End of October holidays!

Hello everyone!

Well, the end of October is here. And no, I take no interest in your Halloween costumes! 

The end of October can only mean a nice week-long holiday and break from the stresses of college life.

Life in IUT2 is good, really getting into lessons now and understanding the content better. My group work for economics got handed in too, which is all sorted. 

Small word of caution for you out there: the CROUS restaurants appear to be closed this week - definitely caught me by surprise. Suddenly having to make alternative plans was certainly not on the cards!

Most of my classmates and friends appear to have gone to all four corners of the continent this week, making me startlingly alone in this big old city. Got a couple of friends dotted about though.

The Centaurs sit 1-1 after a tough loss the other week to the Falcons. Hopefully this weekend will bring about a victory!

There is also a chance to get some refereeing done this weekend with some of the junior matches in the area. Should be great fun!

I must keep remembering to post these. If you see me in town, prod me to write another one!

Ill let you all know how I'm doing soon!

Best wishes

Mike :)

Getting into the swing of things now

Bonjour everyone!

Sorry it's been a little while, lots to get on with.  

It's been quite an adventure so far, especially since my last post...

• Managed to get into the swing of things in terms of my course. For those of you who haven't heard, it is the DUT qualification in Techniques de Commercialisation.  My modules currently include International Commerce, Economics, French (to start today), Marketing, IT and Sales Negotiation.  Early starts throughout for me, including a punishing 8am start on a Tuesday the morning after American Football training!  So far I can say I've done OK, just adjusting to the language barrier and the speed of lectures (not to mention getting out of bed at a funny hour of the morning unknown to British students...)
  
• American Football is going well too - first game is on Sunday for the Centaurs B team against the Blue Devils; the Grenoble Derby!  Really looking forward to it.
  I have also qualified as a referee here in France, so I can do my bit for the team in refereeing junior games etc, that should be great fun.
  Personally, I have been amazed at the standard these guys play at.  I think they are fantastic players and I've already learned a lot from them.
  
• I've met some great people so far in so many different places.  My coursemates are great and very accommodating, especially when it comes to English language and French.  All the way across the city I've met students from all over the world, it's been awesome.

 Meanwhile, on the more humorous side...

1. It is impossible to go shopping on a Sunday.  MacDonalds quickly becomes your new best friend when you're as unprepared as I am.
   
2. The French idea of a coffee (un cafe) is an espresso.  Cafe au lait appears to be coffee with an insane amount of cream in it.  All of the above come with sugar, whether you like it or not.
   
3. Beer here is expensive, nearly £5 for a pint and sometimes more... You learn that house parties are actually the cheapest way of having a night with your mates.  Nightclubs can be as much as EUR10 to enter, though they give you a drinks token too usually.  Interestingly, the only reason they ever refuse entry is when you're in large single-sex groups.  A lad out with the lads, it seems, is off the cards.
   
4. If there is a strike in Grenoble (or France in general, for that matter) don't act surprised or question why.  The most I ever get is a shrug and a 'oh well' kind of answer.
   
5. It appears that proper toilet seats are either non-existent or all stolen in France.  I have yet to come across a toilet here that has a fully-functioning loo seat.
   
6. The French law that bans smoking in public places clearly doesn't work.  Everyone stands two inches from the door instead.  And everyone smokes a cigarette here.  You stand to smoke about four just trying to get into college every morning.
   
7. The English accent is cute, apparently.
   
8. The words 'je m'excuse, je comprends pas' have become my more useful phrase here.
   
9. Facial hair of some description is automatically cool.
   
10. The English comedy novel A Year in the Merde is really unpopular here.

As you can see, I've had quite the adventure so far.  I shall update you soon with more musings!

Best wishes to you all!

Mike :)