Planete Bleue

I was introduced to many etudients staying in my apartment home on sunday evening
itself by the manager, hery. But, got to talk with them properly on tonight. Most
are Europeans, specially French or Swiss. But, quite a few are half-something else,
like Moroccan or Lebanese, etc. A very friendly lot. Most study at EPFL or UNIL.
Many of them are having their year-end exams now, so very busy. Some are visiting
like me. When they are in a group, they talk in French, of course. sometimes was
feeling a little stupid at not knowing french. They were very apologetic for their
bad English, which made me even more guilty.
many people here have a fascination for america. maybe for the riches...maybe something
else. many of them want to spend sometime there as an exchange visitor.
When the topic of war came up, the swiss did not seem so neutral at all. most of them
are horrified at what Bush is doing. And told me that they too call british the 51st
state of America. they are not proper Europeans in their words. The rage against Bush
seems pervasive - I saw a lot of wall graffiti in the city with "Fuk Bush" or something
of that sort written.

One of roommates is Clara, and is from Paris. She is doing Chemistry at EPFL, and might
switch to Chemical - well, those subjects are close as I always had imagined. but,
in IIT chemical was similar to mechanical. maybe, because engineering rules in India.
donno...Anyway, she was having her exam week and has something like 11 subject exams
in next 2 weeks..that's some load these people have here. You have to study very hard,
if you are at EPFL it seems.