Welliephant Ramblings.

I'm Ellie, 21 years old, studying French and Geography, living France, currently whittering on about going to French Uni, and moving here for my year abroad.

[welliephant]

Why are French McDonald's adverts so much wittier?

[welliephant]

Don't forget your EHIC!

EHIC = European Health Insurance Card

It's fair to say that whilst living in France, I've had to use mine more than most Erasmus students, and seen more of the French health care system than may of them would.

Going to see a doctor in France, and having to speak in French initially seemed very daunting- I didn't have a clue where to go. The easiest way to find your nearest doctor is to stroll into the closest pharmacy and ask them where the nearest surgery is, they can either give you directions, or a list of adresses for you to look up on google maps. Joy.

Initially I was terrified he wouldn't understand me, nor would I understand him. Turns out my fears were unfounded, and it couldn't be easier, just make sure you can describe your symptoms, and a mini dictionary doesn't go amiss, in case you don't understand anything. Don't be alarmed if the local GP surgery is in a block of flats, this is fairly common practice in Europe.

In France you have to pay for all your medical care upfront, before you are re-emboursed some of the cost.  It has been a real eye opener to see how much the drugs and analysese cost.  During 2011, a doctor's appointment should cost around 23€.  I also found it strange, that many tests, that would normally be completed at your GP's, before being sent off, such as urine samples (something I am now expert at) has to be done at a 'laboratoire des analyses', which tend to be in each neighbourhood.  It turns out peeing in a cup can cost anywhere from 14.40€ to 60€ depending on what you are being tested for.  Furthermore, it's astonishing the difference in cost between the brand name label and the knock-off version, a week's course of antibiotics can vary from 16€ to 24.50€, for the same drug.  (If you are asked for your 'carte vitale' at any point, which is the french way of paying for medical expenses, explain you don't have one, and hand over your EHIC)

To be re-emboursed, you need to pay a visit to your local 'sécurité sociale' and not forget to take your EHIC card, a rélève d'indentité (a piece of paperwork with your bank details on, available from your local branch), a photocopy of your 'attestation d'étudiante', and all the pieces of paperwork given to you by the doctor's and your pharmacy (there will be an abundance of it).

If you don't yet have an EHIC you can apply for one here: https://www.ehic.org.uk/Internet/home.do It is essential for all trips within Europe, and is worth noting that if you are partaking in winter sports, you need to buy extra insurance, as the EHIC will not cover you.  For a week away this should cost you less than 30€, but you should ensure it covers being taken off the mountain, as not all policies include this, and fees for transportation are steep if you don't have it (anywhere upto 1000€)! 

Useful vocab:

Je voudrais faire une demande- I would like to make a claim

l'assurance maladie- health insurance

une carte d'assurance maladie européenne- EHIC

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CAF stands for 'caisse nationale des allocations familiales', and it's the governmental organisation who deal with benefits in France.  If you are a student and living in university accomodation (CROUS), and you don't have a job, you are probably entitled to receive CAF.  Follow through the link on this website, click on the tab on the left handside which says 'étudiants' and fill in your information.  Some people have been eligable for as much as 100€ off their rent a month, so it's definitely worthwhile doing!  The only catch is that you will need to open a French bank account for them to pay any money they owe you, and you will need to take a trip down to 'la sécurité sociale', which can be a confusing place at the best of times! Bonne chance!

[welliephant]

Le poisson d'avril (April's Fish)

Ok, so I'm a little bit late posting this one, it should have been on 1st April.  In France, April fool's day lasts the entire day, unlike in England where pulling a prank after midday makes you the fool.  There is a particular joke which is played out every year, especially among children.  The aim is to try and stick a paper cut out of a fish onto someone's back without them noticing: this person is then called the poisson d'avril.

This tradition dates back to the 16th century when Charles IX changed the calendar, so that the new year started on January 1st, rather than the beginning of April.  Those who forgot about the calendar change, or jokers who decided to continue to celebrate new year around April, became targets for pranks at this time of year; the creation of the French April fool's day.  However, the real reason why fish are used remains unknown. Even today, this childish prank still makes it into the media and advertising for large companies such as Epson:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A7WmcWwowk

But the French don't stop there, instead of exchanging Easter eggs, many exchange a chocolate fish and some bakeries produces special viennoiseries for April.  (Little does my dad know that he is receiving a chocolate fish this Easter)

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Operation: Get Fit.

So for various reasons, over the past two or so months, I've managed to gain about a stone in weight.  My boyfriend has watched me turn from fairly confident, to the most self-conscious I've been since I was sixteen. It's strange how a few items of badly fitting clothing can change somebody's own mental image and self-worth.

So I'm not aiming for size zero- who the hell thinks skin and bones is a good look?- but instead my goal is to fit back into my shorts for summer, that would be lovely.  My lovely size 12, well worn, Dorthy Perkin's shorts with the polka dot turn ups.  I love my wardrobe and I don't want nor have the funds, time and patience to try and find a new equally gorgeous one.

