The Mailbag Part 2

Following the success of the first of my Mailbags, I can happily say here's a second part:

• Accommodation, deposits and all that - A few people (myself included) have asked about what the next step is with regards to our accommodation.  Things like deposits and rent and insurance all need to be sorted out.
  Thanks to David Reyes (University of Malaga) I can tell you that we'll be sorting everything upon arrival.
• Household Insurance - One of the compulsory things you need is household insurance when getting CROUS accommodation in France.  This is simply to cover you in case of an accident.
  At first I think it was safe to say that no-one really knew what to do, though a bit of searching goes a long way.  I looked at several sites and they all pointed to Smeno as the place to go.  Once you are insured you are able to download the certificate immediately to show to the accommodation office.

• Mobile phones - A lot of people across Europe have been talking about mobile phones and which is the best company to go to.  Well, there was a rousing response from people.  Sarah Bilot (UPMF) handily added in a comparison site to compare contracts (known as 'forfaits' in France) which can be seen here.   

During the next couple of days I'll work out what's going on with the CAF, the grant you can get paid for your accommodation in France.  I think it'll help greatly with costs so it's definitely worth looking in to.

Much to do today - keeping life as normal as I can given the insane excitement that's befallen me of late.  I cannot wait to get going.  

It's three weeks today.

Mike :)

Well here we go again!

Well this is a bit awkward isn't it?

Back in my first year I created a blog about my university life and what was going on.  I got to the end of my first year and thought "well, that was good, so let's get on with it in my second year."
... and you heard nothing after that.

Shamefully, I didn't write a post for the entirety of my second year.  Now I'm a month away from my third year and suddenly realising that it ain't going to write itself. 

The thing is though, much has changed over the last year.

Firstly, I continued on the International Business Management course at Lincoln. I, naturally took up French again (being tutored by my personal tutor Ian Scott) and even got the chance to actually pick a module to do (something that obviously had evaded people's minds when they designed the course.)

I am currently in a delightful relationship with a lovely lady called Bethany, we have been together for over nine blissful months now. Bethany studies History in Lincoln and knows how to be great company and a wonderful girlfriend.

(Allow me to be briefly candid: my relationship with my ex-girlfriend Safia was not a healthy one, my previous blog gave off that impression, thinking back. I did have the odd person read and ask what had changed. She left Lincoln shortly after my last post and has returned home to study locally. We have not spoken in a year. Hindsight says that this was for the best.)

In September 2012, I accepted a nomination to become the president of the Lincoln Colonials American Football team. High hopes for a season were dampened by a persistent failure from the Student Union to support the team and the resulting departure of Coaches Alex Robson and Warwick Grosvenor. Souring relationships with the Lincolnshire Bombers lead to me declining to play in the BAFANL this season, though one day I intend to play in the National Leagues again.

Of course, all of this pales into relative insignificance.... For 2013 brings its own challenges.

September 2013 brings Grenoble, France.