For my final couple of weblog posts, I believed it could be useful to interrupt examine and distinction every of my packages to present a bit extra perception so future college students are higher knowledgeable! For reference, my fall semester was with IES overseas in Nantes, France and my spring semester was with SIT in Geneva, Switzerland.
Packing
Earlier than leaving in your journey it is best to positively perform a little research into what the climate goes to be like in your host metropolis. Whereas I did do that I severely underestimated how chilly it was going to be. This may very well be as a result of my second semester was in Switzerland and I believed it was going to be a lot colder there than in France. Permit me to let you know how very fallacious I used to be. Throughout my fall semester in France, it rained on a regular basis and the wind coming from the river made it tremendous chilly. In distinction, the climate throughout my spring semester in Switzerland was very nice, a lot in order that I didn’t find yourself even needing to put on a jacket by the top of this system. If I may do it once more I’d change the garments I took in order that I had three heavy coats through the fall and three bikinis through the spring.
Visa course of
Visa-wise, issues had been much more sophisticated for me, seeing as I used to be in France through the time after I was attempting to get my Swiss visa. Nevertheless, I’ll clarify it as if I weren’t. When getting a French visa it’s a must to first fill out a bunch of kinds on-line by the French authorities. Then, from there, it’s a must to e book an in-person assembly with no matter consulate is closest to you, which for most individuals requires not less than a day’s value of journey. For me, I needed to go to Chicago, however ended up making it a day journey with my dad. On the appointment they are going to take your passport, so that you’ll be with out it whereas they put your visa in it earlier than returning it to you. As for Switzerland, the method is far less complicated. For this visa, all it’s a must to do is fill out some kinds and ship them to your regional consulate. From there you’re going to get an e-mail approving you for the visa which you’ll print out and ship together with your passport to the identical consulate. You’ll get it again with the visa in it. That is on no account an exhaustive information (your packages will assist you to additional) however a fast clarification so that you’re higher knowledgeable earlier than selecting a location.
Meals
For my fall with IES Overseas, breakfast on daily basis and dinner 5 instances per week had been supplied by your host household. Lunch on daily basis is out of pocket, you should buy meals from a restaurant/restaurant or go grocery procuring and go away it on the IES Overseas heart in your metropolis. (There was a full kitchen at my program location, I can’t say that is for positive the identical for each IES program, however I’d assume that it’s the similar). You even have to purchase the opposite two dinners per week by your self, except your host household doesn’t thoughts. Differently, with SIT, breakfast and dinner are supplied on daily basis by your host household, in addition to lunch through the weekend. Nevertheless, in case you are touring through the weekend, all meals are paid by you. As for lunch, SIT provides a stipend that covers weekly lunches, however watch out how a lot you spend as a result of they won’t offer you extra if you happen to run out.
This one is a bit long-winded and never almost as enjoyable as a few of my different posts, however I hope it helps somebody down the street!
Both manner, listed below are some footage to make up for it.
Profite bien mes amis!
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