Les cours

So this week was the start of classes in Grenoble! Monday we took a placement test which was oral and written comprehension and production, meaning we had to have a little oral evaluation with a professor, which was a bit intimidating but not too bad. The afternoon we opened a bank account, but other than that it was a quiet day.

Tuesday we got our results: I'm in B2, which is one level below what is considered bilingual, so that's good. I had my first class in French yesterday and I think its a good fit. Next, the international program at the Universite Stendhal, the CUEF had its official opening. It is interesting being in an international program, seeing all the people from different countries and hearing the different accents in French. There are some Americans, of course, but LOTS of Asians, especially Chinese. I have met a few Russians and a guy from Saudi Arabia and I heard a girl speaking Italian yesterday-- very diverse. This week and next week is a kind of class shopping period, so we're going to lots of classes and then going to pick from them which ones we want. I'm planning on taking, in addition to the mandatory French course, a translation course, two literature courses in the regular Universite, and then maybe a history class that our academic advisor teaches.

I really like my French teacher. Her name is Gaelle and she is Bretonne--maybe sometime I'll tell her I'm a little familiar with Bretagne and Nantes! We had a good class and everyone seems really friendly; there are a bunch of Americans from the West Coast in the class too so its mostly American. The history class was interesting but it focuses on 20th century France and I do know the first half of that pretty in depth (thank you, IB) but still would be interesting to hear the French perspective. Also had an Art History course which I don't think I'll end up taking, even though it sounded kind of interesting.

Both nights we went out to eat and noticed a little cultural difference: both times we waited for the check andrealized we had to go down to pay at a counter! Whoops. Also still not sure how to tip.

Today is a little more quiet as I have no classes so I'm planning on going shopping for some essentials I still need and wandering around a bit.

Love,
Miriam