Bonsoir, Bonjour pour vous,
I am glad to announce that my internet is working! Hoorah... Let's start from the beginning shall we...
I left NY... was on the plane, the food was great... I remember I had beef and broccoli along with a great desert, 4 hrs later we had breakfast, We watched Rush Hour 3. Matt and I made a friend who happened to sit next to me. Her name was Annalisa Scilio, from LA California. She had big hooters, She was a very sweet and nice person to talk to. She was going to study in Seville, Spain. She knows un peu (a little) Spanish, so just like us, we will have to learn.
(Jan 31) Unfortunately, she will only be there for 95 days...short study. we left her at the Madrid Airport, which was grande(big) by the way. Although their design was not so attractive. we had to take the train to get to different terminal stops in the airport. To get out of the airport, we had to wait on the passsport control line, which was a very funny experience. There were several huge lines, and people were so anxious to get through this process, so when another gate opened for passport check, people immediately rushed to get to the gate, it was like a school of fish who were startled by a fisherman. we got through and had our visas stamped with a permission to visit the city.So taking the train, we took a trip to the city. Le ville est tres beu. Les voitures sont petite et rapid. I'll send you pictures of our stop. We tried to look for a place to eat, but we felt helpless because the signs all looked jumbled. we finally found a Huge plaza, similar to macy's but much larger. we went inside a grocery store, and bought some 3 cheese lasagnia for 2 euros...(see pictures), and 2L bottle of water for 0,31E, nice! The grocery even had a wall full of hanging meat. I regret to not have taken any pictures. so we got back on the train to the Aeropuerto (I have videos and pictures of the subway system). It took us a while to find the terminal where we were to board. Their terminals were so complicated, first there was terminal HJK, then after that the terminal diverged to H, J and K, then from there the terminals again divided from K1 to K99... the airport was big, so I guess they thought they didn't have enough letters and numbers to go around. The plane was small, we thought that we were going to ride on a propeller plane, which would have been super sweet! But we didn't and had to take the jet plane, which was skinny and long. we had to drive in a bus to get on the plane and walk on the tarmac because all the terminals on that end was full. I don't remember anything that went on after I got on the plane other than the stewardess asking me to wake up and if I was hungry. I even missed overlooking the snowy Pyranees Mountains which Matt and I and the other Americans here plan to visit.
So we landed, got our luggages... mon baggages sont tres durable. We met trois etudiante de INSA devant le entree du Aeroport autour le dix-sept heure. Leur nom est Cloe, Edite, et Etiane. Le trois personnes sont tres gentil. I lost my ability to speak french from then. Until we got to the campus and met other INSA students. Ryan arrived before Matt and I around 14:00 hours. We met Ryan in his room, then more Club BEE members. At around night time, we met 3 other Americans, from Austin Texas, Villy, Maggie, Lisa, Chris (speaks french). Our rooms are nice, Je suis en Promologis R3 salle nombre 1618 en le rez de chaussee.
(Friday, Feb 1), We met the other two three Texans the next day Lukas, Bruno (speaks French), Texas Matt, and an american from Clemson, South Carolina, name's Trip. We had a meeting with the La Direction des Relations Internationales (DRI). The Director was Lucien Baldas. We signed some papers confirming our registration and went over some rules for the school, seems very linient for a college. We did not see a lot of security around the campus except for a guy in a brown jacket and a mean German shepherd LOL. A le soir, we ate at a really good french pizzeria (I forgot the name of the pizzeria) a le Route de Narbone avec Cloe et Maxim. That night, the BEE celebrated our arrival at the P'tit Kawa, an on campus bar/club house where, I'll have to admit, I had a few drinks and talked the most french I thought I could at the time. Of course I understand and can speak more french now, but that moment was surprising. We met more French friends, Piere and Pierre, Amerique, Claire… can’t remember, and what’s his name, and la la la la la.
(Feb 2), The next day we were brought to the city by Pauline (la President du le BEE) et Sonia. We took the B line from Estation Rangueil to Jaun Jures. We met more study abroad students, Nancy (from Mexico) and Marcello (from Argentina). We walked through Centre Ville (see pictures). We bought groceries at a store called “Champion” cheapest goods in Toulouse. That night, we, I hate to admit again, went to a bar called "Cafe Populaire" or CafePop with our friend from club BEE Maxim (a guy). On the way back on the Ligne B we encountered spanish girls who were conversing making fun of us Americans, it was funny. We then travelled to Narbone street and walked our way back to INSA.