So operation get fit (I wanted to call it something cheesey and over used) involves cutting down on the amount I snack- no more crisps or chocolates, and to do more exercise.  I haven't been running in about a year, so I've started going again, starting off on a 3km jog, I'm going to try and stick to this at least once a week, hopefully more if I can hack it.  Last week I needed just two days to recover, but the sense of satisfaction for not giving up, was amazing.  Particularly because I had been convinced after the first kilometre that I simply wasn't going to make it to the end, but when I reached the finish line and punched the air, I think the passing bus driver wondered what the hell was going on. Let's see how long I can keep this up for, shall we?

[welliephant]

I could not be more excited for the release of Friendly Fires second album 'Pala'.  Not gonna lie, if it's anywhere near as good as the first album, it will be my summer soundtrack.

[welliephant]

French Mobile Phones

Phone packages in France vary a lot to what you can get in the UK, here's a round up of the main points:

Credit expires.

The more credit you buy in one go, the longer it lasts.  For example, on Orange, if you buy 5€ of credit it will last a week, 10€ lasts 15 days, 15€ lasts a month, 25€ lasts 2 months, etc.

Good roaming/ texting abroad plans don't exist, on orange it costs around 20 centimes to text a phone that is not a French Metropolitain number.  Whilst roaming it costs even more to text a non-French number- around 40 centimes!

The French are a little backwards with their phones, relatively few have touch screen let alone the latest models; they seem a lot less dependant on their phones than the British.

French networks seem to run on a more local basis, not all of the main providers will work in your area (particularly if you are living in the mountains), or they may have a pour quality signal.

French contracts seem to be much cheaper than in Britain, but on average lasted 24 months, few lasted shorter periods.

French contracts tend to be either for calls or texts, the french don't appear to use their phones in such an all-round manner as the British.

French people speak ridiculously quickly whilst on the phone, and often answer using 'Allo!' instead of bonjour or salut.

Some useful vocab:

un portable- mobile phone

un forfait- a contract

la mobicarte/ à la carte - pay as you go

recharger- to top up

les recharges- top up e.g. 10€ de recharges- 10€ top up

le credit- credit

un reseau (de portable)- phone network

une bonne/ mauvaise réception- to have a good/ bad reception (signal)

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So I learnt the hard way that learning to ski, in French, without a proper instructor, is near goddamn impossible! I went on a weekend away with my friends to a little ski station, about an hour away from Grenoble called Vaujany; the weather was gorgeous, the apartment was ideal, and I couldn't have had a better time, but learn to ski as hoped, I did not. 

It's fair to say I was hopeless. My French friends, who had claimed to be "débutantes" were not, they were already quite capable of skiing, and attemping blue/ red slopes after an hour and a half. Having said that, I did give up after going down the green slope only once. I think it could only have been about 30-40metres long, and I definitely fell over at least ten times; occasionally even on my back with my skis in the air.  You can tell I looked a sight!

Anyway this is a song that perhaps stuck in my head most from the weekend: Pony Pony Run Run- Out Of Control.

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As promised, pictures of the CROUS accomodation in Besancon, if slightly gloomy!  This is my bargain 156€ / month chambre renovée (in case there's any future Erasmus Students out there- all the specifications are on the CROUS website).  The renovée plus rooms are very similar but less 'spatious'; they don't have the larger chair, instead imagine the bed being pushed to the radiator, and the remaining space between the sink and bed being taken up by some kind of tiny shower cubicle/ loo/ sink combo.  Yes, you read right: the ensuite does come out of the 9m2 that makes up the room, you don't get any extra space.  Personally, I'm happy saving 100€ a month and enjoying putting it towards travelling.

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I finally got to France...

I finally got to the small city of Besançon to study at the Université de Franche-Comté (UFC).  I got here at the end of August, but the past few weeks have been absolutely mental.  It's strange how moving to a foreign country, and doing even the most everyday things can wear you out.  Everytime you ask an Erasmus student how they are, the response is always the same "ça va, un peu fatigué" (For non-Frenchies: alright, a bit tired).

Although, I have noticed I'm not speaking as much French as I should or could be.  I seem to have gotten trapped into the Erasmus bubble, I seem to only be socialising with only English, Americans or Germans.  Something I hadn't really anticipated for would be the halls literally just being one big block of rooms, like a hotel.  I was expecting the halls to be split up into flats, but here you are free to roam around the building, onto any floor and any kitchen you like.  I miss having proper sociable communal areas. I mean we have a block of showers, and a block of toilets on each floor, and and several "kitchens" of varying standards, ours consists of: two sinks, two draining boards and four hot plates- between sixty of us (yes 60)!  Having said that, the actual bedroom is pretty nice, a huge desk with lots of storage, shelves, two chairs, a sink, a wardrobe and a fridge, so at 156€ a month, who can complain?  (And that's the price before I get my CAF given back to me)

I'll try and upload some pictures of the rooms at some point.

[welliephant]

Just because summer is finally here, and this song is perfect for it.