Alumni Interview with Stephanie M

What inspired you to go abroad?

Being a French major, going abroad was a requirement put forth by my university. However for me, there was so much more that inspired me to want to go than just checking off a requirement. I was inspired to go abroad mainly to strengthen my ability to read, write, speak and comprehend French. I wanted an opportunity to dive into the language in a way I had never done before so that I could pick up on local slang and pronunciation while gaining more confidence in my own ability. I have also always had a curiosity for other cultures since I was a little girl, which further motivated me to go abroad. There is no better way to experience and begin to understand another culture than to immerse oneself completely in it for months at a time.

Why did you choose API?

I specifically chose to go abroad through API because I had spoken to study abroad alumni from my university who had previously used the company themselves. There was not a single negative review that I heard from them, which encouraged me to lean toward API. The final push came when I met a girl who had gone to the same city I wanted to go to, through API. She raved about the incredible on-site staff who were always eager to get to know students and support them in any way possible. Knowing there would be a lot of "scary unknowns" with a semester abroad, a supportive on-site staff was the perfect thing for me.

What was your favorite part about Grenoble?

My favorite part about my host city of Grenoble, France was by far the mountains! (but its size and location were great too). Being from Wisconsin, I do not have the opportunity to see mountains on a daily basis and I wanted a city that was completely geographically different than what I was used to. Plus, I had gone skiing before and I was looking forward to hitting the slopes and taking a spin on the French Alpes. In addition, I wanted a host city approximately the same size as my home city in the United States. Grenoble is the perfect size because it offers the quirks of a smaller city, while still offering the variety of restaurants and opportunities that a larger city would have. Finally, Grenoble is less than an hour bus ride away from Lyon, which offers access to basically any European city desired.

What made your experience abroad unique?

My experience abroad was unique because of the relationship I formed with my host family. Every weeknight I would come home for dinner with my host family (I actually got sad when I had to miss one!). After dinner we would drink tea and play a board game or watch a movie together. I watched so many different French movies, which helped increase my vocabulary and competency in French. When we played board games, my family would always ask me questions to get me thinking and speaking more in French. They were always very supportive of me and wanted me to succeed during my time abroad! Additionally, my host sister and I were nearly the same age and we shared a lot of similar interests; needless to say we got very close and we continue to talk even though I am back home!

How did local staff support you throughout your program?

The API on-site staff in Grenoble was amazing! I had gotten sick twice during my semester abroad and the on-site staff made arrangements for me to see a doctor and helped me with the insurance paperwork afterwards. In addition, no matter what the question or concern, the staff was always there to support me. I remember going into the API office in tears one day because of a personal conflict I was having with friends back in the US. Marie, one of the staff members had asked me into her personal office to talk about it. An hour later we were sipping tea and laughing about a joke she had told me. The API staff was always there to lend a helping hand or just give advice whenever I or another student needed it!

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?

One thing I wish I would have done differently is engage with my host brother as much as I did with my host sister. My host brother spoke quicker and used more complex words than the other members of my host family so I was often intimidated by the thought of having a conversation with him. Then, about halfway through the semester, he took an internship in Paris and was no longer living with us. I didn't realize the incredible opportunity I had missed out on until he was gone. If I wouldn't have let the fear of messing up stop me from having more conversations with him, I really think I could have learned a lot from speaking to him more. Plus I would have made another close friend!

Describe a typical day in the life of your program.

A typical weekday for me consisted of waking up around 7 a.m. to get to the university by 8 a.m. I would get ready for class and then join my host family for breakfast in the kitchen. I typically only had a few slices of toast with a cup of coffee before I headed out the door to try to catch the bus on time. I would take the bus and then the tram to get to the university. I had two to four hours of French grammar lessons in the morning, depending on the day and then I caught up with friends for lunch at one of the RU (university restaurants). My afternoons were spent in one of my elective courses or teaching English at a local middle school (again, depending on the day of the week). In the early evening hours, my friends and I found ourselves doing homework or planning our next weekend trip at a local café. Then around 7 p.m. I headed home for dinner with my host family, which was always followed by a movie or game of some sort.

What did you enjoy doing in your free time?

In my free time I loved going to Jardin de Ville (a beautiful garden in the city center) or the café I was a regular at. The garden was spacious and had an abundance of flowers blooming in the spring time while the café provided a great environment to catch up on some reading or socialize with locals. Since my friends and I always went to the same few cafés, the staff and others who frequented those cafés began to recognize us and look forward to our daily visits.

What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?

I stayed with a host family that consisted of two host parents and two host siblings living in the house with me. The family actually had a total of six children but the majority were grown up and had left the comfort of their parent's house already. We lived in a very spacious house with a beautiful yard just outside of Grenoble. Technically, I lived in the suburb of Corenc. It was very peaceful and I had a wonderful view of the mountains from my bedroom window! My favorite part about living with a host family is the relationship that I formed with them, along with the tremendous resource they provided for me. I could talk to my host family about anything like problems at the university, not understanding my homework, travel plans I had, etc. and they always tried to support me and offer the best advice they could. Living with a host family also ensured I was continually practicing French!

What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?

One thing every participant should know is the immense resource your host family can be as well as the API staff. I think students often feel like their host family/API staff are there only if the student has problems, but that is not the case! Both the host family and API on-site staff have been living in the host country/city for a long time so they know a lot of helpful information. Whether it is something as simple as asking to borrow snow pants or asking for a restaurant recommendation or asking for medicine because you are sick, your host family and the API staff are there for you. Don't be afraid to talk to them or ask them for help! You're not meant to do this alone.

Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?

My time abroad has changed my life immensely. I feel like a whole new person when I participate in conversations with people from back home. I am more open-minded than I was before, and definitely more accepting of diverse viewpoints. I find myself able to partake in more worldly conversations regarding cultures, politics, religion, etc. Most importantly, I have a renewed sense of self-worth and confidence that I can overcome any challenge that comes my way. I used to be afraid of change and the unknown, instead I now embrace those fears because I know it is an opportunity for growth and personal development.

Would you recommend API to others? Why?

I would definitely recommend API to anyone considering study abroad. API was founded by four mothers, and it really shows through their mission statement and actions. Throughout the entire program, I felt like I mattered to the staff of API. Before departure, on-site, and even back home, I was/am in constant connection with the API staff. They have supported me throughout my entire experience just enough for me to feel comfortable, yet still feel challenged enough to grow and learn from mistakes.