When the rain is pouring and there is stormy weather, it is best to spend some time at a museum or a concert. Boston has many options to offer for an afternoon of knowledge and an evening of fun. So far, I have visited two museums that I really enjoyed:

• The MFA (Museum of Fine Arts): FREE after 4pm for students (and always free with your BU ID!)
• The Museum of Science: $10 to visit the planetarium.

 
The Museum of Fine Arts has permanent collections and room reconstitutions of old American art that will make you dive into history. It is interesting to visit an American museum, because as a French citizen, I have always been used to seeing typical old French furniture and paintings. But seeing things that are not from my country and that have been sitting here for a few centuries gives you a fresh feeling, because it is like acknowledging another culture and realizing that even though the US is a young country, it has its own history and its own culture. It is looking further from what you have always known and what or who you have been surrounded by. I think that European Museums do not have that much of American furniture collections. They mostly display Native American items and arts - the collection at the British Museum in London is amazing by the way - which are also largely showed here in American Museums – the MET in New York for instance has a great collection of Native American items as well. The MFA also exhibits an interesting contemporary exhibit that you will enjoy, because it makes you think and search for what the artists really meant. Below are two pieces of art from the contemporary collection.

Another great museum is the Museum of Science, and more specifically the Charles Hayden Planetarium. Located on the Monsignor Obrien Highway on the Charles River, you can take beautiful pictures of the view before visiting it. The planetarium - $10 for students – offers a visual and musical experience, which engages the visitor in a sensory journey. Today’s most popular artists such as Beyoncé, Radiohead, Lady Gaga or Prince are mixed with innovative images that will send you into another world. After attending one show, I felt relaxed and filled with positivity. The planetarium also has space shows that are interesting and impressive. As a technological and scientific hub, I think that visiting the Museum of Science’s planetarium is a must.
 
Here is myself in front of the planetarium and the dinosaur guarding the entrance of the building. 

​I am also a big music fan, so attending a concert in Boston, whether it was big or more intimate, was on my list. It is very easy, since there are a lot of venues.  However, a lot of them have a bar inside so they require people to bring IDs at the entrance. The state of Massachusetts is very strict on the “no alcohol served to people below 21” rule so if you go to a concert, make sure you bring your ID or passport with you. If you are below 21, you will get access to the venue but the staff will make sure you do not touch any alcohol and trust me, if you can drink in your country below 21 and think that’s a good idea to try it here, they will let you know in a split second that it’s not.
But enough about regulations.  At the House of Blues, close to Fenway Park, you will experience a great sound and warm show! The rapper Post Malone did a concert there and the venue was fantastic! The atmosphere is really artistic, and as you can see in the video below, the stage is visually accessible from pretty much everywhere.

​The Royal is also a nice, but smaller, venue. Most of the time it is a nightclub, but developing artists are coming to this venue to get closer to the public. During her tour, the singer Kehlani did a show at the Royal and even said, “this show is the best one so far!” Finally, the TD Garden is the biggest venue and the first one that I have been to in Boston. I saw Kanye West – yes he did a full show and it was the best I have experienced so far – and the stage was one of a kind! It was a platform moving in the air thanks to cables attached to the ceiling. Therefore, anyone from the back to the front crowd could see the show as clear as crystal. Another band I really enjoyed there was Pentatonix.  They are an acapella group and the sound in the whole stadium was magnificent.

​This picture was taken during Kanye West’s concert at TD Garden:

​One application that I have been using many times is called GAMETIME. It lists all of the shows and sports games happening in Boston with tickets available at reasonable prices. I would advise you to get it as soon as you land at Logan International Airport to start planning your entertainment here in Boston!

​I knew that the US was the land of sports before setting foot on it. They are killing it at the Olympics and many players in the NFL, NHL, or NBA earn millions of dollars by signing contracts with their teams! They make people dream and are considered as true heroes.
 
