What inspired you to travel abroad?
I love the French culture and the language, but I was having a hard time speaking it even after taking French class in school. I could read it fairly well, but actually hearing someone speak it to me—and then responding—was still something I found really difficult.
I quickly realized that learning a language in a classroom was not the same as actively trying to speak it on a daily basis.
Why did you choose the Summer Break Abroad with a Host Family program?
I picked this program because I really liked that it was only three weeks and that it was full immersion. I was forced to adapt and integrate myself into the life of the family I was staying with, and I knew that would push me to improve—particularly my speaking skills.
It was out of my comfort zone, but in an exciting way.
What was your favorite part about Marseille, France?
I loved the food, nature, and the architecture of the area. It was so beautiful and had so much history!
I also really loved that, in the French family, it was part of their culture to have long meals together, talking and catching up. They seemed much more disconnected from social media and TV than the U.S. typically seems.
Visiting Arles on market day — one of my favorite days.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
How caring and excited my host family was to have me! They made me feel part of the family, and they were happy to show me around and proud of their culture and region.
They really wanted me to have a great time and to learn. I got to know their family and friends, and people were so happy to get to know me and learn about my culture as well.
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
The few times I had a question, someone was available to speak with me and answer. I didn’t really need to contact my local staff much since it was a fairly straightforward program and I felt comfortable with the family I was placed with.
But I always felt that if I did need someone, there was someone available to calm my nerves and be a middleman if I had any concerns or questions.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I wish I had been even more confident in my language skills going in so that I could have gotten to know the family even better! But I guess that’s the purpose of the program—and if I get the opportunity to go back, I will definitely have a new level of confidence.
I also wish I had tried to speak even more than I did right away. Shaking any hesitation or shyness is so key to having a good experience abroad.
Sunny market day in Aix-en-Provence.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
It was fairly slow-paced. Some days, we would hang out in the garden, and friends of the family would come over and we’d eat and chat.
Other days, we would visit different towns in the region, go to markets and cafés, and do some shopping. We always ate meals together, and they typically lasted longer than a typical meal in the U.S., which I really enjoyed.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
Visiting markets in different villages! I loved seeing the fresh produce being sold, and the handmade baskets and olive wood products. I bought many gifts for my family back home at those markets.
I also loved going to the boulangerie and picking out bread for the day and the yummy pâtisseries. The food was incredible.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
I shared a room with a girl close in age to me. I had my own bed and closet space, and it was great.
I had so much fun with her in the evenings watching movies and TV shows she liked—and a lot of the time, they were the same shows my friends in the U.S. were into! Social media has definitely built a common ground on media and pop culture interests around the world.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
You have to be willing to put yourself out there. It wouldn’t have been a successful program if I hadn’t tried my best to speak and get to know the family.
Being overly shy would not be ideal for this program. You have to be willing to speak as much as possible and mess up sometimes. Try to open up as early as possible and get comfortable with your family—they want you there! So, act excited to be there too.
Would you recommend your program to others? Why?
Absolutely! I had the best experience ever and have made friends for life now in France.
I also have more confidence in my French speaking skills. I’m much quicker to understand what someone is saying in French now and can quickly put together my response. I also feel my accent improved a lot while in France.
First time seeing the Louvre!
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
I think it’s realizing that not everyone lives and thinks exactly like you do—yet there are so many similarities at the same time.
Traveling reminds us that everyone is living such different experiences and that the world is a big place, while also helping us realize how much we all have in common. The more people you meet and get to know, the faster you realize we’re all just people on Earth together doing the best we can.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
I cannot wait to go back, and I also can’t wait to visit more places too! I want to get to know as many people from different cultures as I can.
I also love having new friends in France that I’ll always be connected to. I hope I can visit France again and meet up with them—or even have them come visit my home, meet my family, and see how we live.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel to me means really submersing yourself and getting to know an area and a culture well.
I loved that I had three full weeks in the South of France and really felt like I knew the routine and the area after my trip. I felt like I truly experienced their culture, rather than just observing it as a tourist—and it will always hold a special place in my heart.
