Université Laval

I was overwhelmed with the many places offered to partake in Québec City's vibrant nightlife. Having been there during the Festival d'été, there were many open air concerts and performances to choose from. Popular nightspots include Chez Dagobert, which has an amazing dancefloor (but a less than desirable atmosphere), the trendy Chez Maurice across the street. Also nearby is Liquid, a club with three different rooms providing for a lot of variety. All of these are located on the Grande Allée Est, along with popular restaurants and North American fast food joints. Most of the clubs have a small, if not no cover charge! Rue St. Jean is also a great street: be sure to go to the Kashmir night club, the Casse-Crepe Breton Creperie, and Pub St-Alexandre - they are all must visits and well worth your time and money. For those days when you don't want to go downtown, the university pub, "Le Pub", is a hotspot on Thursday nights.

Recommended! I stayed in Pavillon Agathe-Lacerte which was an all-girls residence. Most international students stay in Pavillon Alphonse-Marie-Parent, and while the rooms are not as nice as in Lacerte, the kitchen facilities are excellent, as is the atmosphere. (That is if you prefer a little more liveliness!)

Québec City is at least 96% French-speaking. This, and the focus on speaking in French at all times at the university allowed me to improve my French immensely. Socio-cultural activities and partaking in the nightlife gave me the chance to learn a great deal about Québec culture from the locals. (And to get used to that québécoise accent...!)

If you are a Canadian student, take a look at the Summer Language Bursary Program. If you apply and are chosen (through a random draw) you will receive a bursary of about $1600 that covers tuition, room and board, and some other costs. It is an extraordinary opportunity, with programs offered not just at Université Laval, but in other Francophone institutions around Canada. This has truly been my best summer to date. Meeting people from all over Canada, the United States, Mexico, and other pockets of the world, and enjoying the Québec culture and the city's European flavour was much like finding a chest full of many treasures.

Lots of bank machines around campus, just be prepared for ATM service charges and charges that your home bank will apply.