Student Exchange to University of Cergy-Pontoise, France
I am Chin Chi Tim, a junior of the Urban Planning and Disaster Management department at Ming Chuan University. I have just finished my six month exchange program to University of Cergy-Pontoise in France. I am writing here to share with you my life there and what this program has changed me when I study abroad. Hopefully I can inspire some of you to join the program too.
As one of many who live in Eastern world their whole life, I had pictured myself living elsewhere and wondering if someday it would come true. Everything would be so different, the food, people and weather… As I saw the poster of the program near school hall, I know this my chance to make it happen. It could be an amazing and refreshing experience.
I want you to know it was not a smooth sailing when I first apply to this exchange program. I failed a few times and I can’t tell you how thrilled I was when I hold that invitation of admission.
Thankfully, I have help from my family and from school. My parents were so supportive. The teachers and the department secretary had proved all kind of assistance. Allow me to show my sincere gratitude for all of you.
Life in France was quite a joyful and meaningful experience for me. The food here is so delicious. I think that was the reason I found myself started to bake cakes in the dorm (my roommate owns an oven and he was kindly granted me to use it from time to time) making Muse and looking for recipe online…
Soon, I was making more than I can have and the fridge was always full. I started to share with neighbors and friends, which was a brilliant idea of making friends (local and other exchange students from around the world). We would organize a big breakfast or dinner together, we all made something special, dishes only you can have back from our hometown/country, and share. I have learned so much about them, their culture and their stories were fascinating.
Local people prefer French language than the others, meaning using English was not enough. Sometimes I can’t understand them 100% since we are using multiple languages to present ourselves, language barrier always get in the way of communicating; however we all have smart phone here, it was really funny by using smart phone apps to communicate.
For school life, I have only five courses per week, all of them are taught in English except for the French language class. Most of them are about improving our skills by having group debates and giving presentations related to environmental issues or urban design. Compare to my school life in Taiwan, I found the most interesting part is that we are using different ways to reach the goal, which is to better our living environment; at the same time, we look for methods to ensure our future. I have learned from my class: “Adaptation or making a few adjustments rather than changing the environment completely.” This has become useful for me, since I am major in Urban Design and Disaster Management back from Taiwan.
On the other hand, since I am here in Europe, there was no reason why I don’t go out for sightseeing or traveling around! Sometimes I travel along, to London, and to Nederland. It made me feel so free and I got to learn how to book for tickets or for hotel all by myself. However, going with friends are twice the fun, we would gather a meeting and talk about where we couldn’t miss when we go traveling, doing reach together. It bought us closer and closer.