Nissa la Bella January 02, 2022

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Classes meet once a week for three hours at a time. It was hard to endure such long meeting times, even with a 15–20 minute break in the middle! Topics tended to be broad and rather superficial; I frequently found myself bored and wanting more rigorous and critical engagement with the learning material. Professors do not ask questions or expect student discussion nearly as much as American teachers do, so be prepared for a didactic teaching style. Most syllabi comprised a presentation, midterm exam, final exam, and final research paper, but these assignments were much simpler and graded easier than at my home university. It was easy, so can't complain too much!

On-site administration of your program

Within the first couple days after arrival in Nice, administration becomes very hands off: Some general recommendations are provided, but students are largely left to themselves to figure out daily life (including groceries, public transportation, phone, healthcare, etc.) However, the program administrators are very kind and were always available upon request to help with any issues! Additionally, the program arranges fantastic excursions: transportation, food, and of course a fun destination are all accounted for on these day trips.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

There was a profound and unfair disparity in the quality of housing options available to students. While some of my classmates shared fully furnished apartments (complete with washing machines, stocked kitchens, even luxuries like air conditioning and coffee machines, and more), I lived in a studio apartment at the Student Factory. Though these SF apartments are also advertised as "fully furnished," in reality, my apartment lacked even some of the most basic equipment, including clothing hangers, kitchen knives, cutting boards, and bowls. I had to pay out of pocket for all these items. I brought up this issue with the program administration, and I was told that this sparse setup is pretty typical for France. Though that may be the case, it still does not explain nor justify the clear inequality between students' living arrangements. This was undoubtedly the most frustrating aspect of the program. The one redeeming quality of the Student Factory is its location: The building is right next to a tram stop and the daily market.

French cuisine is fantastic! In Nice, you can expect to find some classic French dishes alongside some Italian fare and, of course, traditional Nicoise food. If you do a little asking around, it's quite easy to find affordable yet delicious options. I will forever miss my daily trips to the boulangerie!

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Have an open mind! I tried to practice my French in most daily life situations, talked to new people, tried new food, adopted some "typically French" habits, and approached cultural differences without judgment. You'll find that people in Nice are very friendly and the culture very charming. In general, it's a bit of a fantasy to expect that study abroad students will fully integrate into the local culture simply given the program's short duration and likely language barriers. But that's not to say you shouldn't try! Just come prepared with realistic expectations.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

You can find a pharmacie on every block! There are COVID-19 antigen and PCR tests easily available in the city, though you do have to pay a rather steep fee –– approximately 30 and 65 euros, respectively. The mandatory CISI insurance should reimburse you for these costs, in theory...

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

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The Outright Urbanite