One of my favorite parts about studying abroad in France was the ability to travel to other cities and countries. “ La Toussaint” is a holiday in France when all the schools and universities across the country get a week-long vacation, typically at the end of October. A friend from my program and I went to Italy during the break. Throughout the course of the week, we traveled to five…
My name is Anna Belle Cogbill, and I am going to France! Specifically, I’m going to be studying abroad with the College of Charleston’s La Rochelle program. It’s a terrific way to spend the first half of my junior year, and I’m certain it will be infinitely beneficial in both of my majors, French & Francophone Studies and Communications. It’s the perfect scenario for growth in my fields of study;…
It’s hard to believe that my time in France is coming to an end. Exams and language certification tests aren’t far and the US has been on my mind! Thinking back on some of my favorite experiences while studying at La Rochelle, the university’s pop chorus is definitely towards the top of the list. I joined the chorus at the beginning of the semester in hopes to make french friends…
Over the past 2 months, I have spent a lot of time trying to immerse myself into French culture while living in Paris. I have started to realize that I am absorbing the language every day not just by speaking and taking all my classes in French, but in my everyday actions. Reading street signs and even food labels, listening to people on the metro or on the streets, and…
Hello everyone, my name is Kathleen Trainor and I’m a junior at the College of Charleston. I’ve been studying in La Rochelle, France for the past semester, and as we wrap up with final exams, I wanted to reflect on my time here and how I believe France, and Europe in general, have affected me. Before this semester, I had never traveled abroad, my farthest adventure being Utah. I was…
In the weeks leading up to my arrival in France, I could already tell my academic experience at EDHEC would be much different than at CofC. For starters, whenever I would email questions to faculty in Nice, the answers they gave were always very vague and didn’t give me much help. Then, when I registered for classes, they told me I wouldn’t know my schedule or professors until I arrive…
My name is Kyleigh Petersen and I am a Senior in the Honors College at the College of Charleston. I am a Biology major and French minor with a desire to work in the field of medicine in the future. I am in the College of Charleston Faculty led program in La Rochelle, France. When I came to the College, I knew I wanted to travel to immerse myself in…
As I looked out of the window of my flight taking off from France, I immediately started to tear up as I reflected on my time abroad. I remember arriving in La Rochelle and not being able to understand anything my host mom was saying. A few months later I left France having received a perfect score on my oral exam and being able talk to my host family and…
Today is my last day in Nice. I woke up to warm weather and clear blue skies outside my window. So, I will be spending the day shopping the markets, shops, and boutiques rather than packing because I refuse to accept the fact that I am leaving so soon. The old town area in Nice is by far my favorite area to spend time in. It’s full of narrow streets…
When travelling abroad and alone, culture shock is not a one time occurrence, but more of a daily experience. When I first arrived in France, I started to realize that I was a bit in over my head. I was under the impression that I was well equipped to live in France alone since I am well travelled and I have family all throughout Europe. Although these things did assist…
