Study Abroad in Paris, France with WorldStrides

My study abroad was the greatest time of my life. I met countless friends from the United States and all over the world. I have friends that I am actively planning trips to see again in Paris and am coordinating trips in America for my American friends abroad. Within 3 weeks of my return I went from Ohio to Idaho to see a good friend I had met just months earlier. Every night was an adventure. My French is very good. I would love to go back but also inspire others to take that step in their journey.

I recently just returned from Paris where I spent the best 4 months of my life all thanks to WorldStrides!! I met so many amazing people, learned so much about the business world, and was able to travel all around the world!!

I had the chance to study abroad in Paris this past fall semester and I loved everything about it. I did not want to leave! With ISA, we were taken cared of and given the information we needed. All the students were able to partake in excursions the first couple weeks where we all made friends to ease into our new lives in France. I would not trade it for the world I had an amazing time!

Picture this: sipping espresso at a quaint café, discussing global marketing with classmates from 80+ countries, the Eiffel Tower in view. This was my incredible semester at the American Business School of Paris with ISA! ISA's program exceeded all expectations. Their on-site staff provided excellent support, from orientation to ongoing advice. I was placed in a homestay in a beautiful Parisian neighborhood, enhancing my cultural immersion. The academic experience was rewarding, with English-taught classes offering unique perspectives on business. ISA's cultural excursions were a highlight, from Louvre tours to weekend trips across France. These pre-arranged events made exploring accessible and fostered connections with other ISA students. Choosing ISA was one of my best decisions. They transformed a potentially overwhelming experience into an unforgettable adventure. For anyone considering studying abroad in Paris, I wholeheartedly recommend ISA. They ensure a safe, educational, and life-changing experience that goes beyond just academics. Thanks to ISA, I've gained knowledge, experiences, and memories that will last a lifetime!

Studying abroad with ISA was the best thing I ever did for myself! I had so much fun and got to meet so many amazing people, all while furthering my education. My classes were interesting and developmental, but still allowed me plenty of time to explore the city and travel to many other countries. The ISA staff was so helpful whenever I needed answers to questions or simply just support in stressful times. I miss my program directors already! Doing this program helped me to grow so much as a person through so many new experiences. Cultural immersion is an invaluable form of education that can’t quite be replicated in a classroom. I wish I could study abroad over and over again!

My time in Paris was truly a magical experience. Being able to see all the famous sights that I dreamed of seeing in person was truly an unforgettable experience. I was able to have morning classes and then I would explore the city with my friends which was so much fun to feel like a local. ISA did such an amazing job creating activities such as a trip to the Loire Valley for castle tours which was so cool.

My time in Paris was fantastic, mainly because I had the perfect balance of planned activities and free time. I explored the city at my own pace, which made the experience much more enjoyable. I never felt rushed no matter where I wanted to go- from Montmartre to shopping districts. What made a big difference was that I had a bit of structure from an architecture class. It helped me see the city in a new way and notice details I might have overlooked. But what I appreciated the most was having enough free time to soak in the atmosphere of Paris on my terms. This mix of learning and leisurely exploring made my trip fun and memorable while keeping an academic focus.

This Study Abroad experience was a dream come true. An important goal of mine was alway to study abroad and thanks to ISA, I was able to accomplish it. I chose Paris, France because I wanted to immerse myself in a new culture and continue my studies with the French language. The staff at the ISA PARIS office made me feel welcomed. They provided us with so many activities and opportunities to experience and learn about Paris. My homestay family was also very welcoming. We would talk over dinner, I practiced my French, and I learned so much from them. I had great professors at the Institut Catholique de Paris who helped with my written, oral, and comprehension skills. I visited dozens of museums and exhibitions abroad since I am an art lover. This was my first time traveling outside of the U.S. and though I was nervous, I learned that I love to travel. I visited many places in France and Europe. This was an eye-opening experience and I learned so much about myself. I really encourage people to apply if you can.

I never thought I would have the opportunity to study abroad, but ISA made the experience accessible and were very supportive of my needs throughout the entire process. I knew I wanted to experience the "City of Lights" at least once, and visiting taught me so much about French culture and language. I was not only in awe of the Eiffel Tower, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much art and beauty there is throughout the city, even when you're not looking for it. There was never a dull moment. I really appreciate the ISA Paris on-site staff for helping me adjust to Parisian lifestyle, and giving me the opportunity to see Paris through the eyes of locals. It was an unforgettable experience, and I hope to visit again soon!

