While she was studying abroad in Paris, France last semester, one of the things junior Svea Larson missed most about being home in Oregon was the food. She was baffled as to why she could not find black beans anywhere.
“It’s really food-based,” she concluded about the things she missed most while studying at the Institute de Catholique de Paris. “In France, you don’t eat normal breakfast food.”
While in France for nearly seven months, Larson had plenty of time to miss her favorite foods, her family and friends, but it was also an opportunity to experience a new culture.
“Their grading system is also very strange,” said Larson. She went on to explain that a 12 out of 20 grade is considered good and this was a very difficult concept to grasp.
Furthermore, Larson was often surrounded by other international stu- dents in her classes, which were each three hours long, four days a week.
“You get a lot of perspective
on how you learn French differently from say, a Chinese-speaking student or a Russian-speaking student,” said Larson. “There is definitely a learning curve because you have to sit there and absorb a lot.”
Larson absorbed a lot more than just language while in Paris. On one of her days off, she was able to walk through the streets of Paris and immerse herself in what she called, “every aspect of Parisian culture.”
“Paris is so incredibly magi- cal,” reminisced Larson. “There is so much there left to see.”
Perhaps just as exciting as her self-guided tour, was Larson’s op- portunity to visit with a friend while in Paris. Larson was visited by junior Austin White and said that a familiar face was truly a relief.
“You think, ‘Oh, someone who understands,’” explained Larson. “At first, you are trying to figure out how to express yourself.”
The struggle to properly express herself was not the only frustration that Larson experienced while in Paris.
“Unfortunately, I didn’t get to interact a lot with French students,” said Larson. “Everyone stands outside the entrance to the school and smokes. They didn’t really care about us at all. Not like here.”
Despite the negatives in her Pa- risian experience, Larson absolutely wants to return to France; perhaps in the Southern regions next time.
If she were to give any advice
to students planning on studying abroad in France in the future, Larson said it would be to “bring your own black beans.”
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