in front of Notre dame (We always eat in front of great landmarks). After lunch we entered Notre dame, a beautiful church! Cate then went back to the hostel to rest, the others tried to find coffee, but again it was extremely expensive. But we wouldn’t give in this time and we succeeded – Quick gave us coffee!
Notre dame
We had a fast “been there done that” visit to Centre Pompidou. Tom didn’t like it – at all:
“There’s only one thing I have to say about that, quel bordel!”
(Quel bordel = what a mess)
Centre Pompidou. Known for having it’s piping on the outside
We didn’t go to the exhibition, which I think was a mistake, looking back on it – maybe next time. We bought dinner at the Les Halles shopping mall. Cate and Juha made a delicious dinner. I went to bed early to get rid of my cold, my head was heavier than ever.
More vacation stuff in a later post!
"SCARY" (IT'S THE SAME IN FRENCH)
Nov 4th
Another small thing. I suddently got into the region of “Recommended” blogs on iPublish.no. Not bad in my opinion, and thumbs up for Thomas Moen.
I just got home from the Halloween party I told you about and now want to share my costume. Well it’s not really a costume, but I looked awfully scary. White skin, a blue eye and real blood running from my mouth. That’s what you get when you ask Cate to do your make-up!
PS. Another thing (again). If you’re a Norwegian blogger: There is a Facebook group available for you.
AFTER A WEEK AWAY
Nov 3rd
Today it’s Monday and I have to learn two courses before Thursday (I have two exams that day). In addition, I have a report to do AND a third exam next week.
I’m fully booked for this week, but somehow I’m still going to tonights Halloween party. Life is weird :)
Something else, a photo of the Bordeaux travelers:
The travelers of Bordeaux
