Association Alsace Etats-Unis Youth Committee

Swing Night - February 20th

2012-02-08T14:15:00.000-08:00

Ever wanted to learn how to dance?

The Youth Committee makes your dream come true on February 20th.

We are happy to announce that our famous Swing Night at Chateau de Pourtalès is back this year again.

Don't miss it because it will be a fun night to remember!

The limit is set to 26 participants so go ahead and email us at comitejeunesaeu@gmail.com to register!

There will be a buffet with wine, cheese and grapes.

See you there and spread the word!

Registration is mandatory

6 euro fee charged for off-campus students

(free entry for students staying at the Chateau)

BBQ with students from DeVry University on July 27, 2011 at the Château de Pourtalès.

2011-07-07T07:56:00.000-07:00

We are inviting you to a BBQ with the students from DeVry University. They are doing a study abroad program on Business and on Anthropology. They look forward to meet French people, this BBQ would the opportunity for you and your friends to get to know better the American culture and at the same time, share your experiences.

The cost would be EUR 10,00 per person. If you are interested, just send an email to Jennifer Bensching at jennifer@cepa-europe.com.

Strasbourg in the Movies

2011-02-06T16:08:00.000-08:00

This page is currently under construction.

Please visit again soon!

La Métamorphose de la place de la Cathédrale

2011-02-06T15:35:00.000-08:00

"La Métamorphose de la Place de la Cathédrale : Sherlock Holmes in Strasbourg" de Léonie Duflot

Doit-on appeler ça un retour dans le passé ou un saut vers le futur ?

Depuis quelques semaines, les équipes d'une superproduction américaine travaillent d'arrache pied à la transformation de la place de la Cathédrale à Strasbourg, place dont l'ambiance authentique et coquette a séduit la production de Sherlock Holmes 2.

Transformation, le mot est faible; je parlerai plutôt de métamorphose: toutes les façades et devantures du cœur historique de la ville ont en effet été "maquillées" avec une précision incroyable pour rendre crédible les premières minutes du film, dont l'intrigue se situe à la fin du XIXème siècle.

Au fil des jours, j'ai pu constater l'évolution de ces "travaux artistiques". La minutie, l'attention portée au moindre détail, le soin méticuleux des quelques 250 techniciens présents m'a fait remonter dans le temps, plus précisément en 1891, date à laquelle se déroulera la première scène du film.

Petit à petit, la boutique culture s'est transformée en magasin d' antiquité, l'office de tourisme en boulangerie dont les étalages sont garnis de pain frais (jouons le jeu), les pavés de la place se sont vus recouvert de graviers et de foin, allant jusqu'à éveiller nos sens olfactifs. Récemment, des chevaux ont fait leur apparition. Son, odeur, vue, on s'y croirait presque. Un vrai retour dans le passé.

A quelque détail près : l'agitation qui règne sur la place depuis quelques jours n'a rien d'époque. Le chantier attire des touristes par centaines, les indications en anglais ("be aware, sugar glasses" ou encore " do not touch the door, freshly painted" ) sont partout, sans compter que toutes les façades ont été peintes en allemand, pour mieux coller au contexte historique. Résultat : lorsque je traverse la place d'un pas pressé, je n'entends plus un seul mot de français. Ah… mondialisation! Et quel beau pas en avant pour la septième commune la plus peuplée de France (hé oui)! Qui aurait pu penser, il y a quelques années que Strasbourg hébergerait un jour les équipes de Sherlock Holmes? Mais quel bonheur tout de même, de voir tant d'attention portée à ma chère petite ville! Bien loin maintenant le temps où l'Alsace était dite ringarde et has been. Strasbourg, capitale européenne et siège d'organisations internationales, sert aujourd'hui de repère aux producteurs branchés. Bingo!

By Léonie Duflot

Upcoming Events

2011-02-06T15:31:00.000-08:00

Swing Night with Jérome Bourgouin and Brigitte from the local College de Swing.

You can see the dance styles on their website:
http://www.c-swing.com/

The information will be posted shortly but we are looking at March 12th 8pm. To be confirmed!

The cost will also be confirmed.

People who inspire us

2011-02-02T09:39:00.000-08:00

From Finance to Video Game Consultant:
Neïth Assogbavi interviews Kristina DeRosa

Kristina DeRosa, an avid gamer has decided
to turn her passion into her career.
Here are her uncommon path and aspirations.

Neïth: What did you study immediately after high school?

Kristina: Immediately after high school, I matriculated at Boston College to study finance.

Neïth: Did you have a specific profession in mind at that time or did you find it out while studying?
Kristina: I had the general idea that I enjoyed number-crunching and managing processes, but it was not until I began recruiting for finance positions that I decided to join the world of securities sales and trading.

**TRAVEL, STUDIES ABROAD**

Kristina DeRosa

Neïth: Did you have the opportunity to travel or experience another culture during your studies? And if you did, what did you gain from this experience ?
Kristina: I had the amazing fortune of spending my junior year abroad in Strasbourg, France, studying at IECS. There were many priceless benefits to my travels, including gaining the type of unbiased perspective of my home country only found abroad, finding a confidence in myself I did not know existed through navigating multiple countries, languages and relationships, and making some of the most amazing, diverse friends the world has to offer.

**CHILDHOOD DREAMS**

Neïth: The late Professor Randy Pausch, talked about how to achieve childhood dreams in an internationally acclaimed last lecture, that is also a New York Times best seller. At one point he says we shouldn't be afraid of the brick wall because it's there to stop the people who aren't motivated enough to achieve their dreams. In a way it gives more chances to those who are really determined.

