Week 16: My Return to Canada!

Hi Everyone,

As promised, I have broken down my estimated expenses from my semester at Rouen Business School. These expenses are from my own experience and many not necessarily reflect the cost of an average lifestyle on exchange.

My Estimated Budget:

Travel (Transportation, Accommodation, Food, Entertainment)	$2,650
Residence	$2,000
Food and Drinks	$1,050
Return Airfare to France	$1,000
Miscellaneous Expenses (laundry, toiletries, etc.)	$400
Supplementary Insurance	$250
Taxi to/from Airport	$175
Bus Pass	$130
Cell Phone	$100
Total Costs:	$7,755

It should also be important to note that this budget outlines the major costs associated with my exchange experience.  These prices are reflected in Canadian dollars and may fluctuate due to chances in exchange rate, the prices of goods, as well as more advanced booking of trips.  These major costs could easily be decreased through less traveling throughout Europe, less eating out, and choosing a more economical residence.  The calculated cost of residence also included a deposit (or approximately $340) that may be returned to you if your room is in good condition upon your departure at Rouen. 

Activities at Rouen:

Sports:

Rouen Dragons – French ice hockey team that plays in the national French hockey league. For tickets and more information, visit www.rouenhockeyelite76.com

Rouen Huskies – French baseball team that plays at the highest level of baseball in France.  For tickets and more information, visit www.rouenbaseball76.com

Rouen FC – French football club that plays at the third level of football in France.  For more information, visit www.fcrouen.net

Student Associations:

Cultures’ Connection – A student organization that organizes trips to various cities as well as parties for exchange students.  Like the group on Facebook to find out about their upcoming events at http://www.facebook.com/cultures.connection.rbs.

Ready 2 Rouenble – A student organization that hosts various sporting leagues for students.  For more information, visit their facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ready2rouenble.

Entertainment:

Rouen Go Karting – Rouen has an indoor Go Karting track that you can ride on.  For more information, visit http://www.rouen-espace-karting.fr/

Docks 76 – A large commercial mall with 80 different stores.  For information, visit www.docks76.com

Cinéma Rouen – A cinema in the Docks 76 mall in Rouen. It features a variety of different movies and occasionally has one movie that airs in English if you start to miss English Hollywood films. For information, visit http://www.cinemasgaumontpathe.com/cinemas/cinema-pathe-docks-76/

Nightlife:

Delirium Café Rouen – A new bar in Rouen that features 200 different beers and 20 beers on tap.  For more information, check out their facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/DELIRIUM-CAFE-ROUEN/212918248774114. 

Boîte à Bière – Similar to Delirium Café, this bar features a wide selection of beers. Visit their website at www.laboiteabieres.fr.

O’Kallaghan’s – A typical Irish pub in the city of Rouen.  For more information, visit http://www.cityvox.fr/bars-et-boites_rouen/o-kallaghan-s_200000113/Avis-Lieu. 

Emporium Galorium – A smaller bar in an older house in Rouen.  For more information, visit their facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Emporium-Galorium/19463199379?sk=wall. 

Highlands Café Rouen – A traditional British style pub in the historical center or Rouen.  For more information, visit their website at www.highlands-rouen.com.

As I am back to my lifestyle in Windsor, this will be my final blog post about my exchange experience I've had over the past four incredible months. If you do have any questions about my personal experience, I encourage you to contact me personally or write a comment on this blog post and I will be more than happy to get in touch with you.

Ready to take the plunge?  View the student exchange opportunities available for Odette School of Business Undergraduate and MBA Students.

Week 15: End of Exams & Copenhagen!

I am writing my fifteenth blog with a mere four days left in France.  I’m left scratching my head wondering where the time has gone – it truly has flown by. 

As Mark Twain once said, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

Through the past amazing four months, I feel that I’ve succeeded in following Mark Twain’s words.  In fifteen weeks I’ve traveled through eleven countries discovering bits and pieces about each one.  I’ve continued my education by studying finance at Triple Crown Accredited Rouen Business School, which has also been labeled as one of the top business schools in France. My international exchange has been an experience of a lifetime.

I highly recommend all students to seize the opportunity to study abroad for a semester.  There is an increase in the costs involved, but effective planning can minimize additional costs that you will incur on exchange.  As an example, all University of Windsor students can apply for the Ontario International Education Opportunity Scholarship, which provides a $2,500 scholarship for students that wish to study abroad. In past years, all students that were eligible for the scholarship have received it.   In my blog next week, I hope to cover the costs that I incurred on exchange so prospective students can have some idea on a budget of their own.

My final examinations have finished last Friday and I am officially enjoying my Winter break.  The exams that I wrote weren’t too different from what would be expected at Odette with respect to difficulty. The largest challenge for me was wrapping my head around the concept that the examination is worth substantially more than at Odette, contributing as 70% - 100% of my overall course grade.  The exam length of the varied too, with one final exam lasting only an hour in length.  As with exams at Odette, if you prepare yourself for the final exam, you should survive the class with ease.