When I arrived in Boston, one of the first things I wanted to do was to attend an NBA game because it’s not only a sports game, it’s a real show! From the venue (TD Garden) to the atmosphere, it was a fantastic experience. There were dancers, performers, and up-beat music during the whole game to cheer the team. I really recommend it to everybody, even if you don’t know much about basketball. Since September, I have been to many games and the latest one was very emotional because a legendary player of the Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce, hit the floor for the very last time before retiring. The TD Garden made a tribute video and people gave him a well-deserved standing ovation. He started his career and played ten years for the Boston Celtics, so you could feel that people identified with him and respected his long career - even though he played for different teams in the last few years and was playing for the Clippers that night.
 
This is a picture of the venue from my seat (Boston Celtics V. Los Angeles Clippers):

​What surprised me was the alcohol sold at different selling spots of the stadium. In France, alcoholic beverages are prohibited in soccer stadiums because it used to trigger dangerous behaviors toward other sports fans, and also towards the teams. Now, stadiums only sell non-alcoholic beers and other beverages for safety reasons. On another note, one positive aspect of attending a basketball game is that wherever you are sitting, you will see the court perfectly because the seats are highly placed in the venue! Of course it’s better to have seats close to the floor, but the balcony seats are fine as well.
 
I also attended a Red Sox baseball game at Fenway Park during the first semester. I didn’t know anything about baseball, and the only game I had been to before was in Chicago to see the White Sox a long time ago. The atmosphere was different because the game lasted almost three hours, and compared to American football or basketball, there’s not a lot of action. I’m not going to lie, at the end of the game I was really tired because I didn’t understand anything and it was late at night.  However, then they played songs, and it cheered the crowd up.  One song in particular brought the supporters together: “Sweet Caroline.” It’s the anthem of the Boston Red Sox and I loved it when people sang their hearts out on it! If you like baseball and if you know a little bit about the rules, I would say go for it, but eat before going there because the food is extremely expensive ($10 for a hot dog).
 
The French squad, ready to cheer for the Boston Red Sox team:

​Sports are also really big in high schools and universities. Boston University by itself has a whole football field, two hockey arenas, one swimming pool, and several basketball courts! They take university sports teams way more seriously than in France where university sports are not so present, mostly because we don’t have the facilities. By attending several hockey games at Agganis Arena, I really connected with the sport! I fell in love with it so much that I bought a Boston Terrier Hockey jersey. Sitting at the game while wearing it made me feel proud to be a BU student and support the team. All of the other supporters were wearing their red gear as well. The band was there to cheer everyone and the atmosphere was very family-friendly. Going to the Agganis Arena to watch players slide on the ice is also less expensive than going to a Bruins game at the TD Garden. Plus, Metropolitan International offers tickets at reasonable prices for students from time to time, so you should definitely check that out!
 
Here is the venue from the last seats:

​To the very front one (if you want to see all of the action, that’s where you want to seat):

​I also attended a football game at Boston College. It was the Boston Eagles vs. the Louisville Cardinals. First of all, I was shocked by how the players were stars in their universities; there were billboards close to the venue with pictures of the current but also old players. When we arrived on campus, everybody was wearing jerseys and the atmosphere was really festive. People were offering food, beverages, and barbeques on the parking lot. This tradition (called tailgating) usually takes place three hours prior to the game so that people can get together and get excited for the game. Once we arrived in the stadium, we definitely experienced a true American sports event. From the crowd standing up for the American national anthem, to cheerleaders doing their best to motivate the crowd, to the marching band playing famous songs throughout the whole game and also during the halftime show with Star Wars theme songs (see picture below).

​This is a closer look at the football field in Boston College:

​Sports in the US seemed to be very much associated with the military because it has the same fighting spirit. From time to time, the speaker was paying tribute to former soldiers, asking them to stand up so that people could applaud and show respect. This is truly an American form of patriotism that would never happen in France because it could be misinterpreted.
Overall, I really enjoyed the different sports games and advise every BU student to go if they have the opportunity.

