Falling in and out of Love with France Past Review
By Jessica P (French, University of California - Irvine) - abroad from 08/20/2004 to 06/17/2005 with
Toulouse University (Université de Toulouse): Toulouse - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I learned as much about myself, my limits and my needs as I did about French language, culture and living in France. It wasn't always easy, but it was intense, amusing, eye-opening, and interesting enough to write a book about, so I did! It's called Pas Possible: Falling in and out of Love with France, available on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Pas-Possible-Falling-Love-France-ebook/dp/B00NG97X4I/ref=la_B00NH722MC_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410477045&sr=1-1
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I learned much more outside the classroom than in |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administrator worked in a chateau on campus. Sometimes she was there, sometimes she wasn't, but you had to walk up a lot of stairs to find out! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in student housing called "les estudines" for French and international students. I made a lot of friends there, lived in a cozy studio and it was conveniently located. |
| * Food: |
It was France. We ate and drank very well! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
At first I integrated very well: I had several host families and groups of French friends, but as time went on I grew frustrated with French administration and certain social rules I didn't understand. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Health care was accessible and low cost. I can't say the doctor I saw was particularly friendly, but I guess that's not necessarily what you're paying for. |
| * Safety: |
Stay with other students. Don't walk by yourself late at night. |
| 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) |
I had a small scholarship and my parents supported me. We cooked a lot and did picnics so not a lot of eating out, which can get expensive. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I don't remember. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Apply for scholarships! There are a lot out there. Visit your school's study abroad office or contact the company you're going through. Get a part time job the year/summer before you go to save up. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
I was in class with other French students, so everyone spoke French. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Some French Literature courses |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Use language learning apps, watch movies and listen to the radio in the target language, write in your journal in the target language, make friends who speak the target language before you go. They'll give you good tips. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | It was going to be much harder than I thought. Although looking back, I love how positive, open and excited I was about going. I was fearless! |
