Finally, today I have decided to take out some time and keep work away so as to be able to write. It's been a month that I am here and I haven't given my news. I have been meaning to write since always, but my crazy schedule didn't allow me that. Oh well, but today am here! me voilà!!
Days till today have flown so fast that I didn't even realize it! Already been a month?! It feels like I was still struggling with the packing, meeting everybody, dealing with the last minute problems! But all that is a past now and I am here in Paris, thanks to my parents and many other people! I am really thankful to those who supported my decision of coming here! I think I did a good job of coming here! The exposure I am getting here, the true "international student life", working with people from all over the world on particular topics, managing daily life once again, but this time without my own income, cooking and so much more.
The student-life here can't be defined by any other word than 'crazy'. I have a very wired timetable every day! On Mondays, I have classes "en continue" from 12.30pm till 9.15pm! With a break of 15 mins in each class, which isn't sufficient as those 15 mins are needed to change the buildings, as Sciences Po doesn't really have a "campus" as such. It's just 5 buildings in one very chic locality of Paris! And of course, the buildings are awesome! Then on Tuesdays, only one lecture that too in the evening, from 7.15 to 9.15! Wednesdays start at 8 am and end at 10 am! Thursdays are even crazier! Have lecture from 12.30 to 2.30, then have a break of 5 hours and the second lecture at 7.15 till 9.15! Fridays are equal but the days starts 2 hours earlier than Thursday and so ends 2 hours early as well! Thank god Saturday-Sundays are off!! As far as the classroom life is considered, at times, it gets extremely frustrating. People around me are busy taking notes, either on their latest macs or laptops or in their notebooks, using different colour pens even though the prof is talking at the speed of light. I just fail to take proper notes!! Here I am tempted to blame the educational system back home which doesn't train us at all for such things by providing us ready notes and gives the best ever spoon feeding. Hélas, I am training myself to take notes and I must say I am progressing though it will take time!
As I have such a long breaks between 2 lectures, I prefer staying in the college itself. On the ground floor of 2 buildings, there are tables and chairs for the student who want to stay there and study. And believe me, they actually study!! Why I prefer staying here is I also get motivated to study! Recently Sciences Po has opened the new, awesome library which has almost 100 Macs! Awesome interior, nice books, recent issues of international magazines, wifi and nice people at the reception! So, at least, am happy about the fact that the exorbitant fees they took from us are being used for something so good! Though everybody cribs about the Sciences Po administrative dept, in general, people are nice and I think it's very important! As I must have already told you that we have an ex-French Minister as a visiting faculty, all other profs are equally brilliant and toppers in their fields. What surprises me is that even these people are so well educated and lead the finest lives one could ever dream of, they are all down to earth, always ready to help their students! The subjects taught here are extremely interesting. I think it's really great that they link our knowledge to the current affairs! So we can apply our knowledge to analyze the current happenings and see if we have understood it or no! :) This 'reality' approach will help us all in our careers! Apart from the classroom lectures, there are a lot of lectures arranged on different issues bothering the world today. Till today, I have attended a lecture by LSE director and the second one was by the experts on Palestine State issues! Wow!
But but!! To excel all this excellent knowledge which we get, we have to work a lot, read a lot, discuss a lot and again work a lot! The educational system of which I was part the whole my life is completely different from this current one! So there's a burden and fear of adjustment... Thankfully language is not the problem. So half the hurdle is through! Each day comes with different challenges... Sometimes they seem unachievable but, in reality, are just next door and sometimes it's inverse as well!!
But am enjoying it! and liking it! :)
And I have decided to stay cool and stay connected!
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