​Spring Break is one of the favorite holidays of students at Boston University because it happens generally after midterms and feels like a well-deserved break. Usually, Terriers go home or spend it in a warmer place outside of Boston. If you live in dorms, most students will leave, so if you want to do something, it is the perfect time to travel. It is a great opportunity to see what Massachusetts or other places have to offer outside of Boston.
 
I spent my Spring Break in Cape Code with two friends. The weather was sunny, but it was still a bit cold to swim. We rented an Airbnb in Yarmouth and a car for the week with the company Enterprise to drive around and discover natural beaches. There is also an application called Turo, which is basically the Airbnb of cars, where you can rent cars for very affordable prices. You have to check if the country that issued your driving license is listed as authorized in the application though (France wasn’t but if I could have used it, I would have because it is really cheap).
 
I am originally from Brittany, in the Northwest of France, and I have to say that the landscapes of Cape Code were very similar to where I live. I almost felt like I was at home. The houses were mostly made with wood which, was a big change from the redbrick houses of Boston. Many people walked on the beach with their family, their dogs, or just by themselves. I met a man at Ridgevale Beach who told me that he used to come here to play and relax with his family when he was five years old. I felt it was a beautiful thing to do to come back and still have the same warm and family-friendly feeling Cape Code gives to its visitors.
 
This is Ridgeval Beach with beautiful wooden houses in the back: 

​We also drove along the sand dunes to Provincetown to visit the harbor and seashore, and to get a sense of the culture here. If you love art and good food, this is a great place to visit.  The streets are packed with art galleries and restaurants where you can taste the best lobster rolls. At this time of the year though, not everything was open, but still, we felt that Provincetown had a cosmopolitan population with many LGBTQ cafés, restaurants, and a familial atmosphere around Commercial Street - the main street of the town. Provincetown is a must-do because, after all, it was the land where Pilgrims first touched ground at the beginning of the 17th century and you can feel the history covering the walls of the different houses and monuments.
 
We stopped at The Canteen, a small restaurant with an amazing décor, to eat a little snack before heading back to the house: 

​Spring Break can also be the occasion to go on a trip to New York. The easiest and cheapest way to get there is by bus with companies like Greyhound or Peter Pan. It usually costs around $60 or $70 for a round-trip. You can also rent a car because it’s just a 4-hour drive from Boston, but you will have to pay to park once you arrive in the Big Apple and it does not come cheap, especially if you stay for a few days. For accommodations, I would recommend an Airbnb in the Queens or Brooklyn neighborhoods with an easy access to the subway, because then you can stay in a calm environment with not a lot of traffic or people and still easily get to Time Square in 15-20 minutes. Before going to New York, I would also advise you to get familiar with a map of the city, just to get a sense of how the streets are displayed. New York is not like a “regular” city with small and crooked streets. They are extremely long and it can take hours to walk from the beginning to the end of one of them. So be aware of time and space of the city while you plan your days there. Also, prepare a budget for the subway. One ticket is an expensive $3! But you can buy a card and add on it the value you want.
 
I went to New York for Christmas and here is a list of some of the to-do-things we did that you can try:

• Take a picture in Time Square (free)
• Walk through the Winter Village (free) and do some Ice skating ($20) at Bryant Park
• Visit the MET museum (you actually choose the price you want to pay since it is a foundation, I would advise you to pay between $8 and $12) and Central Park (free)
• Admire the view at the top of the Rockefeller Center ($30)
• Walk along The High Line
• Visit Greenwich Village, SoHo, Little Italy, Wall Street and the 9/11 Tribute Center (free)

 
This is my friend Pauline and I at the top of the red stairs in Time Square! 

You can also travel outside of the US. I have been to Montreal several times because some of my French friends study there and a good friend of mine is also from there. It is an 8-hour bus drive from Boston, so take music, movies, or books for entertainment because it is quite long. Prepare for the border patrol with all of your official documents. It can either take 20 minutes or last 2 hours… I experienced both and I hope you don’t go through the latter. Montreal is a mix of France and the US and it is probably one of my favorite cities right now! You have to taste a real Canadian poutine, walk through the old city, and visit the Mont Royal Park. If you can afford it, try to attend a real Canadian Hockey Game because it is the official sport and it is quite spectacular, but the prices are very expensive.
 