(Tivoli Market)

The Tivoli Gardens is the second oldest amusement park in the world, dating back to 1843. Click on the image to view pictures from the rest of my Copenhagen trip.

I headed on a three day trip to Copenhagen over the weekend.  A highlight from my adventures was Tivoli Gardens, which is the second oldest amusement park in the world.  During the Christmas season, the park is decorated with festive lights and Christmas Markets.  I was also lucky enough to watch the Changing of The Guard at the Amalienborg Castle in Copenhagen.  

We were able to stand directly behind the guards during the Changing of the Guard ceremony!

I will be getting ready to fly back to Canada this Saturday.  Once I get settled in at home, I will be sure to post a final blog on the different entertainment in Rouen as well as my estimated expenses from my semester abroad.

Week 14: Exams and Rouen's Christmas Market

Hi Everyone,

I’ve managed to find some time in between my exams to write some updates about my life abroad this week.  Firstly, I am proud to say that I have successfully survived conquered my first non-Canadian final exam.  While there were some similarities to exams at uWindsor, there were also some noticeable differences.  I was a bit disappointed to find out that I missed my opportunity to say goodbye to my International Finance professor, as the professors typically do not proctor the examinations.  Rather, there were two veteran-looking) proctors that hosted the exam while acting very stringent in upholding the exam rules.  We were instructed to show up at the exam room thirty minutes prior to the exam.  Waiting for us was a class list and sitting number for our exam. A line formed to enter the room, and at the door the proctors were verifying that we belonged in the class by looking at our student cards.  We then sat in the assigned spots to write our exam.  The proctors individually handed our exams to each of us that had had our student number on the exam.  I like that the exams did not have a student name on the exam, as it helps to ensure that the tests aren’t unintentionally graded with a bias that the grader may have on a particular student. The largest difference that I found to be a nuisance was the lack of a professor attending the final exam.  As the proctors didn’t understand the subject matter, the few clarifications that were asked were relayed to the professor via a phone call from the proctor and then relayed back to the entire student body that was writing the exam.  Overall, the exam procedure wasn’t much different from what you would be used to at the Odette School of Business.

A visit to a Christmas Market wouldn't be complete without sipping on some vin chaud to warm you up!

Sadly, I don’t have much to write about in terms of adventures of travels this past week as I have spent the bulk majority of my time between the library and my room in residence studying for exams. I did however sneak some time into the city to browse the various tents of the Christmas Market in Rouen. In addition to 45 different tents, the market had a carrousel for children and a free ice rink with skate rentals near the city. It was a great treat from all the studying the past few days.

The Quebec Tent - easily my favourite tent at the market!  Home of maple syrup and other Canadian treats.

I’ve also booked a trip to Copenhagen as my final end-of-exchange-trip-after exams!  I will be sure to update you on my trip when I return next week. 

 

Thirteenth Week - Bratislava and Vienna

This past week consisted of some traveling as well as preparing my term projects and starting to review lessons for the upcoming exams.

I don’t have much to report relating to school as my classes have ended and I’ve yet to begin my final exams.  If you plan on studying at Rouen Business School, the examination information isn’t available immediately as you register for a course (as it is at the University of Windsor). I received my exam information on September 30^th, which was about two weeks into my classes.  For this year, the exam schedules are:

• December 5 to December 22 for the Master Program (MGE)
• December 12 to December 23 for the BSc in International Business Program

I was a bit worried that my exams would drag on until December 22^nd as it could, but I was fortunate enough to have my last exam on December 16^th.  This will give me a few days to (hopefully) travel some more before returning home for Christmas. 

I visited Slovakia and Austria this past weekend.  As some of you may know, I was born in Slovakia and immigrated to Canada when I was five. This exchange has given me the perfect opportunity to visit my family members that still live in Slovakia, which was a great opportunity as I haven’t seen some of them in quite a few years. During the holiday season, many European cities host Christmas Markets. Bratislava and Vienna, the two major cities that I visited this past weekend, were no exception.  

A typical Christmas Market in Bratislava. During the cold winter, the mulled wine is a great way to warm yourself up!

Near the city center, many cities have tents up and traditional Christmas gifts are sold by various vendors.  Among the items you can buy at the markets are Christmas ornaments, slippers, hats, scarves, homemade books, as well as traditional Christmas desserts.  Unique to me was the offering of ‘mulled wine’ at these markets.  These wines are mixed with various spices and are served hot.  It’s a great drink to sip on during the really cold days. 

A picture of the flags of the United Nations' 193 member states.

