Don't Look Back July 01, 2022

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I am very driven in all aspects of my life. I like to be busy and I do not like to feel like I'm floating through curriculum. If I were taking these classes in English, I'd have found them, for the most part, too easy. But given they were completely in French, the difficulty level evened out. I found the rigor just right and the work level logical (though heavy, no doubt). I was in consistent contact with all of my professors and I appreciated the essay writing course offered through Middlebury.

On-site administration of your program

I had no issues with the on-site team. I only wish there had been a bit more consideration of the timing/scheduling of Midd courses in comparison to university course.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Very.My situation was rare: I lived in a homestay with a family and because of their dietary restrictions and the layout of the house, was given the au pair suite which had its own kitchen and bathroom.

I bought my own groceries and cooked my own meals (something I've waited to do for years). I ate with my host family 2 times per week and the food was lovely then, too, as Jonny is a cook.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I lived and studied in Paris for a month last summer, and in France for a few weeks in 2018. I felt integrated prior to returning in January and have since expanded my group of international friends, colleagues, and artistic collaborators. This expansion was not really a result of Middlebury, though; I felt as though the Midd group was very tight and therefore did not break into society much.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I don't really have any reference points, so I'll say well. I appreciate the care the Midd on-site team took in keeping distance and mask mandates.

Paris is Paris. In a female body, I receive my share of comments everywhere. But I'm a city person and feel more at home and safe in a big city like this than anywhere else. Don't flash pricey things on the subway, don't backtalk, mind your business. All will be good.

The pledge, whilst impossible to follow 100% of the time, was incredibly useful. I feel like I did not falter on my rigorous studies whilst I simultaneously got to know Paris by heart.

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

I don't really understand these numerical/dollar rankings. I am completely self-funded/Conn-funded. Most weeks, save larger costs like the Navigo metro card, my expenses averaged to about $50-$80 a week. On the weeks where I bought groceries, that number was probably more like $80-$115.

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

language pledge

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• Host Family

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• Host Family

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• Paris & the ability to travel Europe more easily and on my own
• Patrick Guédon!
• 2 of my Sorbonne classes

• Orientation felt very long/heavy-handed

The Nearly Native or Trail Blazer