The last full week abroad is over! I am genuinely sad that my time here is almost done, but I am also ready to go home. My final week in Paris is technically next week, but I thought I’d share some of the concluding moments that this week has brung along my journey. This week I felt like a local and occasionally acted as a tourist, but what’s wrong with being a tourist?
We ended our History of Paris: An Architectural Perspective course this past Wednesday with a presentation of our choice that related to an urban system in Paris. My group presented on the Roland Garros Stadium. It was interesting to dive into the history of Paris and the French Open while the tournament was recently held here in Paris!
Afterwards, we said our final farewells to our professor. I honestly recommend her course to anyone interested in learning about the city’s history as you are not sitting in a classroom 75% of the time. Thank you Madame Tilly! You are an incredible professor! This course first caught my eye as I love architecture and it fulfilled my humanities 300-level requirement, but later I found that it continued to peak my interest as I was able to physically explore the city during class. We walked all over Paris and truly used our observational skills to understand why Paris was built the way it was. I am grateful for the opportunity to take this course abroad, I don't think I would have had the same experience elsewhere!
As for Differential Equations, I end class this upcoming Tuesday with a non-cumulative final that’s worth 30% of my grade. I probably should be studying soon but this weekend has been very eventful that I’ll start studying after I post this blog. Wish me luck!
Of course I am bound to purchase more souvenirs this week! I have picked up things here and there but if you don’t know what to get, the Galleries Lafayette Paris Haussmann 6th Floor is a level designated for just souvenirs. There, I was able to pick up little keychains, memorabilia, and gifts. I am still missing gifts for my siblings, so please send recommendations! Otherwise, getting gifts is easy in Paris as shopping is all around you.
What are the odds that Fête de la Musique and Summer solstice fall on the same day? Summer solstice is the longest daylight period of the year, which was perfect for Fête de la Musique! Fête de la Musique originated in France in 1982 as a celebration for music and is celebrated annually in the evening on June 21st.
On this night, musicians, small artists, and DJs scatter about the cities and large crowds form to dance and enjoy the sound for free! It is very beautiful to experience and very crowded as the scale of this street music festival is huge. I had so much fun with my friends and hope to experience this again in Paris!
If you experience this, make sure to stay safe, stay hydrated in the heat, and bring a fan and portable charger. It truly is an enjoyable night for all ages. On a more serious note, safety and social awareness is important as any event comes with its dangers and chaos.
To cover some bases, I wanted to share information about the program and/or Paris. I have listed some general topics, but don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
The metro is the fastest mode of getting around the city. You are given an unloaded Navigo Pass by CEA/CAPA at orientation and advised to purchase a monthly pass for all zones of Paris. This allows you to take any metro (subway) and RATP bus in the city until the end of one month. The pass costs €88.80 (≈ $102.34) but will be worth it.
Other modes of transportation are walking, biking, and ride services just like any other big city. Paris is walkable but I would not recommend walking if you want to save some time. As for ride services (Uber, G7, Taxi, Bolt), the fees can and will add up so the Navigo Pass is the best option in my opinion.
The shared residence is included in the program fee and was a perfect accommodation for the past 6 weeks. You can choose other options such as the apartments and home-stays for a bit of an added cost, if you prefer, but most participants choose the residence. A lot of things are included in the residence so we only had to purchase cleaning supplies and groceries.
Laundry: There are about 4 washers and 4 dryers in the basement of the residence. A load costs €7.50 to wash and dry.
A/C : Air conditioning isn’t common in Paris. You can open the windows to circulate air and also rent a fan from CEA/CAP, but be prepared near the end of June for Paris summer heat!
I made sure to pack somewhat lightly (just kidding). The good news is that I never ran out of clothes here. When we first arrived, Paris was around high 50°F to low 60°F temperature ranges. Now that we are about to leave, Paris is mostly sunny with high UVs and 80°F to 90°F temperature ranges. I survived the weather by having layers like cardigans and light jackets/scarves. When it got really hot, a foldable fan became my most prized accessory!
Both of my classes were pretty manageable. The professors are very understanding and offer many resources. To do coursework, I had a pen and paper (sketchbook and notebook), but I also brought my iPad and laptop when I needed to type an essay or take notes. I found that for my architectural history class I learned towards my laptop and sketchbook as the assignments in this class were many sketches, a couple of essay reports, and a slide presentation. As for my math class, I started out with a pencil and a small notebook, but I eventually converted to my iPad as I found it to be more convenient.
Technical Course: For my math class (differential equations) were required to purchase the eBook which turned out to be about €30.
Humanities: My class (History of Paris: An Architectural Perspective) had no additional purchases but I know for the photography course you are required to have a scrapbook journal and a certain camera.
Obviously to each their own, but to get a good idea of what you need for each class, I recommend skimming through the syllabus.
Calculator: There is a way to convert currency through the calculator app on iPhones! Otherwise any converter will work just fine when you want to get a good idea of reasonable prices.
Uber: I found Uber to be useful when the metros/buses weren't running.
Google/Apple Maps: Any navigation app will be useful but me and my friends used Apple and Google Maps as they are both reliable.
Bonjour RATP: This app is like M-Bus and allows you to track transportation (Metro or Bus) and you can reload your metro card from your iPhone.
Eurostar: When travelling outside of the host country, trains are an eco-friendly and affordable option. The Eurostar is one of the best trains that departs from Paris. We used the Eurostar app to scan our tickets and change our seats.
UK ETA: If you want to travel to the UK, make sure to do the Electronic Travel Authorization prior to leaving. The cost varies but through the app I paid $22.
Too Good To Go: I used this app in the beginning but I wished I used this more as the food is cheap! I mainly bought groceries and once tried it for a meal, definitely recommend it if you're on a budget.
AirBnB: Self-travel can be confusing if you’re doing it for the first time, so I found AirBnB to be user-friendly. My friends split an AirBnB for weekend trips but I heard good experiences from people using hotels and hostels as well!
This was a long blog, but I hope much of the information was useful! Au revoir!
Engineering in Paris, France