Hey guys,

I am a fan of the travel section, albeit a silent follower. Lol, so I want to contribute my quota. This is going to be all about pictures and experiences as an international student in France.

I basically take this pictures for guys who wish to see how life is here (in pictures). Don't worry, I have a lot of images for your viewing pleasure.

So let's go.

Pics:

1. My new life with coins. Here, I have to go back in time and appreciate the simplicity of life. Coins again? Yes
2, 3. My window view
4. My street view

My near plane crash experience

I thought I would be leaving Abuja to Paris on Monday last week, well, I left but returned back to Abuja same day. Lol.

In less than 20 minutes from take off, we perceived the smell of smoke. It was so intense that we raised alarm. Lo and behold, the engine of the plane is faulty. , I couldn't breadth again. I thought of the news the next day of a plane crash, AirFrance 0818 to Paris, but God did not allow that to happen.

The pilot, assistant pilot and flight supervisor received a smoke alarm and was told to return to Abuja immediately. But will the plane reach Abuja? We turned back and headed to Abuja Airport. Waiting for us were fire fighting trucks and officers. Luckily for us, we made an emergency landing, landing far away from other planes. We landed in the airfield side of the airport and were escorted gently by fire fighters and other security personnels.

It was an experience, a sad one but all thanks to God.

So see random photos the Airport.

Compared to what I saw in Ethiopia, our international wing is much better than the Addis Ababa Airport.

After the entire incident, we were lodged in Rockview hotel same night. But due to the shock and trauma, no one enjoyed the superb services the hotel offered us.

We were rescheduled to fly the next day through Addis Ababa Ethiopia to Paris. A very long journey.

Abuja - Addis Ababa = 4hrs, flying 37k ft with the speed of 823km/hr

Addis Ababa - Paris = 6:30mins, flying @ 41kft with the speed of 857km/hr.


See pictures of Rockview hotel (Royal palace) where we lodged. All expenses paid by Airfrance including our transport to and fro the hotel and feeding. (We have the option of ordering for anything we desire, everything was paid by airfrance).

I am a travel thread addict. So, I know the visa question will soon pop up.

I am on PTDF scholarship. All expenses paid scholarship. Except the stress of running around and completing some documents, everything was handled by PTDF. It was still stressful. I paid for the Visa but it will be refunded. Student's Long State Visa VLT-TS is N22k in Abuja and N44k in Lagos. The difference is due to the ignorance of VFS staff in Lagos centre.

My visa took only 1 week, while other scholars that used Abuja collected their Visa within 2 days. So it was very simple. Flight ticket is N699,995k, again, everything was paid by PTDF.


I finally left Tuesday and got to CDG Airport Paris on Wednesday morning.

I was welcomed by a team from Campus France. A very nice driver that took me around Paris, then to the train station to my final destination.

These are random pictures of Paris

We passed through Chinese Quarters on our way to the speed train station. I saw many Chinese people, Chinese Restaurant, etc.

Sweet thread

From the train station to my final destination: Nantes. Paris is a beautiful city, I will be visiting very often though.

Everything about our arrival was well planned. I didn't go with any kobo . Though I have few Ms and some $$, I knew I won't be using it. I aren't going to spend my money. At the airport, we were taken to the bank and was given two months stipend. lol. Then a train ticket to your destination.

Got to my destination, got the key to my room, and rested.

Pics 1 - 4, Pictures of CROUS apartment where I stay

My street view

It's very beautiful out here. Neat environment, very organised set of people, great management system.

See the road and Tram way.

Well, the Tram is like a train but with lesser number of coaches. The bus, car, and Tram are the major means of movement here. It is important to note that all of them run through same road but the tram and the bus has it's time. Very organized, less busy.

Here, you have got to learn how to use the map, and follow the schedule. Everything is simple when you learn how to use it.

I went to my school on Friday. Got my student card and got few pictures too. Just for you, yes you

The school has 3 campuses, Nantes, Brest, and Rennes.

The Nantes campus is more like under ground. You keep going down and down. lol.

Things are quite expensive though. Everything is costly except wines

So I decided to buy Heineken to clear my eyes and welcome my body and spirit including my village people.

I was angry with my village people though. I got a travel clearance certificate (TCC) from them before I traveled, yet they wanted to fvck up but God pass them.

Again, apples are cheap here in Nantes (Pronounced "Nonts" and not N-an-tis )

Any cultural shock?

Absolutely Yes.

1. The people here are so nice that one will need to reevaluate if he is also part of humans. Though they don't laugh publicly (I mean outside with themselves) as we are used to, but menh, they are too good.

2. The ladies? Wonderful people. This is the greatest shock here. These ladies are cool, calm, ready to help, lovely and all. Trust me, I have seen some good Nigerian ladies, but then, it's not comparable. Happy people. Stop them on the way and you will surely have a good conversation. Even the ones that don't speak English at all. Guys, if you think you've got a good woman, come here and you will be shocked.

3. Great management system. Their system though slow (compared to UK and US) is great. Everything works, everything works including the people

Space booked

Keep em coming op, and congrats on your scholarship

I met one PTDF scholar who is here for his Ph.D, so he took me out today to the city centre, where I got the following pictures



I am having issues uploading pictures.

Picture 3 & 4 is the tram

Pictures from the outing today.

It is important to state that everything has time here. Including the time they eat breakfast, lunch and the rest.

Back home, nah anytime you dey hungry be your breakfast time. At least for us who are hustlers.

The Tram and Bus use same ticket. You pay 1.7 euros per hour. I didn't really understand how it works. So what I do is, each time I buy the ticket, I use it until I complete my journey back to my room.

This is how it works

1. Know your destination. Go to the closest Tram way. (It's usually very close to your residence. You see it everywhere)
2. Get a ticket, you can pay with coin or use your Tan Card (subscription is done monthly).
3. Wait for your bus/Train.

So today, I bought 1 hr ticket and used it to and fro, but was caught by the security officers that go around checking for those that boarded either the train or bus with no ticket or old ticket. They met me and I blasted English all through. Shockingly, they also speak English and they explained to me that I can only use it ones for 1 hr.

Pics 1 is the ticket.

Usually, when you are caught, you will be fined 100 euros and it will go on your record which will also affect you if you wish to apply for resident permit.

Random images

Picture 3 is Paris, the rest is Nantes.

Nantes is the 6th largest city in France. A very beautiful city with good people

Random pictures

It's a very beautiful city out here.

Nice pictures.
Enjoy your time in France.

By the way, this thing would definitely be blown off 3MB

Enjoy the view out there.

It's usually sunny until 8:30pm here.

Enjoy France as at today

Everything is beautiful

Following........

Now the Apartment.

It is called CROUS apartment. I think it's a government building for students. Usually subsidized for students. The studio apartment is like a room self contain. I pay the equivalent of 110k/month and it's considered very cheap

In Paris or the Ile de France region, similar apartment is like 500 euros/ month that's 200k/month

Let me rest for now.

It was made for you, hope you enjoyed it?

More pictures coming soon.


I will gist you about my new Chinese friend and France friend

TissuePaper:
Space booked

Keep em coming op, and congrats on your scholarship

Thanks bro

pocohantas:
Nice pictures.
Enjoy your time in France.

By the way, this thing would definitely be blown off 3MB

Thanks

Btw, where have you been?


Are you the itibolibo?

mrphysics:


Thanks

Btw, where have you been?


Are you the itibolibo?

You are welcome. Been around the world...

Yes, I am. The one and only one

Now na you done get chinese and french friends. You no dey waste time. Do us proud.