What inspired you to go abroad?
I always knew I wanted to go abroad, but seeing other kids abroad and seeing their amazing experiences really pushed me to apply.
Why did you choose CEA’s Business Study Abroad program?
It wasn't in a big city, the international school I was attending had a reputable name, and the courses I took fulfill specific requirements for my business degree.
What made your experience abroad unique?
Usually people study abroad in big cities, or cities that people always go to when traveling to Europe. Being in the French Riviera allowed me to explore the whole region as well as different countries, because of the accessibility of transportation.
Cap d'Antibes
What surprised you most about the French Riviera?
The public transportation and accessibility to everything surprised me the most. I was in Antibes, which had a major train station, and an International Airport 20 minutes away as well as bus routes running between towns and cities. I am so thankful for choosing such a unique location that gave me the ability to explore like any other person abroad.
How did local staff support you throughout your program?
My on-site staff was awesome. We had one woman who took us on weekend excursions and had an office in the middle of town. She was so nice and got to know all the students in the program.
What is one thing you wish you would have known before studying abroad in France?
I wish I knew how much bread and cheese I was going to eat. It is so cheap and fills you up; so many of my meals were just a baguette and cheese.
Describe a typical day in the life of your program.
I have never been happier to have taken an 8 a.m. class. When I would wake up to catch the earliest bus, I was able to watch the sunrise over the Mediterranean. The bus stop was .6 miles from my house and the bus ride was about 20 minutes from town. My classes were smaller than classes at my home university and went for three hours, and I didn't have classes every day.
After school we were able to be outside, hang on the beach, and do work in Old Town, Antibes. The everyday weather was awesome, which played a huge role in the semester's experience.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time?
Snorkeling, exploring the coast, laying on the beach, and walking through old European towns.
What was your favorite part about Antibes?
The old fashioned, small city vibe, and that it overlooked the Mediterranean. It was a perfect location, just outside of Nice, France and only a 25 minute drive from an international airport.
How difficult was it to communicate with locals?
Where I stayed was a very touristy spot so most locals spoke enough English to get the point across. When you are in one country for so long, you do catch up on words and phrases, and the locals respected that a lot.
What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?
I was paired with two awesome roommates in an apartment that had a view of the Mediterranean on the balcony. We were further away from town than every else, but it was worth it and people always wanted to hang out at our apartment.
Cap d'Antibes
What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?
CEA offers a group of friends from day one. Being abroad means you will get to meet people from all over the world, but having your CEA friends is a different kind of international friendship. It wouldn't have been the same if I didn't have them around during the semester!
Do you have any packing tips for individuals headed to France?
People in the South of France are very materialistic, but don’t fall for the look of having to wear high end brands. Just wear your normal clothes and pack a swimsuit!
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?
I wish I had gone sooner in my college career!
Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?
I have become more active with school and became an alumni ambassador for my study abroad program. I think it is extremely important to travel and immerse yourself in a different culture. I am a strong advocate for having the opportunity to study abroad and want every college student to experience a semester overseas!
What do you feel the biggest benefit of studying abroad is?
The biggest benefit is having the confidence of traveling to anywhere. I went to a country where I couldn’t read/speak the language, but I was able to travel by myself, communicate to get food, and was able to make it home safely.
What was the hardest part about studying abroad?
The hardest part about studying abroad is realizing that you can’t do everything that you wanted to do. I saw so much during my time abroad, but there are still countries, regions, and excursions that I still want to do; but, it pushes me to do it in the future!
Would you recommend CEA to others? Why?
I would 100% recommend CEA. I learned that not all other providers had weekend excursions, holiday parties, and other benefits that we had. Other Americans at school were jealous that we had an on-site staff member to call for problems, recommendations, and advice.
If you could study abroad again, where would you go?
I would choose Prague, because that is another touristy spot where I don’t have to speak the language, but is not a number one spot for tourists to go. Studying in smaller European cities is definitely a different experience in itself and you realize that once you are there.
