I spent a wondering seven week studying abroad in Paris, France this summer! I love learning about French culture and speaking the French language, and so I always dreamed of studying in France ever since I began my first French class at the age of 10 in my hometown of Shaker Heights, OH.
And, my summer in Paris was magical. I commuted on the metro each day from my small, student apartment to the study abroad center located on a picturesque Parisian street, complete with delicious boulangeries, multiple fresh fruit stands and classy boutiques. I took two classes with wonderful French professors — one grammar course and one political science course, and I became nearly fluent in French as we wrote, debated and chatted in French all summer long. I explored the city whenever I was not in class — visiting museums, studying in immaculate gardens, walking through the narrow streets, and soaking in the city. The program also took our cohort on day-trips to Normandy and Giverny so that we could experience and learn about French culture in areas outside of Paris.
I learned so much as I developed meaningful relationships with my peers and teachers of different cultures and backgrounds. We gained insight and knowledge from each other’s perspectives as we discussed our family traditions, our future goals and our thoughts on social issues including racism and climate change.
I returned to Ohio State this semester with renewed energy to learn, to share my stories from my study abroad with others and to create new friendships. I will continue to find and engage in meaningful conversations of cultural exchange — working to understand and learn from my peer’s perspectives. Thanks to my experiences abroad, I am confident that I will work successfully with colleagues from all over the world. We will each approach challenges from different angles, and, as we debate our ideas, perhaps in French, our diverse team will discover various paths to innovation.
