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I want to go abroad for a year or a half. To study abroad, thanks to Erasmus studies programs.
Now here are my alternatives:
FRANCE
It is almost sure I'd be given this opportunity, and there are a couple of cities I can chose. Now good historical studies are in Montpellier, Besancon, Poitiers. But I need a place where there are arabic studies as well. Paris would be good, because there's teh great INLCO, National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilisations. But I don't like Paris. I've been to Poitiers and it's a lovely city. Oh, there was a tiny incident of some homeless guy taking out his weener and peeing in the middle of the main road, but at least thanks to this I will not forget this city. I've been to Montpellier, but I don't remember anything at all of it. I haven't been to Besancon. but my mother has been studying there for a while and says it was fine. And the guy responsible for foreign contacts at my historical studies (being responsible for my thesis as well) praised it as well. But I must know if they have arabic studies there as well.
The lady responsible for my thesis at arabic studies told me her friend is profesor of history at some south-french university, possibly Montpelier. She is Armenian, after arabic studies and interested in byzantine studies, which would make her a great help for me, because my thesis at historical studies shall be about byzantine-arab border in X century.
I must get in touch with her.
The big plus of a stay in France would be that my french would ameliorate. Right now I understand like 95% of what I read in this language, and perhaps 75% of what I hear, but when I have to write, and especially say, something, I can hardly do it.
TURKEY
My original idea was to study in Turkey. In fact it is an idea I first got like 5 years ago. But I was told by the guy I've mentioned that they transfer Erasmus places assigned to historical institute to oriental institute anyway, and I could go study only where the lectures are in english (I wouldn't be able to understand turkish lectures anyway). But there are none of these. The guy I've mention could make a new deal with Sabanci Universitesi, a private university in Istanbul, just for me (they've done something like this before), but I'd be afraid of this. This is a private university. It's said to be very good, but I've seen their advertisements, where they demand enormous money for studies. And surely I wouldn't get free housing there.
My turkish would surely ameliorate, but I don't know if there's use developing it. It will never be really good, and my french can be.
GREECE - Saloniki
Now I love Byzantium, and I always wanted to learn greek. I can do it in France and Turkey as well, but not as good as in Greece itself. Also, I could get free housing at Mark G's or Paliologos' house
I don't know if they have arabic studies there, but surely they have someone with knowledge about Byzantium.
But my greek will never become good. Only french is a language that with some practice I can become good in.
Anyway, help me chose.
Now here are my alternatives:
FRANCE
It is almost sure I'd be given this opportunity, and there are a couple of cities I can chose. Now good historical studies are in Montpellier, Besancon, Poitiers. But I need a place where there are arabic studies as well. Paris would be good, because there's teh great INLCO, National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilisations. But I don't like Paris. I've been to Poitiers and it's a lovely city. Oh, there was a tiny incident of some homeless guy taking out his weener and peeing in the middle of the main road, but at least thanks to this I will not forget this city. I've been to Montpellier, but I don't remember anything at all of it. I haven't been to Besancon. but my mother has been studying there for a while and says it was fine. And the guy responsible for foreign contacts at my historical studies (being responsible for my thesis as well) praised it as well. But I must know if they have arabic studies there as well.
The lady responsible for my thesis at arabic studies told me her friend is profesor of history at some south-french university, possibly Montpelier. She is Armenian, after arabic studies and interested in byzantine studies, which would make her a great help for me, because my thesis at historical studies shall be about byzantine-arab border in X century.
I must get in touch with her.
The big plus of a stay in France would be that my french would ameliorate. Right now I understand like 95% of what I read in this language, and perhaps 75% of what I hear, but when I have to write, and especially say, something, I can hardly do it.
TURKEY
My original idea was to study in Turkey. In fact it is an idea I first got like 5 years ago. But I was told by the guy I've mentioned that they transfer Erasmus places assigned to historical institute to oriental institute anyway, and I could go study only where the lectures are in english (I wouldn't be able to understand turkish lectures anyway). But there are none of these. The guy I've mention could make a new deal with Sabanci Universitesi, a private university in Istanbul, just for me (they've done something like this before), but I'd be afraid of this. This is a private university. It's said to be very good, but I've seen their advertisements, where they demand enormous money for studies. And surely I wouldn't get free housing there.
My turkish would surely ameliorate, but I don't know if there's use developing it. It will never be really good, and my french can be.
GREECE - Saloniki
Now I love Byzantium, and I always wanted to learn greek. I can do it in France and Turkey as well, but not as good as in Greece itself. Also, I could get free housing at Mark G's or Paliologos' house
I don't know if they have arabic studies there, but surely they have someone with knowledge about Byzantium.
But my greek will never become good. Only french is a language that with some practice I can become good in.
Anyway, help me chose.
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