Newsletter N1

Hello everyone--
I wanted to give you a few updates on issues relevant to the Agris Mundus group. First of all, I want to remind you all that if you have any problems, questions, or ideas, please don磘 hesitate to relate these to me or your M1 program representative. Secondly, I want to announce that Claudio will be the representative for questions relating directly to the Erasmus Mundus scholarships. In this capacity, he will at some point have a meeting with people from the larger Erasmus Mundus structure in Brussels, Belgium. This is to say that if you have any ideas or complaints specifically regarding the administration of your scholarships, tell them to Claudio so he can make your concerns heard in Brussels. I also want to tell everyone that we would like to make this page into something more official. Who knows how far in the future this will be, but ideally it would consist of a page with our own domain name and a much more in-depth, accessible setup. Again, if you have any opinions or input regarding this, please email me or Claudio. And lastly, I want to thank everyone for your stories and pictures from the orientation week. As you read this, Michele Issaly is putting together a CD album of the photos, and the Natura newsletter should be coming out shortly with three stories contributed by Agris Mundus students.
I hope everyone is doing well in your new homes, new classes, and new experiences.
Greg

From Claudio Valenzuela, Madrid

After Montpellier, the group from the Madrid M1 had about a month to get settled in or travel a bit, and on October 4th we started classes. First is a few weeks of orientation for the Polytechnic University of Madrid and the School of Projects and Rural Planning to which we belong, then we will join another group of students from the Fundaci髇 Carolina.
On a more personal note, the search for an apartment was not easy for anyone, especially considering that Madrid is one of Europe磗 most expensive capitals. Now that we are settled in, we can start this new adventure which will surely be beneficial for us all.


From Aditi Vidyarthi, Cork

It is a wonderful experience to live in Cork, Ireland. Cork City is Ireland’s third largest city and an important center of industry and trade. It is also a busy seaport. The land area is scenic. The islands in the swamps estuary of the River Lee and the gradual climb up the steep banks on either side make the surroundings beautiful. The river flows through Cork City in two channels, so that you find yourself constantly crossing bridges.

University College Cork is a prominent center of education with a lot of natural beauty. We have eminent persons in the faculty and an excellent support and guidance system for international students

After our orientation in Montpellier, I arrived in Cork on 28th August. Our classes were scheduled to begin from 28th September. Thus we had enough time to settle down comfortably though searching for the accommodation was not an easy job.

We planned a trip to West Coast of Ireland. This was a wonderful trip and we got an opportunity to see Ireland’s magnificent topography.

On 26th September, registration for the Post Graduate diploma course began. This was followed by a series of events like international students orientation, introduction to college, clubs and society. We began our classes from 28th September when we were introduced to our faculty and the course. We have now entered a new phase of life which will be both challenging and rewarding.