Different Paris Love Past Review
By Wenqing Y (Economics., Wellesley College) for
France Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs
Europe is so different from the US. It is good to get out of the bubble and get an idea what the real world is like. This should be a life-time expeirence.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
|
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
SBC JYF has the best location in Paris and the administrative staff take care of almost everything. However, the academic experience with Paris University is just very different from that at Wellesley. It might be much harder than we think. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The experience with my host family is definitely a big plus. They are very friendly and always eager to help us with our French. I actually learned a lot from my host parents. |
| * Food: |
|
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
|
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
|
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
|
Finances
|
* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
|
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | N/A |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | FREN 211 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
|
| Language acquisition improvement? |
With my host family, professors and random people met at various places. We used French everyday and most people only spoke French. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Paris is Paris. It may not come as you think it should. However, you will still absorb so much even within only a semester. |
