Hello again! As may be hinted at by the title, this is my final post. The semester is wrapping up, and I’m hard at work finishing up my final projects and studying for my exams. So, since I haven’t been doing anything interesting since returning (apart from getting sick yet again) I thought I’d make a more reflective and personal post to wrap up my journey in France and beyond. I will share some of my tips and tricks for living in France, as well as my experience as a whole.
Well, there’s not much I can say about my experience other than that it was probably one of the greatest experiences of my life. Europe, and especially Paris, has so much to offer. Of course, it has museums, cathedrals, parks, and many other cultural attractions, but there is also so much more than that. One of my favorite things to do if I had spare time while in Paris was just wandering around. I really liked looking at all the small bistros, shops, and buildings that lined the streets. There are some really nice places simply tucked away in random streets that people might simply glance at before walking away because they’re too busy. I also really liked trying out the food, both in restaurants and in small cafes, though things can get pretty expensive, so I didn’t do it too often. Public transportation was also very nice. At first, I felt weird not being able or needing to drive to get around, but it grew on me as time went on. Being able to hop on a train or the metro, ignore traffic, and walk around the rest of the way wasn’t just more convenient but also felt way healthier and fulfilling. And although I do speak French, most establishments and people are able to speak and understand English to a decent degree. Of course, there were some bad aspects. Pickpockets and scammers are everywhere in Paris and any large, well-known cities, and it can be hard to avoid them sometimes. Paris specifically also has a problem with sanitation in certain areas, as there can be trash or weird smells occasionally. Overall, I couldn’t dream of a better experience.
As for my tips, I have a few very important ones. Firstly, everything is closed on Sundays. Food stores, pharmacies (though there are some open in case of emergency, most are closed), restaurants, and administrations are all closed on Sundays, so make sure to get everything done beforehand! Secondly, everything takes longer to happen. If you have an administrative task to take care of, expect it to take a while. Patience is required when sorting out this such as housing, communicating with teachers, etc. Next, for getting food, try and take advantage of farmers markets. I was lucky enough to have a farmers market right next to my residence, so getting cheap, good quality food was no problem. Things in regular grocery stores can be pretty expensive, especially in and around Paris, so farmers markets are a good way to get things like meat and vegetables for cheap. I would also recommend trying to live in a homestay. I chose to live in an apartment, which isn’t the worst, but most other students chose to live in a homestay, which left me kind of isolated. It also allows you to make more connections, is usually cheaper, and gives you access to more facilities such as ovens, TV, and better showers. Lastly, get a public transportation plan sorted out immediately. If you want to get around anywhere in and around Paris, you need to be able to access public transport. Of course, you can pay for each individual ride, and you can buy a rechargeable ticket in any metro station, but it’s much easier to get a plan if you’re staying for a longer period of time.
In summary, do I recommend Paris? Absolutely! However, studying abroad the way I did may not suit everyone. The school I went to, though very nice with good teachers and staff, will only give meaningful academic challenges to people in majors such as Political Science, Pre-Law, History, or Sociology. If you’re a biology major, this program might not be the best for you. That doesn’t mean you can’t go to Paris. There are other partners that Worcester State works with, so there is bound to be one with a university that is convenient for you.
Well, that’s about it for my reflection on my experience and what I learned from it. This study abroad program has been a dream come true, and I’m going to sorely miss it when I get back to the US. I hope you all enjoyed my blog, and I hope it gave an honest and exciting view of France. Thank you all for reading.
Goodbye!
