French Version
“The person you have dialed is busy. Your call has been put in waiting. Please wait.” Then I have a normal calling ring meaning that the previous conversation is over but she doesn’t want to answer the phone.
So I tried another number.
“Hello, welcome to the crous of Paris, if you want to talk with hotline for new grants and accommodation office please call this number 0123, if not please wait until someone answer.’
So I waited for almost fifteen minutes.
“Crous de Paris, Bonjour.”
“Bonjour, My name is Loïc. I am currently in Erasmus at Trinity College Dublin from Paris VII Denis Diderot. I was rewarded the Minister of National Education grant for mobility but I haven’t got it since October. I am wondering what’s happened?”
“Are you a French citizen?”
“Yes!”
“Let me transfer you to someone who can help.”
(Silly waiting music for one minute)
“Crous de Paris, Bonjour.”
“Bonjour, My name is Loïc. I am currently in Erasmus at Trinity College Dublin from Paris VII Denis Diderot. I was rewarded the Minister of National Education grant for mobility but I never got it since October. I am wondering what’s happened?”
“Can you tell me your name again please?”
“Loïc REDER.”
“Well, I can see that everything is OK here. The transfer will be made tomorrow and you will have your money one week later.”
“Thank you very much, bye.”
“Bye.”
It so happens that they told me exactly the same thing the week before and I never got my money.
Irish Version
(Loïc pops in the International office of Trinity.)
Loïc : Hello!
Rowena : Oh hi! How are you? (With a beautiful smile from ear to ear)
L: Fine and you?
R: Not so bad! How can I help you?
L: I am really enjoying my experience here so I want to stay next year and make a transfer.
R: Oh! For that you will have to go to Admission and Transfer office on the other side of this building. (She shows me on a map where to go.)
L: Like in France. You are transferring me to another place.
But in fact, it was not like in France. Because the other place was actually the right place so I did not have to get transferred to a third one.
Then we have a little chat about what part of France I am from, about my family spread all around the world. And she ended the conversation with “So, if you get transferred, we will able to see you more next year”. Again with her brand new smile that she never lost.
The day after, the same girl was closing her office (at the right time) but took time to answer a quick question whereas a French one will tell you, even if you come a quarter before closing time, “Sorry, we are about to close in ten minutes. Please come back tomorrow!” without any motivation or smile.
To put it in a nutshell, come to Trinity and you will have the legendary Irish welcome. I remember at the very beginning of the year when me and a French friend used to pop up in groups at the international office to support each other. When we explain that to them she answered “Am I so terrifying?” but they are totally not. They are not terrifying and are there for you. You can ring them even in August and they will answer. You can email right now, I am sure they will answer you. (But please don’t they will hate me for giving them more work than they already have!)
Slán
Loïc Reder – “French And Irish Customer Service”
Share this page…
French Version
“The person you have dialed is busy. Your call has been put in waiting. Please wait.” Then I have a normal calling ring meaning that the previous conversation is over but she doesn’t want to answer the phone.
So I tried another number.
“Hello, welcome to the crous of Paris, if you want to talk with hotline for new grants and accommodation office please call this number 0123, if not please wait until someone answer.’
So I waited for almost fifteen minutes.
“Crous de Paris, Bonjour.”
“Bonjour, My name is Loïc. I am currently in Erasmus at Trinity College Dublin from Paris VII Denis Diderot. I was rewarded the Minister of National Education grant for mobility but I haven’t got it since October. I am wondering what’s happened?”
“Are you a French citizen?”
“Yes!”
“Let me transfer you to someone who can help.”
(Silly waiting music for one minute)
“Crous de Paris, Bonjour.”
“Bonjour, My name is Loïc. I am currently in Erasmus at Trinity College Dublin from Paris VII Denis Diderot. I was rewarded the Minister of National Education grant for mobility but I never got it since October. I am wondering what’s happened?”
“Can you tell me your name again please?”
“Loïc REDER.”
“Well, I can see that everything is OK here. The transfer will be made tomorrow and you will have your money one week later.”
“Thank you very much, bye.”
“Bye.”
It so happens that they told me exactly the same thing the week before and I never got my money.
Irish Version
(Loïc pops in the International office of Trinity.)
Loïc : Hello!
Rowena : Oh hi! How are you? (With a beautiful smile from ear to ear)
L: Fine and you?
R: Not so bad! How can I help you?
L: I am really enjoying my experience here so I want to stay next year and make a transfer.
R: Oh! For that you will have to go to Admission and Transfer office on the other side of this building. (She shows me on a map where to go.)
L: Like in France. You are transferring me to another place.
But in fact, it was not like in France. Because the other place was actually the right place so I did not have to get transferred to a third one.
Then we have a little chat about what part of France I am from, about my family spread all around the world. And she ended the conversation with “So, if you get transferred, we will able to see you more next year”. Again with her brand new smile that she never lost.
The day after, the same girl was closing her office (at the right time) but took time to answer a quick question whereas a French one will tell you, even if you come a quarter before closing time, “Sorry, we are about to close in ten minutes. Please come back tomorrow!” without any motivation or smile.
To put it in a nutshell, come to Trinity and you will have the legendary Irish welcome. I remember at the very beginning of the year when me and a French friend used to pop up in groups at the international office to support each other. When we explain that to them she answered “Am I so terrifying?” but they are totally not. They are not terrifying and are there for you. You can ring them even in August and they will answer. You can email right now, I am sure they will answer you. (But please don’t they will hate me for giving them more work than they already have!)
Slán