Day 8:

We are Monday and lessons begin. BUT, in fact, no because I haven't got courses today.

I am in the room number 016 because Tara can tell us our results of English test. But, there are 2 bad news: she forgot papers at home and English class is cancelled. So with Marlène, we decide to speak with Tara and ask her what is each courses.

Then, a teacher comes to the room. He has course, but anyway, he decides to give free time to his students and speaks with us. He is very friendly and helpful. He gives us somes advices. But, something shocks us: he always says "fu*king", "oh sh*t". In France, there isn't a teacher who say it. Very strange but funny.

We could have no courses, so we would like to go to a French lesson. I think it's very interesting to see how students learn French. But... teacher doesn't come and course is cancelled too.

It's very weird, and we hope that tomorrow it will be different.

 

Day 9:

I am in the room number 107 and I am waiting for a IT course, but... nobody comes (again).

The next hour, I am sitting on my chair and I listen to my first lesson, in English. It is contemporain European sociology. I like it very much. The teacher speaks slowly and it's very clear. We learn things about Spain, so interesting! Then, Marlène and I come to mass communication, but it is horrible. We don't understand the teacher. There are lots of students and the subject is difficult. So we leave and move to another course called Management. We already learnt some notions in France but, we don't mind, teacher is nice, clear and her lesson is very great.

But, there are so many differences in course, I am going to do an article about its.

Today is Fay's birthday (an Erasmus student) so we do a party. It's time to go, see you tomorrow!

 

Day 10:

The party last night was very good, but I have to go to school today. I have Spanish, Marketing and IT lessons. But Spanish is very easy. I chose a course of second year but Irish people don't speak very well Spanish, so the teacher proposed us to switch with a course of year 4. It is easy too, but we don't mind, we can continue to study Spanish because I think it's important.

Marketing is great. And IT is very cool. We do a power point and we listen to music. At the end of the course, we speak a lot with the teacher.

 

 

I decide to join the International society and the badminton club. Trainings are on Tuesdays (2 to 4 pm) and on Fridays (6 to 8) near the college. It's only 3 euros a year for each club (so I pay €6). I like doing sport and I think I will meet other people.
And International society is a society which organise trips in Ireland. There are lots of Erasmus student. Beside, this evening, there is a party in a pub to get to know each other. So nice!

 

Day 11:

 

Exam board reviews are taking place today. So classes are cancelled today and tomorrow.

This morning I sleep and then, I go to the square where I drink a coffee and do shopping with other Erasmus student.

It is snowing and I am too cold. I hurry up to come back at home!

 

 

 

Day 12:

I wake up early because I want to visit Dublin!

I go to Phoenix park at 707 hectares. It is one of the largest enclosed recreational spaces within any European capital city. It's larger than all of London's city parks pu together and more than twince the area of New York's Central Park. It has been managed as a National Historic Park since 1986.

 I walk and I discover many places:

- Aras an Uachtarain which is the residence of the President of Ireland from 1750.
- The United States Ambassador's residence
- Welligton Testimonial
- The Papal Cross
- The Phoenix Monument
- The Victorian people's flower gardens

 

 

 

 

Then, we walk to City center, drink a tea in a bar because we would like to eat somewhere it isn't cold. And we finish the day doing shopping.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 13:

I wake upat 7am because with some of Erasmus students, we would like to discover the Wicklow moutains. We do a daily tour where we visit Glencree valley, Guiness Lakes, Glendalough, the Vale of Avoca.

It is too cold (like always) but very nice. Landscapes are beautiful and nice.

Just a little problem: I am now ill...

Day 14:

I am ill. Corey is ill too, so there are lots of microbes at home. I decide to sleep and then, to meet Marlène at Square because... WE WILL GO TO OSLO and we have to organize this trip.

We book flights and we will travel over there from Thursday 5th of March to Tuesday 10th of March for only €40 in return.

So exciting I am!

Showers are different and make a lot noise.

And we CAN'T DRINK WATER in bathroom!

__________

 

Plugs are different. You need an adaptor.

