Tag: technology

Drag race, midterms, and public transportation

Published on by Abigail HopperLeave a comment

Another week down. How is it already October??

Here in Rennes, fall weather is in full swing, and I’m loving it so much. The leaves turning colors, the start of Christmas decorations popping up in the city, and the warm drinks are all so lovely—it feels like a cozy movie scene every day.

This week, I have hit around the half-way mark in my classes, so a lot of this week I’ve been in and out of various libraries and coffee shops. With an increase in rainy weather, I’ve also started using public transportation a lot more and now am pretty confident navigating the buses and metros, which is a feat I’d say! They’re not complicated, but very different than what I’m used to back home. Sometimes I find myself missing the ease and comfort of a car in the US, but I also really appreciate the prioritization of the environment and not contributing to traffic.

One of the highlights of my week: I went to a show alone and it was amazing. I’ve been obsessed with Drag Race (who isn’t?), and after getting a bit too into Drag Race France, I found out they were touring and coming to my city. I got a ticket and went by myself, and omg—I loved every minute. The energy, the performances, and just being surrounded by people who appreciate drag culture was really special. Queer culture in France hasn’t been something I’ve seen much of yet, so this felt like such an immersive and joyful experience. And going alone was great because I met so many people and had the chance to practice my French (and pick up some new slang :).

Then bright and early the next morning, a few friends and I took a trip to Avranches in Normandy and hiked along the coast. It was a bit cold, but so gorgeous—the coastline here never gets old! It reminded me that every adventure doesn’t have to be some faraway destination; there’s so much beauty close by 🙂

This week I’m also hitting TWO MONTHS of being in France, meaning I’m almost 1/4 of the way through the whole year. I didn’t realize how quickly it truly would pass. But I’m trying to take advantage of every minute of it! Next weekend I’m going to Mont St. Michel, and have some other trips coming up soon that I’m really excited about!

Thank you for reading!!

Keeping in Touch

Published on by DU Abroad1 Comment

The beauty of modern technology is that it is advancing by the minute. By the time you read this, there may be an even more convenient, cooler invention for keeping up with friends and family around the world. However, for the time being, here are some great programs and apps to keep in mind while you’re abroad, or for keeping in contact with friends that you make while you’re abroad once you get home.

For iPhone users:  

  • Viber:  If you’re an iPhone user and you want to talk with another iPhone user anywhere in the world, you can use Viber to make calls and send texts for free. It uses your data or Wi-Fi, so you don’t have to worry about expensive roaming charges.
  • FaceTime:  Even better than Viber, FaceTime allows you to video chat for free! It only works when both parties are on Wi-Fi, so make sure that you’re connected before dialing.

For BlackBerry users:

  • Blackberry Messenger:  Though Blackberries are becoming slightly less common in the United States, they are still fairly popular in many other parts of the world. If you are a Blackberry user, be sure to collect Blackberry PINs from friends and family that are Blackberry users as well. You can then Blackberry Message (BBM) friends from anywhere, and to anywhere in the world!

For smartphone users: 

  • WhatsApp:  If you own any kind of smartphone (iPhone, Blackberry, Droid, etc.), WhatsApp is a definite must. It costs $1 on iPhones, and is free on all other smartphones. It allows you to text message over your data and/or Wi-Fi to anywhere in the world, totally free. You can even picture message!

For computers:

  • Skype:  I’m sure most of you have heard of Skype, but if you haven’t you definitely need to check it out! It can be used on Smartphones and computers, allowing for easy video or voice calling around the world. Also, you can load money on your Skype account to call international phones directly. Prices can be found at: http://skype.com/intl/en-us/prices/payg-rates/
  • Google Chat:  Whether you use Google for your email provider or not, Google Chat is definitely something to invest some time in. You can instant message, video chat, and also load money onto your account to call landlines and mobile phones directly. Prices can be found at: https://www.google.com/voice/rates

Of course, don’t forget to disconnect from technology and enjoy your local surroundings while you’re abroad!!!!  But keeping in contact with family and friends is important, so be sure to utilize the many options that are available to you! Find the one (or two, or three) that work best for you… and be sure to keep in touch!