Past Review
By Stephanie W (Elementary/Special Education, Providence College) for
CIEE: Paris - French And Critical Studies
I have become a different person after coming from Paris. I remember thinking I wasn't able to do any of this before my departure, and now look at where I am. I can't say enough how much I have learned about the French culture, which is so incredibly unique from the American culture, and I have so much more to experience. I gained and independence and confidence that I would not have learned while I was home. I was able to do things alone that I wouldn't usually do at home, which made me less dependent on others. Words can't express what I learned in France, and I am so happy I chose to study abroad. I wish I could go back and live it again! Overall, this experience changed my life, and I cannot wait to travel back to my second home.
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration at the CIEE Critical Studies center was very helpful to the students with our French language placements, host families, homesickness, and other concerns. There was a small faculty, so we all developed a close relationship to each other which was really nice. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in an apartment on rue Louise Michel in Levallois-Perret, a suburb that is only a 5 minute walk outside of Paris. <br /><br /> I felt very safe in this neighborhood because it was suburban- full of families. I felt safe walking home alone at night, however one disadvantage was that it was a bit farther away from the center of Paris so the metro right would be longer than the other students. My host family really became a second family to me. I lucked out with my host mom and host brother, because we developed such a close connection. I became another family member soon enough, and we still keep in touch. She was very generous; always cooking my meals and offering her aid and advice when needed. |
| * Food: |
The food in France was incredibly delicious and rich. The quality is so much better than the United States, and the portions are much smaller. The ingredients used in the cooking are always fresh; I was never diappointed. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Keep track of your bank account and your spending. Keep all receipts. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I think living with a host family really helped me improve my French skills. We developed a close relationship and I was able to talk to them with ease by the end of my program. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Someone who is willing to be open to new and different culture. It was hard for a lot of students to accept the "French way" since they were stuck in the "American" one, but once they learned more about the French culture in class and in different social gatherings, they saw how they could make their experience 10x better. Just be open minded; it's especially hard in a country like France where the cultural cues are so different from American ones. |
