Other Lives

Every day goes better with a wee taste of music, isn't it ?
Perfect article then !
Have you ever heard of Other Lives ?

This group of four guys and one girl gives you another definition of a boyband ! Indeed, these American guys with long beards offer a certain style of music, strongly inspired by Radiohead, as they claim.
According to me, their indie-rock music are really great, especially with the special instruments you will hear while listening... Jenny Hsu for example is playing cello, giving the songs its special characteristic.

Although the band was founded in 2006, it is only in 2012 that the band stepped out from shadow and was put in the spotlight with the album Tamer Animals, with the famous song For 12. If you are a huge fan of Grey's Anatomy, then you might have heard the band playing Black Tables in an episode in the beginning of the fifth season (have a look at the video below to remember it).

Tapas y Sangria

Last summer, I had the occasion to go in Spain, and more precisely in Andalucia.
This country is very beautiful and, moreover, holidays there can be very cheap !
Then it was the perfect occasion to enjoy a lot without breaking our piggy-bank !

Andalucia is one of the most beautiful region in Spain and the one I like the most : between heavenly beaches, beautiful cities and a slight montainous terrain, it's perfectly located and offers wonderful views.

My advice would be to spend 2 weeks there to have time to visit the most important and beautiful cities (Granada, Cordoba, Sevilla, Tarifa, Ronda) but also relax the beach (It's holidays right?). The best way to travel through the region is to rent or have a car, then you can arrange your timetable and even sleep in it for the bravest ones !
If you're a student, don't forget to bring your student card to enjoy some fairer prices...

Unfortunately, I only visited Malaga, Sevilla and Ronda as I was there only for 6 days...

• Malaga

This is not a very beautiful city but it is worth spending a day to visit the Alcazaba, the Gibralfaro and then relax on the Malagueta beach. If you are a Museum person, the Picasso Museum is very interesting. Don't miss one of the many tapas bars of the city !

What we liked : The Alcazaba, wandering in the city center and then in the marina by night, the Cathedral.
The flip side : a very crowded city in summer and a lot of buildings going on which makes the city very noisy...

Malagueta Beach

El Alcazaba

Funky facts you didn't know about wine

As a pure French, I love wine and especially its anecdotes and funky facts.
I have selected the best ones, so just get confortable in your chair/sofa, fill your glass of wine and learn funny things while drinking...

According to you, which country consumes wine the most ?

Confession of an Erasmus student

A quote says “Erasmus is not a year in one life, but a life in one year”.

In Glasgow now I stand, living the Erasmus  Experience !

When I first began my studies, the idea of leaving France was deeply rooted in my head – no way I finish my studies without having lived at least one year abroad!

I was very convinced and I was right … I was offered the chance to prepare a double diploma in a foreign uni. The opportunity was too good, the objective scheduled: in September 2014, I’ll be anywhere but France!

Why Glasgow ?

L'Auberge Espagnole (The Spanish Apartment)

Today, I decided to share with you an amazing French movie, about the life of an Erasmus student in Spain : L'Auberge Espagnole (The Spanish Apartment). It was made by Cédric Klapisch and broadcast in 2002, which makes me realize that I was only 8 years old back then !

Still, this movie, mixed between French, English and Spanish, marked my mind and was my leitmotiv : I was determined to do an Erasmus in my early 20’s. Which is exactly what I am doing now !

Xavier, a French student in Economics, has to spend one year in Barcelona in order to obtain a job in the Ministry of Finance. Younger, his dream was to become a writer but the life decided otherwise. 

Then, he left his city, girlfriend and family to live in Barcelona for one year, in a flatshare with multiple nationalities. Even if it’s hard to leave and go in an unknown place,

Lonely Planet : 10 countries to visit in 2015

Sometimes, a compelling desire makes me want to take my luggage, put some stuff higgledy-piggledy, order a plane ticket selected a bit randomly and go stride along a new country, a new culture.

Of course, most of the time it is not likely to happen, so I comfort myself with travel photos, blogs or by making my own list of the places I wanna visit in my life. I also consult some rankings of the "most beautiful places on Earth".
I particurlarly like the Lonely Planet rankings because they are not only based upon the beauty of a country, but also its history and key-facts.

This is why today I decided to share with you the "Top Ten regions to visit in 2015".

Singapour

This year, the city-states celebrates its 50 years of independence ! The former British colony has become an essential place in the business world and is very famous for its skyscrapers.

I've been there once ! Well, that didn't really count, as it was only a stop and I didn't go out the airport ! At first, this city doesn't really attract me but the Garden By the Bay, heavenly beaches and this specific culture makes me want to spend a week there.

Garden By The Bay, Singapore

Namibia

2015 marks the 25 years of independence ! It's the idyllic country for safari and the landscapes are amazing. 

The Kangoo Land

Hello dear readers !

Back to 2010, I had the amazing opportunity to live in Sydney for one month and a half thanks to an exchange trip. I then hosted my Australian friend at my place.

It was the first time I was going that far and for that long. The day of departure, I remember asking myself a thousand questions with a knot in my stomach.

“Will I be able to put two words together? But what do they eat in Australia? Have I at least taken my adaptor?! Damn, I’m sure I forgot it…”
I didn’t know anything, or almost, of this country. The good side was that I wasn’t going alone. Indeed, a friend from college decided to do the same thing. When you’re nearly 16, it is much more comforting and funny! We were already picturing ourselves as party animals, living the high life. We felt we were invincible!

After 24h in the sky, we finally landed in Sydney for this hell of an adventure.

Unfortunately, in six weeks, we didn’t have the time to visit other cities than Sydney so we focused on wandering in and around Sin City (Sydney’s nickname). But believe me, there are plenty of things to see! Plus, if you want to escape a bit, you just have to slightly get away, near Sydney, to find some beautiful countryside and landscapes.

Sydney is a huge city, about 70 times Glasgow’s size and 12145 km²! The French communauty is very developed with more than 20 thousand expats and lots of restaurants, creperies and bakeries claim the Frenchy style.

In terms of experiences, my six weeks in Sydney allowed me to: