Howdy! My name is Natalie Terrell and I am a senior Marketing major on the analytics and consulting track. And I am currently in Paris, France on the Europe Marketing study abroad trip! We just hit the one-week mark of being abroad and my mind is blown by how much I’ve already experienced in learned in France.
While I’ve been to France twice before, I’ve still experienced new first impressions of the Normandy region, Disneyland Paris, and food. The Normandy region is north of Paris and is full of beautiful countryside, rolling hills, cows, turquoise waters, and rich history from WWII. We visited the American Cemetery, D-Day beaches including Omaha and Utah beaches, and Pointe du Hoc, where General James Earl Rudder (WHOOP!) led his army battalion up the cliffs! We also spend a day at Mont St. Michel, which felt like a mix between a fairy tale and Hogwarts. Yesterday, we spent the day at Disneyland Paris! It was very interesting to compare the park to the ones that I’m familiar with in the US; the rides were different, the food offerings catered more towards French cuisine, and I didn’t see many other American tourists. The food in France has also been a new experience! I’ve been eating a lot of bread, cheese, and meats, as well as Italian food. I’m excited to travel to southern France this weekend to taste the new cuisine.
We haven’t gone on any company visits yet, but I am very excited to visit the Paris Chamber of Commerce, French Luxury Brands, and BETC Advertising Agency this week to get a new perspective on marketing and French consumer behavior. I can’t wait to see what the rest of France and the UK hold for us over the next few weeks!