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Biking in France
Thursday, March 23rd, 2023 It’s been more than two and a half months since I’ve been here, so I finally decided to get myself a bike. The frequent strikes and tram closures have made it difficult to get to class on time. And with my new internship position, I can’t risk waiting for a tram… Continue reading
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Time to eat: Lunchtime in France
Saturday, March 18th, 2023 How long does it take you to eat your lunch? And more importantly, do you multitask when eating or do you just take time to sit and enjoy the food? Personally, I take anywhere from 10- 40 minutes to eat lunch and am typically watching something, calling someone, reading a book,… Continue reading
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On the French Education System
Saturday, March 18th, 2023 After the midterm season in France, I think I’ve finally started figuring out some of the major differences between the American education system and the French. Throughout the semester, I have been noticing that there is less homework in France compared to university classes in the US. In the US, I… Continue reading
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My Brown Identity in France
Sunday February 26th, 2023 My identity as a first-gen South-Asian has always been very close to me. But being in France has made me reexamine my relationship with racial and cultural identity. For a very long part of my life I was ashamed of being Indian-American. A lot of it had to do with being… Continue reading
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Self Deprecation is a No-No and Being Correct is a Yes-Yes in France
Sunday, February 26th , 2023 Something I’ve never realized about myself is the extent to which I say something self-deprecating. Self-deprecation, as I see it, is much more normalized in the US. In fact, it is implicitly encouraged and those with the ability to flippantly dismiss themselves are seen as humble (with a good sense of… Continue reading
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The French Strikes as Experienced by an American Exchange Student
February 8th, 2023 It’s been about one month since I landed in France and there have already been three nationwide strikes. The fourth is happening this Saturday. The Macron government’s refusal to compromise on proposed pension reforms to raise the retirement age has resulted in frequent agitation and disruption. As a student who attends Columbia… Continue reading
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Some Thoughts On Riding the (French) Tram
As someone who rides the NYC subway and the NJ transit frequently, I thought the trams in Grenoble would be much the same. And in some ways, they were a familiar sight. Here too people look tired and drained, a type of monotony exemplified in the way that they sit back and scroll through their… Continue reading
About Me
A Biomedical Engineering & Pre-health Student at Columbia University. Interested in exploring new places and trying new things!
The International Engineer 