NYU Orientation –
Thursday, September 11th – Saturday, September 12th
Thursday afternoon was the first part of my orientation at
NYU-France. It was PACKED with
information.. Ranging from the practical
(how to get a package mailed through customs easily) to the vaguely detailed
(sitting in on classes without being told when the classes are) to the
intricately detailed (things we all hope will be repeated, preferably in
writing). While the whole day was full
of information, I am hard pressed to really say what things I really learned
from that day.
Friday and Saturday were spent at Giverny. Upon descending from our bus at Giverny we
were installed in 4 different houses; All 20 of us had our own room and each
house had at least one sitting room and was fully provisioned for breakfast the
next day. The houses, like everything in
Giverny, were picturesque and so quaint!
Then it was off to a delicious lunch (chicken with a mouth watering
potato gratin followed by apple tart).
After lunch, we had a general information meeting with the
head of each of our programs. It was
very interesting to hear that my program is a Professional Masters Degree –
that is that it is tailored to a single career future. While I knew if was tailored to teaching, I
had not thought of it in those terms. It
gives it a different light I hadn’t considered. We also learned that some of our Wednesday
classes this quarter do not happen every week.
Now, more than before, I am even more confused about the Thesis I have
to write during my time here - hopefully it will become clearer as time passes
though.
Next we had a lecture on “Impressionism” – the word and how
it came into existence and usage. It was
VERY interesting and attacked the subject from so many different sides – even
my professors were taking notes!
The next morning I had a little oral exam (10 minutes
chatting with a professor and then a 15 listening test). It seemed to go well; it was just to divide a
particular class into two smaller groups.
I’m in the first time slot, which means that my days don’t all end after
8pm AND that I can check out Photography Club!
We visited a special museum exhibit on impressionism while
keeping in mind the evolution of the word “impressionism”. It was a really good exhibit. I was particularly struck by one work and am
going to look into the artist (Gustave Doré – Les Ombres des soldats français du passé exhortent l’armée à la
victoire).
The afternoon was filled with advising and visiting Claude
Monet’s house and gardens. I took some
beautiful photos! http://www.flickr.com/photos/76555621@N02/sets/72157631603810220/
Everyone in the graduate programs seems great. The professors are friendly and personable
and all of us students seem like we’ve known each other for years and get along
very well. It is funny to find out how
spread out we all are in Paris though – we’re in almost every
arrondissement!
There are currently 9 people in my program and there may be
one more person joining us. The other
programs, Literature and Language/Civilization, have 4 and 7 people
respectively.
A day of relaxation
– Sunday, September 23rd
Today I have done so much and nothing at all. I started the day off by rejoicing that my
internet connection decided to function.
I then proceeded to do many days of housekeeping on my computer.
Then it was off to the Sunday Market a few blocks away to
get vegetables and fruit for the next few days.
It was one of those events were I had to withhold joyous squeals of
excitement – MY FIRST REAL MARKET. I
have gone through markets and looked and bought things before, but never as a
RESIDENT! I’m going to try to go every
week! And things really are cheaper
there! Look at what I got for under 4
euros!!!
Two large carrots, 6 small potatoes, a melon, a bunch of
green beans, some small bananas, and a kilo of peaches and nectarines!....
The rest of day I have spent doing little things to prepare
for the week and to relax. Tomorrow is
my first day of graduate school!!
No comments:
Post a Comment