Art Intensive in Paris: perfect in everyway for serious artists Past Review
By Taylor D (Studio Art, Trinity University) for
Wells College: Paris - Wells Center
I am moving back to Europe for graduate school, and hopefull back to Paris once I have a family.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I only clashed with one of the teachers, and she was politely forced into retirement...so no longer an issue! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Both Charlotte and Anne were helpful for the most part, there were some students with health issues that they expected us to handle on our own. The french do not coddle you, it was expected that as adults we handle our own problems. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in the 6th arr. next to the Luxembourg gardens with a host grandmother, what more could be asked for? |
| * Food: |
Its France...you cant go wrong...even the tourist traps taste like heaven. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We travelled to Normandie and the Loire Valley with the school program, both were beautiful! And we got to try local fresh wines, ciders and food from those regions. Great experiences all around. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I wasnt sick, so there was no personal issue. But one girl had a foot infection and needed to go to the hospital, but she spoke no french. The program director told her she was too busy to go, and I ended up having to go and translate. |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | It is a very expensive city, that being said if you grocery shop wisely life isnt too bad. Also most of the vintage stores have 1 euro bins hidden in the back that are great for picking up new pieces. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Shipping home art really killed my bank account. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
The most improvement comes from forcing yourself into awkward social situations, not necessarily class. That being said the language school was quite awesome. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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