In Vienna, my favourite spot was the United Nations Office at Vienna. It is one of the four United Nations Offices (with the other three offices in New York City, Geneva, and Nairobi).  Among its agencies, the Vienna office holds the headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency, United Nation Industrial Development Organization, International Narcotics Control Board, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes. I was lucky enough to witness a United Nations Industrial Development Organization conference between the United Nations' 193 member states. 

A picture of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization's conference.

Next Tuesday I’ll be in between my final exams, but I’ll try my best to write about my adventures as usual.

Twelfth Week

Hi Everyone,

Twelve weeks – wow, time has flown by since I have arrived! 

The period of final examinations if finally coming near and I have become flooded with final projects that are coming due before our final exams.  Academically, this is a large differentiator between Odette and here at Rouen Business School.  Out of all of my classes, I have only had a midterm exam in one of the classes.  While there was a participation component in some of my classes, the only other measure of evaluation throughout the semester was four spot quizzes in my International Finance class. However, the abundance of end of term projects is quite the contrary compared to Odette. Here is the term project breakdown for my classes:

Financial Analysis – Accounting for 50% of my grade, I have a group assignment in which we provide an analysis of a publicly traded French company.  

Derivative Products – Accounting for 30% of my grade, we have a group assignment in which we solve and explain problems of material covered throughout the semester.  Exercises included relate to Future Contracts, Forward Contracts, Call and Put options, as well as Binomial Trees.

International Negotiation – Accounting for 30% of my grade, we are given two options for our final project.  One option is to videotape and conduct an interview with a senior negotiator.  Alternatively, we can opt to write a case study on a worldwide issue that pertains to negotiation.  My topic of choice is ‘The European Union and International Monetary Fund’s Negotiations to Save Greece’s Economy’.   

I should also note that each of the term projects are completed in groups of two to five people.  While we are given the freedom to select our group, our group members must be of different national origins.  The theme of working with students from a different background has been dominant throughout the semester.  I have been able to network and work effectively with a wide group of diverse individuals, while experiencing the different cultures and how they relate to work. 

During the intermissions, I worked strenuously to hunt down the Rouen Dragons Mascot.

On a more exploratory note, I yet again spent this past weekend in Rouen. I did however take part in a social event this past Saturday and attended a Rouen Dragons hockey game. The night was very enjoyable, even though it did remind me of how much I’m missing being able to watch NHL hockey.  To add to the night’s success, the Dragons beat the opposing team 5-2, and everyone left the stadium ecstatic.  Of course with the GM, Head Coach, and Captain of the team all being Canadians, this didn’t come as much of a surprise.  Surely, this abundance of Canadian talent could also explain how the team has been able to win the French Championship the past two years!

Unfortunately, that’s all the stories I have to share this week. I will be sure to find some adventures to share for next week.

Eleventh Week

I’m continuing to have connection problems with the Wi-Fi on residence.  I apologize for writing to you again a day late. 

For those students who are coming to Rouen Business School next semester, or are leaving the University of Windsor for an exchange elsewhere – have no fear!  From my experience at Rouen Business School, and conversations with other exchange students, the process of arriving to your new campus is fairly straightforward. 

Rouen Business School provides a taxi reservation service from Charles De Gaulle (CDG) and Orly (ORY) airports in Paris.  In your months prior to arriving on exchange, you will receive an email from the exchange coordinator at Rouen Business School providing you the option to reserve a taxi ahead of time.  The cost of the taxi varies depending on how many students they pick up, and ranges between €60 and €180.  While it may not be the most economical method of transport when you arrive, it is direct and hassle-free.

The second option to arriving at Rouen Business School is via public transit.  

From Charles De Gaulle airport, take the regional train into Paris.  This is the RER B train, and tickets for the train are around €9.  Keep an eye out for the stop Châtelet.  While the RER B trains from Charles De Gaulle go to the same location, one of the lines has more stops on the route into Paris.  Depending on train that you take, you should expect to arrive at Châtelet in 25-40 minutes.  From Châtelet, switch to the metro line 14, towards the direction of Saint-Lazare, which will also be your exit.  This metro trip is quite quick, at only three stops.  Be sure to exit the metro system, where you can get your first glance of the magnificent city of Paris!  Unfortunately the trip doesn’t end here, head over to the Gare Saint Lazare to purchase your ticket from Paris to Rouen.  Once inside the station, if you head over towards Platform 24, there will be a kiosk where you can purchase your ticket. I also recommend purchasing your 12-25 Card here.  For €49, the card provides you with a 25-50% discount on all fares in France depending on if you are traveling at a peak or non-peak time.  Depending on the time of your train, you can expect to pay between €10.80 and €16.20 to travel from Paris to Rouen, and the trip takes around an hour and a half.  Once you arrive at Rouen, there is a bus stop outside of the train station.  If you opt to take the bus to arrive at Rouen Business School, wait for the bus line 4 and stop at the bus stop La Varenne.  From La Varenne, walk to the other side of the roundabout and you should be able to see Rouen Business School.  Alternatively, you could take a taxi from outside of the Rouen train station to Rouen Business School for around €10. 

