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From the first day that I knew I was going to Paris for a full year study abroad, I was certain that I would enjoy it since I love traveling and meeting new people, especially from different cultures. But you might ask yourself “Why Paris?”. Well to start, I was born and raised in the heart of Paris until I moved to the Washington D.C. and immersed myself into the American culture. Fortunately, my mother being a French mother insisted that keep speaking French. My parents sent me to France as often as they could so that I could stay close to my family and maintain my French culture. Even though, this was not enough for me. I needed to go back. Back to the native soil and live like frogs, for an extended period of time. And so this is why I chose Paris and what a great choice it was.

Before going to Paris I had no clue that this experience was going to bring me or that it would change my life. Ernest Hemingway once said,

“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life it stays with you, for Paris is a movable feast.”

At the time I read this I thought that I understood what it meant, given that I already knew Paris quite well. It was only until 8th month that I truly realized what Hemingway was portraying.

What I liked most about being a student abroad was meeting new people. While I was France I made several close friends from all around the world, who I will certainly stay in touch with. Some of which I have already met with again and have gone on vacations with them to Ibiza in August 2007 or Amsterdam New Years 2008. During my stay in Paris, I gradually adapted to the Parisian life style. Cafés, cigarettes, style, wine…you get the picture. Thanks to the Pole Leonard De Vinci I learned a lot about the French culture/history but also improved my grammar thanks to my teachers.

My experience taught me how to be more independent and fueled me with more confidence of my own capabilities. I think now I will not hesitate moving to a new country for my career because of this journey.

My host university, Le Pole Leonard de Vinci, is an exceptional school and well recognized in France. There was a great atmosphere in general at the university. The teachers were very helpful with the exchange students in certain areas where we needed help. In addition it was interesting to experience the different methods of the French professors compared to the ones back home at Drexel University.

Thanks to this exchange program has given me more opportunities working in the world. Not many people can say that they have lived and worked abroad and where able to adapt the culture. Having gone through this experience I am more social than before with a flexible attitude. Choosing to go abroad on my own demonstrates qualities of independence and motivation that will surely help me with future employers.

The school had organized many outings for us exchange students and the rest of the school. This was a great way to met other people and to let loose from the busy week. By letting loose I mean partying until sunrise waiting for the metro to open again at 5:30 am. This allowed us to discover many great clubs all around Paris with free entrances. The school had an organization for the students ran by the students who where in charge of all the parties and events during the year. When the weather was nice between our friends we would go into Paris and have rendezvous at “le Pont des Arts” which was a beautiful wooden, pedestrian bridge in the heart of the city. We would sit out and enjoy excellent wine and watch the sun set over the Seine (the river through Paris).

My good English friend, Tim, is quite a character and who loves techno (minimal-electro to be exact). He is a very active fellow and insisted we go out often, not that he had to twist my arm or anything; I am always active as well and up for a good time. So we went on out on regular basis to check out bars and night clubs that Paris had to offer. By doing this I met and made many friends. This allowed me not to be so dependent on the exchange students and see things from a different perspective that I may not have other wise.

Every week my Tim and I played football (soccer) with a group of French student from our school, who were also passionate of the sport. We had a great time playing with them because they had a different style of playing that I wasn’t used too. The Americans and English are far more aggressive players, which the frenchies where not used too.

Paris is like any other bustling city, beside the excellent food, the divine wine, the beautiful architecture, the outstanding fashion of the city, the river and its banks, the exquisite women, and the fine rich culture, and that big tower. In the end I have no regrets from my year abroad, except maybe the fact that I left Paris and saying good bye is always sad, but even the low times I had where good in retrospect.

Vive La France ?

Drexel: Paris Study Abroad Experience

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