It’s time for a check-in from a SPA student studying abroad. Get ready for advice and adventures from SPA! Today’s post is written by junior Thom Josephson who is studying in Paris at SciencesPo.
Abroad divides returners into two groups: Those who found the experience lacking and those who find the return to be so. I am of the former. I’m not going to gush forth praise and excitement. I won’t lie either.
Abroad, if you choose to go, will be hard. Being in another culture is not easy. Making friends is not easy. Adjusting is just plain hard.
But you might love it.
I found myself in a group of wonderful people, assembled from around the world. I found passionate teachers and interesting subjects. I found a city that glows, that positively sparkles, at night.
And I hit a point in my experience where I did not want to leave. I wanted to stay in Paris forever. I wanted to eat whole baguettes, drink cheap wine from the Côtes de Rhône, and glare scorn to tourists. I wanted to be French.
That desire passed for me. It doesn’t for everyone though.
Here is the truth: Go abroad. Or don’t. But don’t go because anyone told you to and don’t stay because anyone said to. Others’ experiences are not your own. Don’t trust them. Don’t trust me.
You may relish the culture, the different perspectives, the food and whatever else. Or you may find the academic difficulty lacking, the people dull, and the culture fake.
Whatever you decide to do, remember that the important thing is not where you go, but why.
I can tell you this: If you go, you will learn something. It just might not be what you thought it would; and that might not be such a bad thing.
Read my blog if you like, or don’t. I’m a blog post, not a cop.
See you all in the Spring.
Tag: paris
From Paris With Love [Study Ablog]
It’s time for a check-in from a SPA student studying abroad. Get ready for advice and adventures from SPA! Today’s inaugural post is written by junior Brian Dab, who is studying in Paris at SciencesPo.
Bonjour crazy UHPers! Studying abroad is not as glamorous as it always sounds. There, I said it! I’m going to be completely honest: If you don’t believe me, just read my blog. Not every second is spent sipping rosé along the Seine with a baguette and chèvre cheese – or whatever the version of this ideal is in other study abroad destinations. Classes do exist, chores still have to get done, and your life back in the US doesn’t disappear. Your abroad experience is filled with adjustment, discovery, and adventure. For some students, it might take a month or so to fully adjust and feel comfortable in your host city. Others might realize their classes are easy and don’t require much effort, leaving time to gallivant around the city. Every study abroad experience is different and each is life-changing for various reasons.
However, they all have one thing in common: they are about you. You make the experience what it is. You choose where to live, what classes to take, how often to travel, when to go out, who to meet, and decide why you’re there. Live the semester for yourself and do what you want. When I decided to go abroad I was at a place in my college experience where I thought returning in the fall would just be more of the same. I was ready for a new challenge, and this is certainly shaping up to be such a challenge. I took some time to really think about what I wanted to get out of this experience. I am excited to learn more about myself and being in the real world, as I navigate a completely foreign environment.
As a Political Science major, I knew studying at SciencesPo in Paris would be a great choice as a hub for social sciences in Europe. Although I know almost zero French and I’ve never really spent time in Europe, this was another challenge that I knew would force my personal growth and teach me more than walking the streets of Foggy Bottom for another semester. Paris is a city where meaning, purpose, and history abound. From monuments to cultural norms, most things in Paris can be explained by its vast history.
I encourage all of you to seriously consider the prospect of studying abroad. Where are you in your college experience? What can you still learn about life and yourself? Would another semester at GW be more of the same? Will living in another city help expand your horizons? There is much to consider, but there is no wrong decision. Follow your instincts. Trust your heart. And remember to make the most of the opportunities you have in our short four years at GW. As I do on my blog I will end with one of my favorite quotes:
“The world is a book and those who don’t travel read only a page” -St. Augustine