__________

Food is very different.

 

 

 

 

In the fridge, John and Veronica have bacon, jam, ham, mayonnaise, milk, eggs, butter, creme, ketchup, chorizo, pizza, chedar, and water.  (upper part)

 

 

 

 

 

 

While, I have vegetables, eggs, milk, apple juice, butter, yogurts, gorgonzola, brie, bananas, tomato sauce, jam and mozarella. (bottom part)

 

 

 

 

__________

Meal times are differents.

 

Typical menu
at John & Veronica's house

7 am: some cereales and toasts with butter

11 am: some toasts with butter

1pm: A sandwich with toasts, ham, butter, mayonnaise, chedar with crips.

4pm: A banana or toasts or crips.

6pm: dinner composed of pastas with chicken

 

 

___________

Weather is different, and changes very quickly.

1 pm: it is snowing.
1:30 pm: sun is here.

 

___________

On the road, everything is different.

Irish people drive on the left side. So be carefoul when you want to cross the road, you have to look at right and then left.

New drivers use the symbols
"L" that's mean "Learning driver" when they are under 18 and they haven't got their license driver yet.
"N" that's mean "Novice" when when they just have their license, for 3 years.

The picture is in the front of cars whereas in France it is on the back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

___________

Time to go to the the restaurants, pubs, shops and nightclubs is different.

Everything closes very early. You can't order after 9pm in the restaurants. And at 2am, your party in the nightclub is finished.

But most of the shops are opened on Sundays.

___________

 

 

Food is different.

Products are different and don't taste as in France, except if you find international brands like Nutella, but it is very expensive!

 

 

 

___________

Commun transports's costs are different.

It is soooo expensive! 3.3€ the ticket for each bus. So if you have to change and to take two bus, you have to pay 6.6€. Moreover, if you want to go in the city center, don't use the bus because they stop them each 200 meters. There are more than 80 bus stop from Tallaght to the city center.

Tramway is as expensive as the bus. Car park costs 12€ for 2hours. There are not a lot of public bikes, and it is not usually to rent a bike like in Paris or Lyon.

So, I study at ITT Dublin.

The Institute of Technology Tallaght is a public college. This Institute was found in 1992. People can study in 3 schools (business and Humanities, Engineering, and Science and Computing). There are 7 different sections: accountancy, marketing, computing, engineering, humanities, culinary art and management.

 

This university is located around 12 km North-West of Dublin city center, from 40 minutes by the LUAS (tramway) or 30 minutes in bus. A little town called Tallaght, but very nice thanks to its view on mountains and its calm environment with a lot of parks.

 

Click on the picture, and discover Tallaght thanks to Google Maps.

Day 1:

My plane lands. Here I am, Ireland.

Then I arrive at John and Veronica's house.

John is working so I am only with Veronica and Corey. They provide me a tour of the house and after we wander. Veronica shows me the Square (it is a huge shopping mall) and the college.

I play with Corey. He is so cute! He says "Léa" or "Lady" everytime. So sweet!

I eat pastas with John and Veronica. We present us. John plays guitar. Good feeling!

 

 

 

Day 2:

7 o'clock in the morning: Corey is awake and does a lot of noise, but I don't mind, I am tired and I continue to sleep.

Then, I meet the grand mother, Nana (Veronica's mum). We speak together about France, their family and news while Corey takes a nap. Nana speaks very fast and she has an Irish accent. It is difficult to understand.

After, I decide to go out and meet Marlène, the other French girl who comes from ESDES. We visit ITT and speak about our first feelings. We are excited to be here but it is very different of our French habits (you can discover them here). The weather is too cold: no rain but a lot of icy wind. Families are too nice and great. Rooms are perfects. The environment is quiet. ITT is very modern and looks like great! There is even Starbuck coffee at ITT.

I go to at the Spare to buy something to eat for dinner. It is very difficult and strange because nothing is similar to France. Food is very different: not a lot of vegetables, meats, cans, fishes, cheeses, breads, yogourts... But there are 2 shelves of crisps and crackers.