From Orly airport, take the OrlyVal, a quick shuttle that brings you from the airport to the regional train line in Paris.  Once you arrive, purchase tickets for the RER B train, which should cost around €9.  Take this train and get off at Châtelet.  From Châtelet, switch to the metro line 14, towards the direction of Saint-Lazare, which will also be your exit.  This metro trip is quite quick at only three stops.  Be sure to exit the metro system, where you can get your first glance of the magnificent city of Paris!  Unfortunately the trip doesn’t end here, head over to the Gare Saint Lazare to purchase your ticket from Paris to Rouen.  Once inside the station, if you head over towards Platform 24, there will be a kiosk where you can purchase your ticket. I also recommend purchasing your 12-25 Card here.  For €49, the card provides you with a 25-50% discount on all fares in France depending on if you are traveling at a peak or non-peak time.  Depending on the time of your train, you can expect to pay between €10.80 and €16.20 to travel from Paris to Rouen, and the trip takes around an hour and a half.  Once you arrive at Rouen, there is a bus stop outside of the train station.  If you opt to take the bus to arrive at Rouen Business School, wait for the bus line 4 and stop at the bus stop La Varenne.  From La Varenne, walk to the other side of the roundabout and you should be able to see Rouen Business School.  Alternatively, you could take a taxi from outside of the Rouen train station to Rouen Business School for around €10.

If you’re participating on an exchange to a different university, wait for contact to be made with your host university.  They will usually provide some sort of accommodation or assistance to your university from the airport.  

I apologize for not having any exciting traveling adventures.  At this time of the semester, I’m being swamped with a major assignment for most classes, as well as the beginning of my preparation for my final exams.  I’ll be sure to find some adventures next week!

Tenth Week: More Traveling!

Hi everyone!  I’ve been having some problems with the WiFi on residence; I apologize for not writing sooner. 

If you’re interested in participating in an international exchange, there's some work for you to do on your own in preparation of studying abroad.  If you’re interested in studying in France, you must apply for a French Visa to study.  If you’re interested in studying in another country, you may have to research to see if you will need a student visa.  For Canadian students, you must apply for a French B2 Visa.  The process is fairly daunting; be sure to have a look and start the process 2-3 months prior to your departure.

Purchasing your airfare is also a significant step in the exchange process.  University of Windsor students can sign up for an ISIC (International Student Identity Card) free of charge at the UWSA’s office in the CAW Centre, which serves as a discount card abroad.  The ISIC card serves as a discount card for students with discounts around the world. I haven’t personally had any use for the ISIC card, but it may be useful during your exchange.  I purchased my airfare three months prior to my trip, and found that the flight costs were typically cheaper when purchased round trip as opposed to two one-way tickets. My suggestion is to shop around and to compare prices between various websites to find the best deal. 

At Rouen Business School, the past week was our reading week. During this time, I was a host to two friends who had come from Canada to visit me in Europe. As soon as they arrived we quickly began our travels and headed to Berlin and Geneva.

Berlin was a very welcoming city with many places to see and history to rediscover. My friends and I avoided the typical sightseeing tour and instead opted to rent a bicycle and explore the city on our own. Our biking expedition consisted of various stops, including the Brandenburg Gate and the East Side Gallery.  We also took a guided tour 35km outside of Berlin to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp. It was very shocking to think of the horrific events that occurred so recently in history.

The Brandenburg Gate served as one of eight Berlin Wall Crossings during the postwar division of Germany. Click on the photo to view my photo album of Berlin.

Our second stop was Switzerland.  Geneva previously served as the home to the League of Nations and is the current home for the United Nations Office at Geneva. We resided in Geneva but took day trips to Montreux, a community of 90,000 located at the foot of the Alps. Montreux surprised us with a peaceful and quaint atmosphere of the Swiss Alps.  Montreux was filled with countless activities to occupy our time, such as visiting the Château de Chillon and hiking one of the various hiking trails in Montreux.  While exploring the environment, we noticed that Montreux was a popular paragliding destination, and so we researched paragliding expeditions that we could take.  Although a bit pricey, we arranged to paraglide off one of the Swiss Alps, which measured in at a height of 1432 meters above the ground.  While I was a bit nervous prior to the flight, the fifteen minutes in the air elapsed as if I was only airborne for a few brief seconds.

A photo of me as I'm dangling 1,400 meters in the air.  Click on this photo to view my other photos from Switzerland!

  

In case the theme hasn’t been evident throughout my past nine blogs: my international exchange has become one of the most extraordinary experiences in my life!