Accommodation

After weeks of waiting and watching all my friends receive their accommodation from the University of Strasbourg, I finally have mine.

After two years of sharing a bathroom and a kitchen, I wanted my French accommodation to be different; I wanted to have everything to myself, especially since accommodation is so cheap in Strasbourg. In both first and second year in Leicester I paid about £85 a week for my accommodation (bills and internet included). Whilst in Strasbourg, I will be paying £73(€102) a week (all inclusive), and on top of the cheaper rent, I am also eligible to housing benefits (because I am a student) from the French government, where they can cover up to 50% of my rent each month. This is just amazing!!!

Whilst in Leicester I opted for the bedroom with a shared bathroom and kitchen whereas in Strasbourg, for a cheaper price, I opted for a studio apartment and I can’t wait. Don’t get me wrong, I loved living with my house mates for the last two years, the late night talks, the dinner time debates, the house parties, the birthdays cakes and nights outs, I loved every moment of it. But I HATED the mess, the unwashed dishes, and the hair that was everywhere!!!! I hated the overflowing bins, the expired food in the fridge, I just hated the mess and with my studio I won’t have to deal with all of that. Everything will be clean and tidy and if there is a mess, i know that i have no one to blame but myself. Hopefully, with my new accommodation, I can have all the benefits of having friends without the mess.

One thing that I’m not looking forward to is the quality of accommodation in France. I’ve been told by numerous ERASMUS students that French accommodation does not compare to Leicester accommodation. As someone who lived in the cheapest accommodation in first year, it was better than I expected, whereas France is the opposite. The most expensive accommodation barely compares to Leicester’s most basic and the most basic accommodation in France is barely livable.

I’ve also been told that there is no oven in most French accommodations. I don’t know how I’m going to survive without an oven, I practically live off my oven, from cupcakes to chicken, everything goes through my oven. I hope it’s a myth and that they do have ovens. I’ll keep you updated when I get there. Wish me luck!