Middlebury School in France: Paris

I had a wonderful experience at Middlebury's Paris program. It offered the perfect mix of independence and support. By living in a foyer, I was able to make French friends, one of whom even visited me back at Middlebury this fall. As the only American in my residence hall, I was completely immersed in French language and culture. The direct-enrollment classes at a local university and my internship also permitted me to get a sense of what daily life is like for a real French student. At the same time, however, I was incredibly well supported by Middlebury staff. I took a great class on French politics at the Middlebury center that was accompanied by outings in the city to see a play and a film related to course material. I also enjoyed Middlebury's cultural offerings, including trips to the opera, a wine and cheese night, and an overnight trip to Normandie. Overall, Midd's Paris program presents the ideal combination of freedom to explore French life and the structural supported needed as a new international student in a big city.

My experience with Middlebury in Paris was excellent. It is clearly a program that knows what it is doing and how to effectively run an abroad program, through academics and student support. There was a wide array of people working at the Middlebury center, each of whom I felt I could go to with different concerns, and all of whom were deeply connected to many resources around the city. There were definitely moments of crisis and anxiety, but we were given the proper resources most of the time to deal with the issues.

In a word, Paris was unforgettable. I learned to live in a city by myself, I learned to get lost, I learned to navigate challenging social situations, I learned how to live outside my comfort zone. Whether it was the improvement in my language skills, my newfound confidence in making friends, or all the museums, restaurants, and places that I got to see, Study Abroad was one of the best things I have ever done.