Paris, France was everything I dreamt it would be and more! I studied French language and culture at the Institut Catholique de Paris and learned so much about my second home. Every day, I went to class and strolled through streets admiring the art and architecture around me. ISA was extremely helpful in getting acclimated to a new city and country, and supported me throughout the entire process! I stayed in a studio apartment and took the metro to classes, explored museums and neighborhoods, went to flea markets every week, and of course, I picnicked and watched the Eiffel Tower sparkle every chance I had. Traveling on the weekends was easy, and ISA has multiple excursions that were an incredible time! If you're on the fence about where to go or which program to choose, I absolutely recommend going to Paris with ISA! It's an experience that I carry with me every day, and I can't wait to go back someday!

Program: ISA : Study Abroad in Paris, France February 8th, 2024 I miss France, and I wish to live there with everything that I experienced during my time abroad. Paris was beautiful in so many ways. I got my first apartment there. I got my first boyfriend there. I lost so much weight from walking and running so much. I ate some of the best foods I have ever tried in my life and I went on an excursion trip to Morocco to adventure in the Sahara Desert and to understand a world that is different from my own. Man did I LEARN SOME THINGS ABOUT AFRICA! I consumed a lot when I stayed in Morocco when it came to eating, jewelry, events, trips, and spending on clothes, medicine, and spices. I went to this shop at this Leather Crafts store in Marrakech, Morocco, and I lived on the Sahara Desert for a week! We didn’t have our phones so the sun was our alarm clock and nightfall was when we went to sleep. Our diet consisted of cous cous, boiled vegetables, yogurt, and bread with salt everyday. And our drinks were either water or coke with the sugar because you NEED the calories and sugar from all the walking and the hot sun beating down on you. I went into the country not knowing what I would buy, bring back, and what I would experience. I rode a camel, I slept on the sand dunes, I tried so many spices and bought many oils for my hair and skin. I had no prior knowledge of Morocco or Algeria but it was a beautiful country and many stores I went to was decorated of beautiful colors and prints. Especially the carpets that covered the walls of the airport and pretty much every restaurant and hotel we went to. I was blown away at all of the hand-stitched carpets and the beauty of the country. AND there were cats roaming around the streets. I loved petting them all. I am a young adult and after my experience abroad I have really grown to learning so much about the world outside of America. This was my first time traveling alone. I was able to have a space of my own in Paris and I am so grateful for having that space especially after sharing a room with two siblings all my life and a roommate in college after Covid. At times I was not ready to understand that I am not a child anymore, I am an adult, although young, who can make big purchases and do big things and dream big. It was always a dream of mine to go to Paris and the fact that I got to travel too was an added bonus and it made me think that this is the life I want for myself. I want to travel. I went to a leather store in Morocco and most of the leather I felt was made of a layer of cow stomach or camel stomach or camel skin. This was very shocking to me because in America, people tend to dislike leather that is made of animal skin because it is cruelty, but outside America it’s different cultures and beliefs. The biggest shock I had when traveling to all these different countries was how much power men held EVERYWHERE we went. Every restaurant I went to was made-to-order, but they had made an exception for us because we were travelers. The staff at these restaurants and hotels were just men. No women at sight. In Morocco, women were not allowed to sit outside, go to cafes, eat at restaurants, and they were required to wear head covering and to cover themselves when outside so no one knew their identity. This changed my perspective a lot when I was living on the Sahara. We had to cover our skin and our head so we would not get burned from the hot sun and also keep many layers on because at night it got VERY VERY VERY COLDDD! We slept on the ground and used wool blankets to keep warm. This was a culture I was not expecting but in no way could I judge because this wasn’t my life. I met many nomads while staying on the Sahara and we got a chance to see ex slaves. YES, EX SLAVES who played music for us at an event while in Morocco and serves us coffee! I was shocked and speechless. No words could describe what I felt in that moment. When I got my phone stolen and my wallet stolen, I went to two different police departments in Paris. The first one did not care about me at all. They told me it was my fault it got stolen and they kicked me out of the station. They were so rude to me and the second police station just told me to write a report and that they would get back to me in three days. I never got a message from them at all. I accepted my fate and had to move on. I was grateful for the Dear Neighbor Fund because many women in my program got things stolen from them once October hit. I told some friends in my program what you all did for me and they were shocked because their school did not help them when they got their stuff stolen. I was grateful for Regis in that