I took this picture from the Mont Royal Park back in October:

​Studying at Metropolitan College at Boston University gave me the opportunity to plan some travels because my schedule allowed 3-day weekends. Whatever the destination you choose to study, you should take this chance to explore different cities in your spare time. Even if it’s just a one-day journey, get out of your comfort zone and be an adventurer!
 
Spring Break or other holidays are the perfect times to live new experiences and bond with your friends while traveling!

In my last post, I wrote a little bit about living off-campus, but I didn’t go into great details. So if this is something you consider when coming to BU, keep on reading!
 
With two other students from my business school, we decided to live together for the whole year off-campus because we wanted to feel like real Americans. Having my own room and my own kitchen is something I’m really attached to, and also seeing familiar faces when you come back from class is quite nice.
 
Before choosing your apartment we had to determine a budget. I would advise you to watch the renting market and see what the prices are. Take a look at the different neighborhoods that could interest you. Allston is filled with students from many different colleges and universities. Brighton is a bit quieter, but still has many students living there. I live in the latter, and many students live in my building. Think about how many people you could live with. Some like to live in a house with 6 to 8 people, others prefer to share an apartment with 2 or 3 others. The options are really open and up to you. Most leases last 1 year but it is possible to find others of 6 months. A common practice that happens if you won’t make it to the end of your lease is to look for new roommates who could fill the last 2 or 3 months left you could have.
 
You have to be very active on your research of apartments a few months before your arrival. For instance, if you start next September, you should find something by July. I did my searches on the internet, but don’t underestimate social media! Facebook is a great source of rentals; there are many groups dedicated to that issue. When you find an apartment that interests you, don’t hesitate to contact the landlord or current occupant and ask for a visit through Skype! We avoided places that didn’t look like the pictures we saw thanks to this. Whatever country you are from, there are many groups of people who help each other on Facebook.  For example, French people can ask questions or share experiences on a group called “Boston French Connection,” which has more than 5,000 members. You should look into that and not hesitate to say you are looking for an apartment. People genuinely like to help people from their home country.
 
When my roommates and I arrived in the apartment, we were not disappointed and expected to look just like it did thanks to a Skype visit. We now had to start putting in some furniture. A common practice that I was not aware of and seemed really odd to me was that on September 1st, people leave all kinds of stuff and furniture in the street because they feel like they won’t use it anymore. Then, arriving students take this opportunity to find lamps, tables, chairs, and sometimes even couches and beds for free! But I would advise you to buy your own bed because finding a bed in the street is probably not the most hygienic thing. In France, most people just go to Ikea during moving days because finding something in the street and picking it up is seen as nasty even if it’s in good shape and free.
 
 
When it came to filling up our fridge, there were 3 different options around our location:

• Star Market:   $
• Target:            $$
• Whole Foods: $$$

​Whole Foods has the best organic products, but it is really expensive. If you have the budget go for it, but in the long-term, as a student it’s really hard to go grocery shopping there on a daily basis. Target has the largest choice of products, from foods to clothes and furniture. When Black Friday came in November, we bought some of our furniture there at extremely low prices! Finally, Star Market is a great option for students. It’s also the closest to our apartment, so the choice was easy for daily groceries. I found it very funny that American supermarkets do not joke around with holiday themed decorations. Whether it’s Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, the Super Bowl or Easter, whole aisles are filled with the relevant products weeks before it actually happens - if not months! So going grocery shopping in the states can be really fun and entertaining! The pictures below were taken at Target at the end of February… This year, Easter won’t be until April 16th.

​But sometimes, it gets tiring to cook for yourself and you don’t want to lose time between classes. The GSU Dining hall is an amazing place to find Asian, Italian, and American food on-campus at affordable prices. They have a large and healthy choice of different cuisines that you can comfortably eat there. You can also spend time at Starbucks to study or just meet friends while sipping your hot coffee.
 
Getting ready for and living off-campus is really easy at Boston University.