What I Did in Paris …

“The amazing thing about this city is not just the Eiffel Tower, or Montmartre, or the Champs-Elysées. The amazing thing is that every little street and alleyway has its own history; someone famous lived here, another worked there, another had his morning coffee at that little café on the corner. I may not have the most exciting life, but here I’m sharing the spirit of the greatest city in the world.” - Michel, taxi driver

My interest in studying abroad in Paris only strengthened during my time on the Farm. One of the first things I noticed as a freshman at Stanford was the emphasis placed by students, faculty, and staff on the abroad experience. As I talked to upperclassmen who endorsed the experience, it became clear how much of an impact these students’ abroad experiences had had on them.

I remember briskly walking through a busy and crowded metro station when I suddenly recognized the beautiful notes of Pachalbel’s Canon coming from around the corner; I stopped and enjoyed the impromptu concert. I remember sitting on the Pont des Arts overlooking the Seine and chatting with friends new and old while looking at the Tour Eiffel glitter in the distance. I remember my first few days in the city walking along in the nippy weather and gazing at the snow-covered cobblestone streets and church steeples. Such is the beauty and wonder that I experienced while living in Paris for eight months.

Studying abroad, for me, presented the opportunity to improve my French, a skill that I felt was necessary as a student from Canada. My experience abroad however became much more, enriching to me in ways that I could not have originally imagined before my 8-months in Paris.

My year abroad in Florence and Paris was one of the best years of my life. I discovered new cultures, explored my intellectual passions, made lasting friendships, and learned a lot about myself in the process.

Without any courses in my major or minor offered, I was able to fully open my academic interests up to what I found interesting as opposed to what I should take. The most incredible of these courses was the Art History class that not only discussed French 19th century artists, but also brought us straight to the actual work, housed in the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay, just to name a couple.

Yet just a few hours after I arrived I realized that my quarter abroad would not be just a collection of the typical touristy activities. Studying abroad gave me the chance to experience Paris. For three months, I was able to lead a double life, living in Paris as if it had always been my home.