(Feb 3) On Sunday I did not find a nearby church so I just prayed in my room (see video). Our BEE friend Thomas and his girlfriend Fanny took les Ameriques to a Creperie called L'Embarcadare in sauvent du Monde(street name, no cars just people). This was when I tried to use my Bank of America card at BMP Paribas (I did not find one close to INSA). The crepes were amazing (see pictures). After the creperie, walked along Champion Canal, which by the way has a canal over a bridge (visualize a Canal and a bridge, with the autoroute(highway) passes under the Canal/bridge: see pictures). We walked, what we titled, a Norwegean mile to the outskirts of Centre Ville to a bar called De Danu, where we hoped to watch the American Superbowl game. I saw the first quarter, and then I left with the excitement of having our first French class the next day.
(Feb 4) I woke up early to feel lonely. I made friends with my neighbor, Cecilie, from Norway. Our French class was cancelled that day which made me feel a lot worst but there was a funny moment, (the secretary of the department of languages called the professor who happened to be sleeping and informed us that the class was to be postponed to Wed, as indicated in the email) lol we did not have any access to emails then. We waited until afternoon for our meeting to get the INSA cards and did not get them. We went to the DRI and asked if we could fix our problems and use the internet. That’s when I sent you all the first email. That night we had another gathering at the P’tit Kawa to meet more French dudes and gals. Free drinks were given and games were played. I took videos of the games (bebe futbol). I was invited to a Crepe party on Wed by Cecilie.
(Feb 5) We were surprised to find out that our Systems Dynamics class (expected to be at 9:30) was moved to 8:00am. !!!!!! so we took the next class at 2pm which was a Math Class (Linear Algebra). We made up for our missed class at 5pm. The professors were great. They knew their material by heart. They taught without notes. They spoke great English, and answered our questions with great detail. I like it here. That night, we decided to go to Centre Ville again to get som Kebabs (cheapest/fastest food in Centre ville). The others bought wine and liquor after that and walked for miles from the Jaune Jures station to St. Micheal (look at metro map) (see pictures). There was to be a quiz night at a bar “Mulligans” irish bar. I left without a drink and cooked dinner.
(Feb 6) We had our First French Class. The professor was great. She had bad teeth. But was slim and had a british accent for her English. There were only 8 of us Americans in the class, for 2 knew French already and one took French in another day. The class was long, but exciting, learned a lot and was impressed by the way she taught. She spoke mostly French in the class and took her time in getting us to understand what she expected from us. Matt Cannella said that the class we had that day was equivalent to one semester of French in High school. I didn’t believe it, but it was still good. Early morning, we had to submit our papers to the Promologis office to give our computer MAC address for the network. The secretary was HOT… (no picture sorry, her name Letitia, she even wrote it nicely on the white board). Fortunately we do not need to get a French bank account like the Texans do since, UB takes charge of the our payments. There was a Discotec at the P’tit Kawa that night, but I committed to go to Cecilie’s crepe night. She taught me how to make crepes (tres facil). I met several friends of hers, the coolest one was a mexican who played the guitar and sang many songs (the name’s Sam)(see video). I also found out that Cecilie was a friend of the two students I know from AIAA who also studied abroad two years ago. That night made me feel less lonely.
(Feb 7) Thurday was Math day again. I had a hard time catching up to the material and understanding the professor so I’ll have to look at resources before the next class. We finally were able to get our INSA cards and not pay for French Social Security. We also process the papers for internet login. There was a welcoming party too held by the DRI. They gave us lots of French Delights (see pictures) mostly chocolate and juice and jus avec rum. We talked to the faculty and shared out thoughts about the school and our experiences, which was nothing but pleasant so far.
(Feb 8) GOT THE INTERNET WORKING FINALLY!!!! Went to shop for my SIM Card… it so happened that there was a sale today, where I got my SIM card for 29E avec une telephone. I felt pity for my Texan friend Villy (who is of Indian ethnicity by the way) because he bought the same phone I got for 39E last Tuesday. After that, I got my Pastel card (Carte Pastel pour le Tisseo Metro Train). It allows me unlimited rides in the metro for 22E per month. Noticing the frequency of travels to Centre Ville, I thought that this would save me a lot. Especially since tickets at the station only allowed coins and it’s hard to get them here. Unfortunately, I found out that we actually needed to pay for the French Insurance as indicated in the acceptance letter. So if anything pops up in the tuition bill, take note that it might be for the French Social Insurance. Mes doigts sont fatigue et je suis “stinky”… also take note that I have not seen any armpit hair on French women yet…lol