moment because you cared when I felt like no one else did and I was alone. This all happened when the Israel and Palestine war started and many people in Paris were stealing cars, stabbing people, stealing bikes and scooters too. Five women in my program got their phone stolen including me and I even got followed home by a random man in a cab one night asking me to be his friend. One girl in my program got her laptop stolen. One girl got her backpack stolen and this was all on the metro! Sometimes I felt like these Parisians knew we were Americans and we were heavily targeted and I was really scared. One girl got her keys stolen so she could not get into her apartment so I had to let her in and she slept with me in my room for a day before she could get new keys the next day. Hard times came but I knew it was part of the experience when you move to a foreign country and as a women I was getting disrespected by men left and right for how I looked and how I dressed. At times I missed the USA because I was never discriminated this much for being black, being a women, and dressing the way I wanted to as much as I did in Europe. I did have very fond memories while traveling to Spain and Morocco. Spain was beautiful and warm and the food was so fresh and so good. The beaches were so clean and everyone seemed to be enjoying their lives there. I went to a pottery shop and some workers asked people who wanted to volunteer to spin pottery. I offered myself to do it and I got a chance to spin my own pottery plate and it was that real workers experience in the art of pottery and how I could do it myself too. As a Black woman in a new country, I have never known or thought I would be going to a continent like Africa this early in my life and experiencing the world of Africa. I never imagined that I would be going to Spain or living in France. One thing I know for sure is that if there is a will there is a way. Traveling plays an important role in building bridges and friendship with different types of people and ethnicities between different cultures that isn’t my own Carribean Black. I did unfortunately face discrimination because of my dark skin. I was kicked out of areas because I was black. This is unfortunate because in America discrimination yes exists but it’s not so straightforward like it is in Paris. I made this realization after of course crying about it but that too was part of the experience. I researched and only went to places I knew were for women like me and that made me happy because the country was so diverse and Paris was my college campus. I tasted many foods I have never tried before and even went to a Michelin star Asian restaurant. My trip to Northern Africa was a once in a lifetime opportunity and those are memories that will last a lifetime. I bought a headscarf and many scarfs that were beautiful and decorated with many patterns that I will keep forever and give to family. Part of my identity being a Black woman experiencing a foreign country for the first time was a complex and evolving journey of me being comfortable and uncomfortable somewhere where racism exists very much and traditional roles for women were still in effect as part of the country's values. While there were many challenges faced for women outside of America, regardless, I accepted the culture as my own and I used strength, resilience, and my unique open world and open-minded perspective to purchase goods and even engage in the culture to contribute to a more diverse, inclusive, and interconnected world. Even with the negative aspects of it. Again, I am so fortunate to have been able to see the rugs and how they are hand stitched. As I left the Morocco with my carefully chosen Moroccan gifts for my mom and for friends, I couldn't help but feel that I'd taken home not just a piece of exquisite craftsmanship but a piece of Morocco itself. This experience was more than shopping and riding jeeps into the sunset; it was a sensory and cultural immersion that I will treasure for a lifetime just like I treasure the immersion mission trip to California. It's a reminder that the most exceptional experiences and purchases in life are not just possessions but a part of the story of our lives and how we felt in that moment. During my stay, I fed the homeless with my program on a Friday and spoke to many homeless men and women. I helped by giving out toothbrushes, toothpaste, and soaps and lotions. Unfortunately, we ran out of supplies quickly, but the homeless people there were rude even when we helped. Beggars could not be choosers but our team did the best we could and couldn’t judge their life or attitude towards us because we didn’t know what they were facing daily. ISA was very helpful with the negatives that I faced. I was stuck in the elevator at one point not being aware it was broken because my apartment only placed a broken sheet of paper on the first floor and not the others. I had called for someone to help and help came, thankfully, in time. When I was facing racism at school with my professors and going out for social events, they helped me switch my classes and helped me find events that were inclusive.

There is something about living in a host home and experiencing life like a local that is so much more memorable than just a tourist trip. I enjoyed my month living in Paris so much that I decided to move to London for an entire year master's program! I also can't recommend the Paris ISA team enough! They were so kind, helpful, and FUN! I tell everyone considering study abroad to look at ISA and do it while you still can!

