Our Spring break was very cool and interesting! 

The first week end we have been to Ellyn's house (Ellyn is Laura's roomate) Her parents live 20 minutes away from the University. Ellyn was born in this house and it is full of memories for her. We met her parents and her brother and sister. They were very welcoming and it was nice to be in "a real family" for a week end. We have been to an outlet near Philadephia were I bought many things! And the Sunday we also have a brunch at her grandparents' house with all Ellyn's cousins. They were vey nice and it was a great moment in an American family.

Then from the Monday until the Friday we have been to NEW YORK! It was the second time for me because I have been there with my family for the 2007 New Eve. But this time it was less cold and less crowded! We found a cheap room in an hotel because we take it in "last minute" (check expedia if you want to do the same!) It was literally at 30secondes to Time Square! We visited Time Square, 5th Avenue, Central Park, the Financial District, we took the Staten Island Ferry (which is free) to see the Statue of Liberty, walked through Brooklyn Bridge, seen Soho, China Town and Little Italy. We also visited the Empire State Building, the MoMA, the Museum of the City of New York and the Museum of New York Society! It was a really great week even if it is expensive to stay in New York it was fantastic to be in the city that never sleeps!

Finally we stayed at Kelly's house the last week end! Kelly is one of our heightmates and the nicest person in the whole America! Her parents also live near DeSales and it was really relaxing to stay at her house after New York. We cooked and went shopping which was perfect!

Here some pictures of our Spring Break!

The New York TImes Headquarters

South Manhattan

Brooklyn Bridge

Laura and I in Time Square

Empire State Building View

Central Park with Laura and Kelly

I hope you enjoyed this article!

Pauline

Using cannabis for medical purposes is allowed in 20 states in America. For the first time an ad on TV propose a medical assistance using cannabis. The ad comes from marijuanadoctor.com and should be on CNN, Fox and ESPN in New Jersey and Chicago in April.

The ad is already posted on Youtube before and have been seen many times.

I think that for a legal product, this is a funny ad. The goal is not just to be fun but also to make the target think about it. It tries to convinced them that now cannabis is allowed and it is normal to go to a real store, buy it to a real company and not to dealers. The target is young and people in employment that already smoked cannabis or are sick and need some.

I can't imagine see this kind of ad in France because, of course, cannabis is illegal. But I think that this is a funny ad that could be understand in France.

And you, what do you think about it?

Pauline

Hello everyone,

I come back today with a new article in which I want to talk more deeply about the classes and particularly about behavior and cultural differencies.

In fact, since the first week, I noticed distinctions. For example, students are allowed to drink and eat in classes. But I have never seen a professor doing that.

Classes last one hour or one hour and a half, but if the professor had finish his class everybody can leave even if we just stay 30 minutes in the class. Because there is a syllabus that the teacher follows. If we have to talk about chapter 2 on wednesday we will and we will not begin chapter 3 if it is schedule for next week. 

I also noticed that textbooks are extremely expensive compare to French's textbooks. And here everybody buy all the books even if it represents a substancial budget. But we rent them online for 100 dollars instead of buy them for 300!

Concerning the homeworks, we have to read the chapter before going in class and then we discuss it with the teacher. In France we discover the chapter in class and then learn it at home. I also have many papers to do. Contrary to France where we are very free concerning the layout, here it is very codified and professors ask us if they want an APA or MLA style.

Finally, teachers make a lot of jokes with students and it is funny because at the beginning Laura and I were surprised!

I hope you will enjoy this article!

My textbooks for the semester!
I rent them on Chegg!

Obviously the first reason of my trip here is to study! I had to choose 4 classes to follow and here the list:

Native American Culture

This class is very interesting because it shows us an historical aspect of the US that we ignored. We talk about the Native American tribes and the teacher is very funny and speaks French!

Intro to Mass Communications

It is an interesting class even if I had to work (read chapters in the book, write papers, ...) but it is usefull! We talk about the Media and their influence into our lifes. I can also use my knowledge in marketing. The teacher speaks very fast but he is funny and helpful! I hope this will make me progress my English.

International Marketing

This is my hardest class but it is really interesting. We talk a lot about open-mindedness and the differences between the USA and other countries so I think the teacher is glad to have a foreign student. He is really funny and always make jokes but this made his class really living.

Economics of Public Issues

This class is an introduction to economics. For me it is perfect because I am not really good in this class in France. We learn the basis and the principles are not the same that those we have learn. The teacher explains very well and is also really fun! We have a lot of things to read and on-line quizzes but it is not so hard.

My next article will talk about the cultural habits that I noticed here in the US because it is very different than in France!

I hope your enjoy this article!

When I leave the height in the morning for my classes!

This first week at DeSales was really fantastic!

We arrived at Newark and Brian MacDonald who is in charge of international students welcomed us! One hour later we were in the University and Meg, a theater major was here. She went abroad in England last year and because she loved her intergration she decided to do the same for international students who come to DeSales!

So from Thursday to Sunday Meg shows us the University and we went to a shopping center. We also meet Ruben, he is also an exange student from Spain.

The university is really cool! There is a library, a restaurant, two café, a gym, many buldings with classrooms and others with bedrooms. But the thing that we like the most with Laura is that the field is very huge. It is like a park with paths, geese and does!

Laura and I lived in the heights. These 3 buildings are called like this because they are at the North of the University and on a little hill. Each building is divided in 8 housses that the students called "a height". In each height there is a lounge, two and a half bathrooms, washer and dryer and 4 double rooms. So Laura and I are in the same height (Height 19! <3) but not in the same bedroom. The girl with who I share the bedroom is my roomate and the others with who I share the height are my heightmates!
Most of the students of the heights are seniors and they are all very friendly! It is so cool because everybody talks to us and wants to know us. 

Maybe you can guess by reading me that I am very exciting to be there! We meet very kind and nice person and it is like we know each other since years...

I try to benefit from every moments here and to do a lots of things! I'll be back soon to talk more about the classes that I take!

Pauline

The view from my bedroom!

The basketball courtyard!

Ruben, Laura, Meg and I at Meg's Birthday Party last saturday (the theme was the 1980s!)