The Technograph

High speed train station in Marseille, France

Studying abroad is a unique experience that only the privileged can take part in. Adapting to a different culture over the course of four, five, or nine months—not just a vacation—forces one to learn about how other people live, how the world really works, and about who they are and who they want to be. For me, the challenges and rewards of spending a semester in southern France have come in many forms, one of which is learning about European technological trends and how Europeans use technology. Really, it is not so different than how we use technology in America, especially in this rapidly globalizing world. Yet here are some variations that deserve noting, along with some tips that future voyagers can benefit from:

Did you know that there are keyboard formats other than QWERTY? I didn’t, until I looked at the keyboards in the computer lab at my institute. Instead, it is AZERTY format and has keys for accent marks, French quotation marks, and other symbols like “œ.” Tip: Start typing on one of these without hunting-and-pecking and you’ll be writing quite a bit of gibberish.

I’m pretty sure that European drivers attempt to qualify for Formula One everyday. But beyond their fast speeds (and fast brakes!), the cars here are small in order to accommodate smaller roads and higher gas prices. Also, there are almost no automatic transmissions on the road. Although Europeans may claim it’s because they aren’t lazy, the efficiency and cost is what’s holding automatics back. Tip: Roundabouts are near-impossible to navigate for the passive pedestrian; taking initiative is what makes drivers stop. Still, walk with caution!

To my young-adult, convenience-loving delight, my host mother had Internet in her apartment. Internet is not as common as in the U.S., nor as reliable. Also, almost all networks are password protected and cafés reserve passwords for paying patrons only. Tip: Skype is a great way to keep in touch while abroad. It’s just $2.95 per month for unlimited calls to the U.S. from your computer. Just don’t forget about the time difference!

Rather than debit cards, a lot of Europeans use Visa Electron cards. Unavailable in the U.S., these cards require validation of funds with every transaction, never allowing an account to be overdrawn. American Visa and MasterCard credit cards work as well, but occasionally the number and expiration date is printed on the receipt. Tip: Bank of America is a part of the Global ATM Alliance, meaning you can use ATM’s of other Alliance banks without the customary $5 charge.

One of my favorite things about Europe is its high-speed trains. In France, the TGV (pronounced “tay-jay-vay”) can take you coast-to-coast in under five hours, making a weekend in Paris is more than manageable. The U.S.’s only high-speed train at this point, the Acela Express, travels from Boston to D.C. While the Acela Express cars are much heavier in order to comply with the Federal Railroad Administration’s rail crash standards, they use the same asynchronous, AC traction, electric motors as the TGV. Tip: High-speed travel can be expensive, so looking into a Eurail Pass may be a good idea. Just be aware that seat reservations for high-speed trains are required!

Tagged with: Paris, technology, college, abroad, foreign, international, student