Throughout my time on the France Business Study Abroad trip this summer, I have learned, heard, and seen more than I ever could have imagined. From seeing landmark institutions like the EU Parliament and the EU Commission to running all over Europe on weekends, this trip was truly a great experience that I will cherish for a lifetime. When we first arrived in France, we stepped out onto the train platform and heard strange voices speaking a language that was totally new to us. We quickly began to adapt to the fast pace of the city, navigated the metro, and found ourselves near one of the most beautiful cathedrals I had ever seen. We stepped inside to see centuries-old stained glass depicting the birth of Christ, the Crucifixion, and several other popular Biblical scenes. From there, we saw everything Paris had to offer before catching our train to Strasbourg, where our study abroad was located.
Upon our arrival, we saw gorgeous architecture, towering cathedrals, and a beautiful river that ran through our home for the next four weeks. We didn’t know it at the time, but the experiences that were to come would shape the way we thought and saw things for years to come. We spent weekends in Germany, Switzerland, and Italy, and with each country came new memories. We saw Italian beaches, ate with an old German art dealer, and made new friends over the course of our trip. We ate on top of a Swiss mountain, polar plunged in the river in Interlaken, and learned about Mercedes manufacturing at their flagship museum. Additionally, we had the opportunity to visit a nearby German house-building business as part of the class curriculum, which gave us really interesting insight into how people in Europe live, how their families are structured, and what they value. Throughout our program, we also enjoyed class trips and dinners that helped the group get to know each other better, providing us with new friends within Mays.
Overall, the things I saw, heard, and experienced throughout my time on the France Study Abroad have provided me with new experiences, friends, and lenses to view the world with and I couldn’t be more grateful for it!
