Submitted by Madeline Hornung on the 2020 winter session study abroad program in Paris, France sponsored by the Department of Biological Sciences…
My experience studying abroad this winter session was everything I had hoped it would be. Everything that I had worried about coming into this program was for nothing because it ended up being so great. I didn’t get homesick at all, like I thought I would, and that largely has to do with the people on this program. I was worried about not making friends, but I’m leaving Paris with a whole new group of people that I was able to get close to, which makes sense when you’re going to class, exploring the city, and living in the same building with all the same people for a month. Our location was also perfect. Before coming here, I couldn’t imagine living a five minute walk from the Eiffel Tower. It’s crazy how amazed I was by the tower when I first arrived and now I walk by it everyday like it’s normal (I am still amazed at it though). I could not have asked for a better location with better people. This was a once in a lifetime experience and I’m glad I could be a part of it.
Going on vacation to other places won’t quite be the same now. I usually vacation for a week and, yes, that’s enough time to see a lot of major monuments and sites. However, a month, gives you the opportunity to understand the culture and history of the place, especially with the history class we took this winter session. I understand the history of places like Versailles or the Pantheon, but, during this program, I could actually see them in person. Learning about people like Napoleon and Louis XVI and then seeing monuments and museums built in their name makes the learning more fun. It is also funny because now I’ve gotten use to all the things that, at first, surprised me about French culture. For example, all the children ride scooters and are commonly walking without their parents. In the United States, that would be a huge risk to be a child walking in a major city, but now it’s a regular thing that I’ve seen. Also, the roundabouts are insane. There aren’t any lanes and there are about four rows of cars just weaving in and out of each other. I am surprised I haven’t gotten hit while in Paris.
I’ve also gotten use to eating a petit déjeuner on the way to class. It consisted of a coffee, orange juice, and a croissant. The orange juice is freshly squeezed everywhere and it is so delicious! The employees at Le Coeur au Marais, the cafe we went to, were so nice and patient with our poor French speaking abilities. We went so often they started to recognize us and try and teach us how to speak French. Little things like that is what ended up making this program fun!
Overall, my experience living abroad this winter session has been great. I was able to learn so much about a culture I was very unfamiliar with as well as pick up great friends along the way.
