travel preparatory steps, visa and integration problems

Etant donné que mon blog est centré sur ma vie ailleurs, je m'intéresserai aussi de parler de pleines de choses comme: ma préparation pour venir étudier en France (comment j'ai dû laisser ma famille et mes copains), le problème de visa (étant anglophone), mon arrivé en France, comment j'ai repri mes études (mon esprit de "never say die), rencontré des amis chinois (centre de langue pour étudiants étrangers), mon intégration en France, la possibilité d'avoir décroché une place à l'université après ma réussite au examen de Texte de Connaissance de langue Française (TCF), ainsi que mes nombreuses voyages et découvertes.

Mon blog comportera de deux langues: l'Anglais (langue officielle de mon pays) et le Français (langue adoptive, où je vie et poursuivre mes études).

I invite interested readers of my blog to bear with the fact that I write both in French and in English. This is due to the fact that I am originally English speaking; the French language is because I was an undergraduate of "Modern European Languages" majoring in French language, a discipline I droped out from in my third year to follow up studies in France on a fresh slate.

My choice to study French language in the university in an English speaking country came from the fact that my country Nigeria (in West Africa, popularly called "the heart beat of Africa"), is surrounded by the francophone African countries (former French colonies). I always envied the tranlators at the Economic Community of Western African States (ECOWAS) meetings and I saw the need in acquiring this knowledge. When the opportunity came knocking on my door to live and study abroad, I decided to give it a try. Besides, my university was always on stike!

And here, the trouble begins. The difficult task to convince the embassy to trust in one and let go of the visa. When you are an african and wish to study abroad, you have to give the benefit of doubt to the embassies that your mission is genuine (mostly our europian counterparts) and my nigerian brothers can testify.

You might wonder why all these stories, it still relates to my ideology of fighting and never give up. Of course I finally got the visa (after three refusals), if not I would not have mentioned it that I live and study in France.

Eventhoug I was an undergraduate of french language, on my arrival in France, I had to start all over.
I was asked to register into a programme of french for foreigners if I wish to follow up studies in the university.
At first I thought it was useless and a waist of time but I finally realised how important it was. I strongly advice that a student, worker or a wife of an expat who wishes to spend quality time in a country that does not speak ones language of origine, should try and enroll in one of the language classes. This will enable your easy communication and understanding of your new environment.

Some list of language centres in the city of Lille (France):

- CLARIFE LILLE
Campus Saint Raphael
Université Catholique de Lille
60 Boulevard Vauban

Tel: 03.02.57.92.19

- CUEEP LILLE
9/11 Rue Angellier
Lille

Tel: 03.20.58.11.11

- DEE VILLENEUVE D'ASCQ
Université Lille3
Domaine du Pont de Bois

Tel: 03.20.41.63.83
62.96

You can as well check on the "EduFrance" site. You will find all the adresse you need.

I met with lovely friends, mostly my chinese friends at the centre of French language for foreign students, with whom I shared very wonderful time.

I later moved on into the univerity of law and I am at the moment in the departement of administation, economics and social sciences, where I am expected to graduate in the next two years (with hope there are no carry overs).

While in school, I profit of my holidays to visit the world, meet knew people, learn new cultures and expand my horizen in every way that I can (intellectually and ortherwise).

A peep into my world in image. I live by the day to discover new things and seek for more adventures.......