Us Carls
You know we are everywhere!
I say this because, first of all, I am here with a Gilman Scholarship. It is a scholarship from the federal government meant for students who receive the Pell Grant and who want to study abroad. Today there was a college fair for French students looking at American colleges and universities. Well, here they have both Fulbright and Gilman Scholars and they had a couple of go so that we could explain to them a bit about the educational system- the process, the financial aid, etc. I volunteered to be at this college fair from 1:30P to about 5P. Definitely met lots of parents. It reminded me a bit of when I was in high school looking at where I wanted to go. But I will say that it was interesting looking at it from an international point of view- I mean we had it easy because we live in the US but they had to go into the whole process in a completely different manner.
Point is that there I got to meet a Carleton alum from the class of '04. She was a history major, did the teaching Fulbright in France, is a grad student at Harvard and is in France again getting her doctorate on yet another Fulbright (this time it is the grant). So it was great talking to her. Then we found out that Hai, who is my year at Carleton but also here on a different program, was meeting up with Charlie Cogan, Associate Dean and Director of International Recruitment. After the fair we decided to meet up with them. So at 5:15, we were all starving and there was a reception for all of the people who helped. Let me tell you I ate so much! There was so much cheese! At least ten different types of cheese, 5 types of bread, obviously the choice of red or white wine, and desserts. I mean there were so many desserts! So many delicious, sweet, chocolaty, tart, lemon, mousse-- the kinds of pastries you eye at a pastry shop and decide not to get because they are either to expensive or you just don't want to get it then. I had so much of both... and it was all scrumptious-- I savored every single bite!
Well, afterward, we met up with Charlie, Hai, and Hai's host mom, who I also believe is a Carleton graduate. So like I said, you can really find us Carls everywhere! It was really nice though, to be able to share our stories from different generations; especially for me. Seeing them in a different country and knowing that they live there gives me much more hope in knowing that I can find a way to live abroad (an option I have been considering for quite a while sometime). We talked about politics, studying abroad, old courses, professors, deans, projects. I realized too that there are certain kinds of people that go to Carleton, and frankly, I am glad to make up part of that population.
I got home pretty late because on my way back I decided to take the wrong metro. Actually, it was more because I my mind was going haywire after so much food, and so I found myself in the dead center of Paris. So I decided to walk for a while. It was also dark and lightly raining, but very nice because it was a good time to clear my head. I took the metro (this time the right one) and got home around 9:30P. As for now, I have to start seeing what I am going to take to Madrid for the week that I will be there. I also have to go to the Visa health center (still the Visa process has not ended!) but I hope it will be the last thing I need.
I am still catching up on my previous posts, but I will also keep you updated on the more recent events. Until then, see you soon! I hope you had a lovely weekend. I know that I certainly did.
I say this because, first of all, I am here with a Gilman Scholarship. It is a scholarship from the federal government meant for students who receive the Pell Grant and who want to study abroad. Today there was a college fair for French students looking at American colleges and universities. Well, here they have both Fulbright and Gilman Scholars and they had a couple of go so that we could explain to them a bit about the educational system- the process, the financial aid, etc. I volunteered to be at this college fair from 1:30P to about 5P. Definitely met lots of parents. It reminded me a bit of when I was in high school looking at where I wanted to go. But I will say that it was interesting looking at it from an international point of view- I mean we had it easy because we live in the US but they had to go into the whole process in a completely different manner.
Point is that there I got to meet a Carleton alum from the class of '04. She was a history major, did the teaching Fulbright in France, is a grad student at Harvard and is in France again getting her doctorate on yet another Fulbright (this time it is the grant). So it was great talking to her. Then we found out that Hai, who is my year at Carleton but also here on a different program, was meeting up with Charlie Cogan, Associate Dean and Director of International Recruitment. After the fair we decided to meet up with them. So at 5:15, we were all starving and there was a reception for all of the people who helped. Let me tell you I ate so much! There was so much cheese! At least ten different types of cheese, 5 types of bread, obviously the choice of red or white wine, and desserts. I mean there were so many desserts! So many delicious, sweet, chocolaty, tart, lemon, mousse-- the kinds of pastries you eye at a pastry shop and decide not to get because they are either to expensive or you just don't want to get it then. I had so much of both... and it was all scrumptious-- I savored every single bite!
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| Us Carls (minus Hai) in Paris |
I got home pretty late because on my way back I decided to take the wrong metro. Actually, it was more because I my mind was going haywire after so much food, and so I found myself in the dead center of Paris. So I decided to walk for a while. It was also dark and lightly raining, but very nice because it was a good time to clear my head. I took the metro (this time the right one) and got home around 9:30P. As for now, I have to start seeing what I am going to take to Madrid for the week that I will be there. I also have to go to the Visa health center (still the Visa process has not ended!) but I hope it will be the last thing I need.
I am still catching up on my previous posts, but I will also keep you updated on the more recent events. Until then, see you soon! I hope you had a lovely weekend. I know that I certainly did.
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