Getting started in Perpignan - part 1

     by Poonam Ganglani

All of us have experiences to share about our first few days in Europe, thoughts that ran through our minds thinking about the enormity of the transition, things we learned right from the start, memories that will always be associated to the beginning of their great Mundus adventure….and here’s mine:

It was an unearthly hour in the morning in India when I looked out the tiny window of my Lufthansa flight, watching the Anna International Airport in Chennai recede farther and farther away, feeling my face harden and a headache begin to develop. I remember exactly how I felt too-It was as if I was standing in front of a huge dark hole (wisps of heterology already in my system)--about to jump in with my eyes closed.

Twelve sleepless hours, seven packets of roasted peanuts, four chatty neighbours, three labyrinth-like airports and two connecting flights later, I was finally here…here at Perpignan, and the last one to drag my heavy luggage out of the Rivesaltes airport and into the BMW taxi that was to take me to my new home at the Cité Universitaire. I looked outside, absorbing my first impressions of the city. Finally I could take a deep breath. This however, was cut short when I reached my destination and my taxi driver grandly announced the taxi fare: “Vingt-cinq euros s’il vous plait madame”. That was my Lesson number one and should be yours as well: Be prepared with cash in hand for the taxi ride, 25 euros when you’re travelling from the airport and 10 euros from the SNCF Gare to the Cité U.

I paid of course, relieved that at least that the most difficult part of the trip was over…that was before I met the people at the Secrétariat, so I suppose my naivety could be excused!

Having successfully heaved my back-breaking luggage up the slope of the Cité U, I planted myself in front of the Accueil at the entrance and requested for the keys of my studio. Here’s the reply I got:

“Ah, mais le secretariat est exceptionellement fermé aujourd’hui!“
And here’s the precise thought that went through my mind at that moment :
“Aaarrrggggghhhhhhhhh!!!!!”

Lesson number two (to be marked in red!!): Mail the concerned people at the Secrétariat about your date and time of arrival before coming to Perpignan so that they can make the proper arrangements. That’s what I did and fortunately, the initial worry at the thought of having to make other arrangements for the night was replaced by a huge wave of relief when the lady at the Accueil looked up from her register and said “Ah! Mais vous etes Mlle Pounam Gaunglanie! Vous etes dans la liste!” To make a long story short, I got the keys to my studio at Batiment E (which is at the far end of the Résidence Canigou), and finally….FINALLY settled into my new place. It was 15h48 and I lay down on my bed, staring at the ceiling and feeling dizzy with the thoughts zigzagging through my brain, till I drifted off to a long sleep….