Erasmus saga

Finally I've managed to bring myself to writing this post :P

When I first applied to study French in the UK I noticed that every course has a compulsory year abroad. YAY was my first thought, especially as back home it was said that taking an Erasmus semester is recommended but everyone can not go anyway. Ok so I was happy a year in France.

This year has been pure horror in trying to sort it out though. We have 4 choices in what we can do

1. Teaching assistant - only for native English speakers
2. Erasmus - limited number of places
3. Find a job - (no bar/pub etc jobs) + not allowed for ex beginners
4. A language course - you have to pay for it yourself (reimbursed to a certain extent later but no income at all)

And since I am a poor Eastern European student who does not speak English I only have one option basically - Erasmus placement that is. We had a number of general meetings until they split us up depending on our choice for next year. And then all hell broke loose. They found out that they had too many applicants and not enough partnership places. Well I couldn't care less you fix it! because that is my only option!!!! Btw they figured this out after the teaching assistants had already applied meaning that no one could change their minds anymore and apply for the previous (we had a couple who would've done just that). Our co-ordinator actually tried to scare us away saying that we have to take a language course and whatnot. Blah blah blha yeah it would be better for my language skills BUT how the hell would I support myself financially??? At least with Erasmus I'll get some kind of bursary, nothing much but still a little something.

Then choosing where I want to go, initially we had about 12 places in 5 universities - La Rochelle, Nantes, Geneva, Paris and Besancon. Like I didn't want to live in London I do not want to go to Paris - too expensive, Geneva is the same, Besancon is in the middle of nowhere, so that leaves Nantes and La Rochelle, the last one being near the sea :) So for the whole year that was my first choice. And we had to give him our choices for about 5 times, omfg no one is going to change their minds until you actually start telling certain people to get the ffff out we do not have a place for youuuu!!!! But no he tried to indimidate people away, and he succeeded. For the whole year I was ready to hear a sorry, no, you will not get an erasmus placement and then freaking willing to fight for it with threats, tears and whatnot. Do everything I could to get it. As I heard that was a popular choice after Paris and we had about 20 people more than places. You can understand why I was worried right?

Fastforward to April this year, when we had our final meeting and finally the placements were to be revealed. The day before that he sent us a list of new placements. OMFG there were so many new places, especially in South France - where I'd wanted to go from the beginning. Toulouse, Montpellier, Corsica, Toulon. As soon I saw that Corsica was on offer and their webpage was quite decent - updated regularly and actually had all the information on it (trust me it is so rare to find a proper webpage for French universities). I wanted to go there with Montpellier as my second choice - who cares about La Rochelle anymore (I'd been telling people all year long that I'd go there). So sent him an e-mail stating that. And of course I got an answer back saying that he can't guarantee anything but good luck! When the hell are you going to be in charge and make the decision on who gets to go where and who's left out?! There is no more time to wait for people to drop out themselves! 

I was holding my breath during the meeting - the usual mambojambo we've heard a zillion times already cut to the freaking chase already!!! People want to know where they are going! And finally we had to make a list again to say where we want to go. I've done this 10 times already!!!!! And basically everyone got their forst choice! Unfreakingbelievable! I was so happy! And guess what! He had scared away so many people that there were actually more places than applicants by that time - it was left quite late this year - due to the high number of applicants. So finally he said why doesn't anyone want to go there and there???? I've worked so hard for this partnership and wouldn't want to see it go to waste. Well shouldn't have told people off earlier then!!!! And forced them into taking a language course!!!!!!!

I'll write a follow up shortly since the saga is not over yet, lol, the next part will focus on stupid bureaucracy and filling in documents.

Ttyl ;)

Jazzz...