Oct 28

The weather in Paris is very good these three days. Even though it's only 13°C, I still don't wear my down jacket. I am going to London tomorrow afternoon. Unfortunately, before I leave, I may need to finish a report on Typology of States, also I should read 50 pages of articles for my two other classes. However, to benefit from the good weather, I chose to take bus to explore Paris like yesterday. I went to Saint Paul and around Châtelet. After coming back, I practiced piano for half an hour, which made me feel better.

Oct 22

Indeed I should study more. Since I came to France, there were many activities and things to do, which made my life very colorful but at the same I did not have much time to do my school work. Last night I did not go to the premier of the Taiwanese movie but stayed in the dormitory studying, which I found more tranquil.

Today the classmates made good presentation on Rap music history and decentralization of energy respectively, which I think engaging. Even though they may not speak perfect French since we are all in intermediate level, we can still make some effort to enrich the content of our presentation. Also, from his presentation, I see the confidence and assurance in them, which would be the quality I need to cultivate during my stay in Science Po.

Nothing is impossible when I persevere. I believe I can overcome with my stage-fright and give an engaging presentation at the end of the semester.

Oct 21

In Euroupe, the rent is usually very high, espcially in Paris, where I live right now. Even though Paris is a fascinating city, to live in this city will cost a lot of fortune. My 9m² room in the sixth arrondissment costs me 480€ per month. As a student coming from a worker family in a developing country, 480€ will be a great burden.

Fortunately, as one of the welfare country, France provides subsidy for rent, which is managed by CAF (familial allocation fund), and the subsidy also covers the international students. I have got my CAF card for several weeks but still do not receive the subsidy in my bank account. So I went there today, which was not that easy. Spending almost forty minutes going to the CAF office at Rue pot de fer, and then I waited for twenty minutes for the information desk.

When it was my turn, I asked the lady at the desk about my rent subsidy, she told me I had 202€ per month, which delighted me because I mistook that would be only 111€ before. But she told me the subsidy would only be paid from November since the first month are usually not subsidized.

I pursued, asking her if my scholarship status could permit me with more subsidy, which made me regret severely afterward. She checked and confirmed that more subsidy will be if I received scholarship, but at the same time she found out an error of my document, on which my residency status was not apartment, but foyer, which would lead to less subsidy.

I felt so desperate as if I fell from top of heaven to the abyss by her emotionless announcement. Why could this happen? Why don't they just keep their charity mistake to benefit a poor student like me? I hate France administration! Even though I tried to consoled myself with the maxim I have in mind always "adversity is opportunity", it does not really help. Injustice is always there. The only thing I can do is make myself distinguished from others to get rid of the bottom of social class.

Oct 19

Another day of strike. Last Tuesday was annoying, almost all the metro line were perturbed, which made my trip to supermarket more difficult than usual. I am not sure when this strike would end, but it is quite interesting to know that most of the people support the transport company with the strike.

It rained at noon. The students gather in the main hall of Science Po shouting and singng their slogan against the new reform, which will extend the working years of French people, maximum to 67 years old. It is really hard to imagine that French people are that demanding when it comes to their welfare. They fight for it so they get better off. Even though this may be pointless regarded by many, still it is an effort that can't be ignored.

At noon I had lunch with Hatoumata, her friend Georgia from Singapore, and Christie and her Hong Kong friend. After lunch I accompanied Christie and her friend to Versaille. If it were not for them, I would not be as motivated to go there. The weather was not nice, with periodical rain, but we had a good time wandering through the palace of Louis XIV and experience the reminiscence of the history.

After having eaten something at the McDonald's near the Versaille, we went back to visit the garden. The garden was sort of creepy at night since there are no many other people, just us three. We wandered through, the sky formed a mysterious color and the horizon seem to end nowhere. We did not know where is the boundary of the garden, reflecting on our life. Sometimes it's just like this. We do not know the limit of our life, we just keep on walking.

Christie seemed to be in love. She kept on sharing her feeling toward that guy and her satisfying social life in Copenhagen. Reflecting on myself, I seem not content with my social life in Paris. Even though there are many events to join, I could hardly find time to join because I need to study or do the homework. However, being in Paris without having fun would be very difficult. Hopefully I can find a equilibrium pretty soon.

Oct 16

Oct 16

A good friend of mine told me that he got a scholarship of 600€ per month. I am really happy for him but at the same time feeling kind of self-pity. Actually I did not get any scholaship before coming to Paris, so I cannot lead a life like most other exchange students, who travelled a lot and do not have to worry about money as much as I do. Also, I have been in Paris for two months but having much financial support except from my parents, who used their saving for many years to make me fulfull the dream to go abroad. But after reflecting on his example, maybe I should create opportunity for myself. Maybe it will be a good chance to motivate me to get more challenges and adventures.

Later that day I hanged out a bit with two Hongkong friends being exchange students in Copenhagen visited. I accompanied them in Pantheon, had a brief picnic, and took them along with Catherine to a Russian party held at Leysan and Kristina's apartment, which was pretty nice. Located at metro station Pigalle, a vivid districts with bars, adult shops and many performance venues, their appartment was easily recognised by the music and the talking sound from upstairs. I talked to many interesting people from different backgrounds about Iranian reformation, interstrait relations and so on. It was still very vivid after twelve, and it was two o'clock when I got back home but the night was awesome.