I come back home and I meet David and Mégane, two Erasmus who live at home for the first semester. We can speak together. They are very nice.

After doing a skype with my family and my friends, I go to bed. Good night everybody!

 

 Day 3:

Midday, it's time to go to the Spare (thought of my mum who is the only one to understand: no mum, it is not 'hello it's time to wake up') where I have a meeting with Mégane and David. We go together in Dublin Center with tramway which is very expensive (€5.2 for return).

Then I meet Clémentine (a French friend) and Julie (her roomate). We go to Starbucks coffee, do shopping at a huge and beautiful H&M and Penneys (Primark's name in Ireland) and finally, we visit a little the town. It is shining (but it is cold, like everytime) so it is so cool to take good pictures.

When I come back home, Corey is very happy to see me. He would like that I read a story for him and we play with all the family. It is a very great moment and I learn news English words.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saint Stephen green shopping center

Dublin center

Trinity college (one of the oldest and most prestigious university)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

H&M

5 floors, high spaces,
and wonderful chandeliers.

It looks like Galeries Lafayette
in Paris.

Very chic shop, I love it!

 

 

Do you want to see more pictures? Let's go!

 

 Day 4:

10 o'clock, I am at ITT. It is my integration day. I go to the room number 023. There are all the Erasmus students, who are going to study for the second semester. We are about 40 from all over the world (Spain, Germany, Mexico, Hollande... and so many French). Tara, International Officer explain us the structure of the organisation, the academic system at ITT, the timetables, the exams... And finally, the can have a test called EFL to determine our English level.

I eat with Petra (from Holland), Marion, Citlalmina (both are Mexican girls), Marlène and Miguel (a Spanish). It is very crazy to eat with people who are so different. It is interesting to be with them because sometimes, we also speak Spanish.

Erasmus students look like nice. Everybody is talking, but there are lots of people who don't speak together English but French. Foreign persons speak very well English. I would like to speak like them. I hope so!

 

 Day 5:

I go to the college to another meeting with the ITT's staff. I meet new people, very nice. Then, we can take all the timetables and choose which courses we would like to study.  We have to take 6 courses (each 5 ECTS). It's very difficult to do our own timetables with courses clashs. Marlène and I would like to have the same courses in order to help each other during the revision period.

Some of the Erasmus students want to go out during the night, but I am so tired and I prefer to go home. Maybe tomorrow!

 

Day 6:

It is Saturday and some of Erasmus students propose a free city tour on foot at 2 pm. I'm ready!

 

We meet them at the Mercantile, 28 Dame Street in Temple Bar. During 3 hours, we walk around Dublin city center. We visit Dublin Castle, Christ Church Cathedral, Parliement, Trinity college, Temple Bar, Saint Stephen Green, the Spire and some of famous streets. It is very fun because we can visit Dublin and meet each other.

We go to a bar at 3 pm. It is crazy because the bar is full. There is a live concert: very nice! Then there is a football match: all Irish people are so crazy when they watch the match in the bar. Finally, we eat together and do a party. Erasmus students from ITT are nice.

 

 

Before going to bed, watch this video. It is in the bar, at 3 pm. Everybody drinks one bear, two bears, three bears... Irish people drink a lot and they are so drunk in the streets from 8 pm. By the way, do you know that the legal limit of alcohol in blood samples for driver people in Ireland is 80 mg/100ml?

 

Day 7:

We are Sunday and all shops are opened, so nice!

I sleep until 11 am. I have a bath. I cook. I clean up my bedroom. I do my first washing machine, I am so stressed, but everything is okay and my clothes don't move. I go out with Gaetan and we meet Célia and Linnea (other Erasmus student). We walk, do shopping and visit Tallaght.

I come back home, play with Corey, speak with Veronica about charity shop because she will help me to find a job or a shop where I can be volunteer.

I do skype with Anthony (my boyfriend) and my family. I book my flights: I will come back in France from the 27th of February to the 2nd of March.

Even if I wear a jogging, a t-shirt, a pull, socks, I am so cold. Good icy night!