Les Deux Alps~

This weekend, we'll be heading up to the French Alps to ski!! Really looking forward to it as I heard it will be great. My Parisien roommate kindly lent me his ski pants, as I have forgotten to bring mine from Singapore. Helped me save the extra cash on buying another ski pants. I hope to relive the good and fun days I had at Queenstown, New Zealand with Puang on our great ski adventure. Its been like 3 years since that trip but the memories are still vivid in my mind. Hopefully the memories of how to ski will still be vivid as well. I hope that I can enjoy the ski trip too cos I'm kinda having a bad sore throat and cough right now. My first experience to the Infermerie, the french word for sicky bay was rather hilarious. Was trying my best to explain to the nurse what I have in french, and she was trying her best to translate what she wanted to say to me in English. With the help of my limited knowledge of french, her limited knowledge of English, and a French-English dictionary, we managed to understand each other to a certain extent. Well, I'm just glad that the trip to the Infimirie and the medicine was free, so can save more for a rainy day, like a trip to the Alps again..perhaps...haha!

The Wonders of Technology~

Intense Stuff~

Ok. I've barely been here for a week but I felt like I've been here for like 3 months. The french intensive course which is 5 hours everyday except for Thursday which we have half day is exceptionally draining to the brain. Just being here for 1 week and exposing myself to French culture makes alot of difference. The once undecipherable french is now slightly decoded. 

French meals are amazing. I think they believe in serving everything from appetizer to main course to dessert. I never hesitated in getting the meal plan provided by the school because not only are the meals cheap (3 euros), they are most of time time rather sumptous, having items like cheese, yogurt, salad, main course and fruits/desserts for 1 meal. I haven't been photo whoring but I promise I'll upload a picture of the meal here.

Have done most of the administrative process with some pain, sometimes not comprehending what the person I'm dealing with says and vice versa. But en general, I think it has gotten a little better :) I love the room that the school has for us. It's akin to the hostel in NTU, just that its newer, bigger and has an attached kitchenette and a bathroom as well. Simply awesome. My roommate happened to be a french guy from Paris. A bit of the introvert kind, but we get along and I can talk to him in french...I hope..haha.

Met my Professor yesterday who will be supervising my Research Attachment. He turned out to be a very very nice guy who was very concerned about my well being in France and me adapting life at INSA Lyon. I will most probably undertaking a project provided by EADS Astrium, the space arm of EADS investigating on structural dynamics, vibrations and dampers. Something rather familiar to me, but have to read up alot more on and brush up on the existing knowledge. No one said it was gonna be easy. 

I have yet to find a place to play badminton yet, because INSA Lyon has this ridiculous system of unfriendly sports facilities. There are certain times we have to adhere to for playing badminton, and that is when the INSA Badminton club is playing. Many of the Singapore dudes play there, but I prefer not to. Have asked Leslie, my RI badminton teammate who has been studying here for 3 years about the school team and all, and also asked my dad's French badminton friend in France for recommendations of clubs outside. Hopefully I don't have to pay that much to play. Have been itching for some exercise and some games....

Well, the weekend is nearing and the dudes are planning a day trip to this town called Perouges. It is apparently one of the most beautiful places to visit in France and its just a 30 mins drive from Lyon. Its a 14th-15th century fortified medieval walled town with cobbled streets and stone towers and houses. 

Phew! So far that's it, intense but stay has been pretty positive so far. France is a beautiful country. The language is beautiful, the architecture is beautiful and not to forget, the girls are also beautiful (ahem).  Shall tell more about head turners and jaw droppers next time. :)

On the way to Lyon~

I travelled slightly more than 24 hours to Lyon from Singapore, stopping at 2 cities on the way. It was one helluva journey. Qatar Airways, I love Qatar Airways. One of the better airlines I have taken for a long long time. The acoustic shielding of the plane from its engines was superb. Everyone was given an eye mask and socks.  They even gave you stickers to paste on the top of your seat, whether you wanted to be waken up for mealtimes or whether you want to be left to enjoy ya sleep. After a leg aching 7 hours, touch down in Doha. Was greeted by the morning cold and the long bus ride to the terminal from the airplane. The stupid baggage guy who scanned my bag made me take out everything from my bag. I didn't know what he was looking for, so when he finally saw my metal ruler in my pencil case and confiscated it, I was totally dumbfounded..."This is not allowed" he said. OMG.....Ok whatever...

Then another 7 hour flight to Geneva. The flight was pretty empty so it was pretty comfortable as I could stretch my legs and incline my seat all the way back without someone smacking me on my head. When I arrived in Geneva, I had to face the reality of a language barrier...something I was quite prepared for but did not know the full extent till I experienced it first hand. It was painful, but hopefully this pain will lead to some gains. There I waited at the cafe a la gare de Cornavin, a long 3 hour wait for my train to Lyon. There I sat, watching people while sipping on a hot chocolate which I wondered why did I order it when it was more expensive than a glass of vin de rouge, and munching on a very delicious chicken and pesto sandwich. The cold was getting abit intolerable. 

Train ride to Lyon took another 2 hours, half of which I had to stand and struggle with the bulky baggage. Thankfully, Elvin picked me up from Lyon Part-Dieu, the train station at Lyon and by that time, I was simply exhausted. Thank God he managed to get my room key from the highly inefficient school office so I could enjoy a good night's rest. Thank God for the safe journey.