The team is incredible. As someone who has never traveled independently nor taken a single French class, I felt supported the entire time. They picked me from the airport, shuttled me directly to my apartment, and helped get me settled. They booked a variety excursions for us, so I got to see all of the highlights without spending the time researching/ booking them myself. We were given the excursion schedule ahead of time so I still had the opportunity to travel with new friends I made on open weekends. When potentially dangerous things happened in the city (I was there during week-long riots), they were great about updating us on the situation quickly and providing a list of the districts to avoid until things calmed down. My parents had complete peace of mind. Couldn’t have asked for a better experience!

I loved studying abroad with ISA. The staff were amazing, so helpful and incredibly welcoming whenever I arrived and throughout my weeks in Paris. The excursions were well thought out, my favorite was the Loire Valley. Class registration was seamless and they were a huge help throughout the entire registering, housing, and traveling process.

I had the most amazing experience that I would not trade for anything. The time I spent in France during this trip is truly something I will never forget and I hold it dear to my heart. The faculty of my program were super friendly, helped make us students feel comfortable in the new living situations, and gave us all the tips and tricks to have fun and be safe. Meeting lifelong friends, sharing this unique experience with them, and fully immersing yourself in the culture is remarkable. I encourage everyone to study abroad, you won't regret it!

My study abroad program in Paris was amazing. It was my first time out of the country and the staff and host family made it an easy transition. I learned so much at the Catho and my professors were very nice and were passionate about teaching. I also loved the city and history as well as being able to see so many monuments and museums in one place. It was an experience I’ll never forget.

I spent the Spring semester of 2023 studying abroad in Paris, France. In 4 months I grew up so much and made life long memories. First of all, the other students who choose to study abroad come from such different backgrounds, have unique experiences, and getting to know them is so amazing. My host family that ISA got for me was exactly the experience I wanted. My host parents were both retired teachers and loved to help me get better at French, made unique French meals for dinner, and really treated me like family. One of the highlights of my trip was watching ‘Noubliez pas les paroles!’ with my host mom before dinner every night. It was her favorite TV show where they sang old French songs and she would sing along:) I got to travel around France, I got so much better at speaking French, and I already am planning on going back to France next year. 11/10 experience, just bite the bullet and commit to it, you will not regret it!!

Studying abroad in Paris was so intimidating at first. Leaving family, friends, everything you know back home and travelling to a foreign country all by yourself. I was very nervous, but the ISA staff make it much easier to transition and help you with anything you may need. I had an awesome time and was able to travel to over 8 countries in my four months in Paris. The living situation was good, I had an apartment right outside of Paris connected to the Metro 1 Line. I studied at the American Business School in Paris, so all of my classes were in English (except one French language class) which took away from the cultural immersion. We had classes once a week for 3 hours per class which was amazing because I could travel for 5 days at a time! The food was delicious, and the location was perfect. Overall, it was a great experience, and I would love to go back!

I had never been overseas before studying abroad, so I was really nervous and overwhelmed at first, but the ISA staff were very helpful in laying out all of the steps I need to take in order to have a successful experience. Once I landed in Paris, people from the ISA Paris team met me at the airport and took me to the office, so I could get settled, then they paid for an Uber to take me to my host's house. I really liked being able to live with a French family who provided meals for me because I felt like I got to see how locals lived and ate. My university was also great. It was in a beautiful building with a cafeteria. I liked most of my professors, even though there was a pretty strong language barrier at first. The best part of the experience was being so centrally located and being able to visit a plethora of museums and monuments, and also being able to travel to other countries on the weekend. I did face some culture shock, which is to be expected, but all in all I LOVED my experience.

If you are trying to decide which studying abroad program to use definitely use ISA. They plan many cultural and transitional excursions and activities while you are in Paris, which I found beneficial! If you are trying to decide which city to study in go to Paris, I think you will be surprised with this city. Paris is not a big “busy” city like New York. Everybody is much more relaxed and moves at a slower place which makes it much less intimidating. All of the little neighborhoods within the city are very charming and quaint. Additionally, it’s a very good city to leave from to travel to other places because Charles de Gaulle Airport is so big. Overall I would definitely recommend using ISA Paris! You will be amazed with how welcoming they are and how amazing France is!