October 10

Yesterday we went to Levallois for the ROC national day banquet. I felt quite at home with all the Taiwanese people present and the language that I cannot be more familiar with. It is still good to have a hometown, even though it may not a well-known and influential place in the world. On Sunday, the weather was extremely nice, but I have to work to earn my money. Tearing off the wallpapers for seven hours for only 50 €. I think I should work harder on my academic instead.

October 5

I felt so sleepy in my European social policy class. The teacher has a strong French English accent, and I lost his points. So I just jutted down some observations I have in mind.

In France, even though the semester looks shorter, only 12 lectures, it is two hours without break in between. Also their exam dates are separated so after calculated, the total teaching hour in France is the same as Taiwan. Exchange students can be regarded as the most carefree ones, having credits doubled and only have to take 30 credits. French students, on the other hand are taking much more workload than I imagine. Many of them take classes in other universities, which seems to be the minor or double major system in Taiwan.

Stepping out of the gate of Science Po, one would be surprised that the gate is occupied with heavy cigarette smoke. In France, it is quite normal to smoke. Every one smokes, young or old; man or woman. Someone tells me that people will tend to smoke when they are waiting for someone, to have their hand occupied and look not so awkward. I was asked several times "Tu as le feu?" the fire for cigarette.

The new library of science po was opened last Wednesday. It is equipped with 200 20-inch iMacs. Also the interior looks very futuristic and clean, the wall, the desks are all white, which makes me think I am in an Apple shop. But yesterday when I was there, there were no seats. Many of them were even occupied by people. Also people talked in the library, shutting the door loudly, which all annoyed me.

October 4

The good weather does not continue. The sky is gray and rain falls intermittently. However, I am still in Paris, my favorite city so far. I never regret the decision to come here. Even though there are financial difficulties and second-hand smoke, the beauty and the vibrance of this city compensate all these deficits.

Every day as I got up from my cozy and soft bed, an surreal aura grasp me — I am in Paris. In short, my living quality here is much better than in Taipei, where I have no mattress but a hard bed. Because the dorm is near the school, every day in Paris I prepare for myself sumptuous but economic lunch and dinner, much cheaper than eating out even in Taipei. Also every morning the refectory of the dorm provides baguette, milk, orange juice at my disposal for breakfast, all inclusive in the rent every month. Walking in the beautiful city, having delicious food, enjoying nice weather, all add up to a cliché sentence, "la vie en rose".

However, it does not mean I do not have worries. Having been in Paris for nearly two months, I hardly make progress in my French. There may be two possible reasons, first which I think I should have taken the French program so that I can focus more on French but not on the two languages that I am not really fluent. Maybe I will take courses all in English next semester. The other one is that I do not really have contacts with other French people. The other thing is that my future after going back to Taiwan. Sometimes I do miss things about Taiwan, such as food friends and my family. I am reluctant to go back, but it is my home town after all.

I always convince myself my choice is right. Of course there will be some worries, but the most important thing is carpe diem, seize the days. It is OK to give myself a break from the mold, as I decided two years ago. Now I deserve to enjoy my life here. No matter what path the future may lead to, I should make the best of my life here.

Tonight I went to a live acoustic session at Shakespeare and Company Bookstore near the Seine, which was a scene in the movie, Before Sunset. The music was great, even though the place was crowded with people. I have never seen a live session like this. In a book store, the audience either standing or sitting on the ground, surrounded by the books and arts, we listen to the music. After the session I talked to the artists and the organiser of the session; also I met many other international students and talked a lot. Indeed life is full of uncertainty, but it is uncertainty that makes life worthy to live.

October 3

The first Sunday of the month is always exciting because many museums, monuments, and galleries are free of charge for anyone. The problem is, there are always much more visters on this day. As for Arc de Triomph, luckily I did not spend much time waiting in line, but actually this site is always free for students between 12-25. My next stop was Notre Dame de Paris. To get into the bell tower, I waited for one hour and a half, with annoying second hand smoke around. To my disappointment, the bell tower is also free for students, which made me wonder what's the point of waiting in the queue. Finally, the George Pompidou center is the one that is exclusively free this day and I visited, although the contemporary art was not that comprehensive.

In the afternoon I joined a picnic and freeswap organised by a American girl on the social website, couchsurfing. I am pretty surprised that I was the only Asian in this occasion, but many of them are so friendly and easy to be with. Hopefully I will find my couchsurfing host in London pretty soon.

October 2

I am exhausted. At 9h00, even though the I took metro line 4 and changed RER A to Val d'Europe, a 1 hour trip, to help Eva cleaned up her garden in her new place. I earned 32 euro for 4 hrs work and an Italien lunch. Luckily the sunshine finally show up. Cana organised another gathering on Pont des Arts, and many Science po students showed up as usual. The good thing about this is that you can meet many people from different countries and talk to them in a casual way.

October 1

Even though it is only the first of October, in Paris, I have put on my down jacket these days. Also, the sun goes up later and later.

I hate my économie du bien-être class. The professor is not at all clear with the points she made and let alone for us to comprehend. The mathematic symbols and all the theories are more difficult than French language itself. It is so abstract and I don't know why I had selected this course.

Afternoon I visited a library at Vaugirad, 41 Rue d'allery to borrow the book I need for Jules Vernes' report on economic issues. Different from the gloomy and cold weather outside, it was cozy and warm inside. It is as best as Science Po's new library. What is more, it contained several stacks of manga and DVD/CD sections of all genre at readers disposal.

We celebrated Leysan's birthday at a bar near Saint George. I arrived at 19h30 and there were a lot of Russian friends of her there. There is a cave downstairs and it was nice, with the lights shimmering, pumping music, and karaoke. I stayed there until 23h30.