INSA Lyon

Housing at that university for people coming from my school definetely suck. The french institution try to maximize their money making by giving the best housings to students that would pay them cash directly therefore I couldn't get a better one because I wasnt going to pay them since I am guaranteed any housing I want because the student that replaced me at my school can get any one he wants. Housing could have been better. I had a fridge in my room but I don't care about that because I am used to not having one but internet was important to me because that was my only link to the U.S. and finding internships and job for the summer but I didn't get that. Therefore I ended up coming back and not being able to work, not even in a supermarket!

Avoid coming any time other than September. Don't trust what a French says: my friends have problems with their jobs. Believe them only when it's signed by them (and even so, don't trust too much) Commercial services are dreadful. I'm coming from a third world country and I can say that it works way much better down there. Why? Salespeople respect you, working time is much broader (here, in the supposed second biggest city of France, markets close at 8pm the LATEST and of course don't open on Sundays). Tuesday is the official day of strikes. Sunday is the official day of protests.

I don't play sports so I'll keep my opinion to myself. The one thing I'll say is that French people are greedy. The guy that replaced me had the choice of any sport he wanted on my 40,000 dollar tuition without paying, but I in return had to pay a yearly fee to play table tennis, money they will not reimburse me. Participate in all the free activities, they are fun especially when you have international friends. Beaujolais, Nuits des Lumieres, Short film festival, 24 Hours etc.... My social life was great and no thanks to the french may I add. French students get wasted at 9pm and go to bed or if they are guys they start dancing with each other in the club and forget that there are girls. That's their idea of fun.

Language and communication for me wasnt a problem because I am bilingual. If you have no idea about the language, academia will be worst for you even though it's bad even knowing the language. So learn it before you head there. My only problem was dealing with the French condescendence. They would always make fun of my accent, comment about it, always a subjust for conversation and that bothered me. They also made fun of the french canadian's accent. Keep in mind that they don't accept differences to well and that people that are supposed to know the language (ei, past colonies) are seen as inferior on many level. Also keep in mind that those 20-21 year olds are quite immature so weight in all factors.