What do you think of this metaphor ? Do you agree with the role of the brick wall he gives ?
Kristina: I completely agree with this metaphor. It sounds as if Randy Pausch would have had much in common with Paulo Coehlo, author of The Alchemist, who wrote that "Everyone, when they are young knows what their destiny is." It is the way of life that our dreams can become clouded with what we believe are practicalities, with settling for what is easy or what seems to "make sense," with letting others' views of ourselves to affect our own views; it is these things that I believe are the brick wall Pausch may be referring to. The difficult thing is to try to hold on to what we know we love and to fight for it despite all the internal and external stimuli telling us that our dreams are silly or too difficult.

**THE DREAM JOB**

Neïth: Could you explain what your dream job is ? What does it actually consists of ?
Kristina: My dream job is to be the head of Strategy for a dominant publisher in the video game industry. I want to guide the future of my company through trends, opportunities and challenges arising in the industry, and with it, help shape the future of the industry itself through my decisions. This type of job is a combination of finance, marketing and research.

Link to Randy Pausch's last lecture : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo

Neïth: What lead to your interest in video games?
Kristina: I have been an avid gamer for as long as I can remember. I have found that as both I and the game industry have matured, I am just as interested in following industry news and trends as I am in actually playing the games. It is a fascinating industry, still very young and extremely dynamic, with a future rooted in the kind of exciting uncertainty that only the technology industry can incite.

Neïth: What technical skills do you have in IT?
Kristina: I have little to no technical skills. It is for this reason, as well as for my lack of a creative arts background, that made me initially question whether there was a place for me in the industry I love. I eventually came to realize that I could mesh my business background with my in-depth understanding of the industry to land a job in strategic planning.

**HOW TO FULFILL YOUR DREAMS**

Neïth: What advice would you give a person who is graduating from high school that could help her fulfil her professional dreams?
Kristina: The hardest thing in the world is figuring out what you want to do. Think about what you are passionate about and then research the jobs that might be a match. There are so many jobs out there that you may never have known existed and could be a better match than the typical "doctor, lawyer or businessperson" choice so many students face. Also, never take a job just based on the compensation. Loving what you do will enrich your life in a way that extra spending money never could. Studies have shown that happiness and wealth are not correlated and from my personal experience, this is certainly true.

**ESSENTIAL SKILLS**

Neïth: What kind of skills do you think are essential to succeed in your studies and also in life in general?
Kristina: Focus. Once you know what you want to do with your life, it is a simple thing to take the steps necessary to achieve it, but you need to learn to focus on your goal and block out distractions such as jobs that are easier to attain or that pay more or that are more prestigious. Also, the value of networking cannot be overemphasized. Be a kind, warm, open person and doors will open for you. Something that many recruiters have told me is that experience can be gained and skills can be learned, but a warm personality and solid work ethic are rare and will take you far.

Good luck in your studies!

January 18th 2011

American College Applications

2011-01-23T09:28:00.001-08:00

Getting started with some general information

Applications Deadlines: November

Admissions Decision: January

· Public Colleges: 25-30,000 $/year

· Examples of public colleges: Berkeley

· Here are some sites that list the top ranking public colleges:

http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/national-top-public

http://collegeapps.about.com/od/collegerankings/tp/top_public.htm

http://www.forbes.com/2009/08/06/best-public-colleges-opinions-colleges-09-top.html

(You will notice that the ranking varies depending on sources and years.)

· What kind of a college are you interested in? Start by looking into what college best fits your needs.

· It's a good idea to have everything prepared before you start your application so you're not trying to track down information at the last minute. Here's what you'll need:

-Transcripts. You want to ensure the information you enter is accurate.√

-Test scores. If you're a freshman or sophomore applicant, you'll have to include your scores from the ACT With Writing or the SAT Reasoning Test, plus two SAT Subject Tests in two different disciplines.

(Be sure to complete these tests by December.) √

All applicants should report scores for any Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, TOEFL or IELTS exams they have taken.

-Annual income for 2009 and 2010 (your parents' if you're a dependent; yours if you're independent.) This is optional unless you're applying for a fee waiver or for the Educational Opportunity Program. √

-Social Security number, if you have one. We use this to match your application to things like your test score report and final transcript. Inquire how this works for French citizens √

-Citizenship status. You must enter your country of citizenship (or "No Selection"). If your country of citizenship is outside the United States, you'll need to provide your immigration status and your visa type. √

· Grants, scholarships, student loans: You can look for a grant or a scholarship (these do not need to be refunded), or look into possibilities for a student loan (that is paid back on specific terms). Note that there are college, state, federal and private grants and scholarships. It’s worth researching as sometimes there is funding for exceptional students in fields such as Music.

NOTE: We are happy to provide information but take no responsibility and are not involved in anything other than posting links or helpful tips and ideas. We do not respond to any questions.

It is your own responsibility to go to the official website or make the phone calls to the institutions for foreign applicant information.

Eye-Openers

2011-01-23T09:14:00.001-08:00

Eye-opening books, movies, experiences.

This page is currently under construction.

Please visit again soon!

Tu and Vous: Advantages, Disadvantages, Subtleties, Implications

2011-01-23T08:57:00.001-08:00

This page is currently under construction.

Please visit again soon!

Ms Mrs Miss versus Mr

2011-01-23T08:55:00.000-08:00

This page is currently under construction.

Please visit again soon!