Hello! My name is Abby Mirot, I’m a rising junior at the University of Pittsburgh. Tomorrow I leave for a month in France with the program Culture Through Literature in Paris!
A little information about me, I’m originally from western Massachusetts but I came to Pitt because of its amazing English program. I’m a double major in English Literature and DNID (Digital Narrative and Interactive Design). In DNID I study a mix of writing, computer programming, information science, and graphic design. This past semester I was a programming intern for WPTS Radio, Pitt’s student-run radio station, and this fall I’ll become the business manager for the on-campus literary magazine Cherry Bomb! In my free time, I like hanging out with my friends, making lists (not kidding, it’s a passion), watching my favorite shows (Superstore, The Last of Us, Gravity Falls), and of course reading. After I graduate, I hope to earn a Master’s in Library and Information Science and become a children’s librarian.
In Paris, I’ll be taking two classes- Writing in Paris and Paris Through the Ages. In Writing in Paris, we’ll be reading works from American writers living in Paris in the 1920s. It will be interesting to see how their views of the city differ from mine 100 years later. In Paris Through the Ages, we’ll discover French writers like Molière whose writing was inspired by the city. The class will be supplemented with lots of visits to museums like the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay. We’ll also be heading to Versailles for a day which is so cool to me because for the longest time, I had a visitor’s guide app for the palace and now I’ll be seeing it in person! In addition to classes, I’ll have lots of time to explore the city on my own and see everything!
I chose this program because it’s the perfect balance of academics and fun, and it’s in Paris! I want to learn as much as I can about the culture, especially the language and cuisine, while I’m there. In addition, I’ll be exposed to so much new literature in one of the most creative communities in the world. I believe this trip will help me grow as a student because I’ll be reading about perspectives and experiences that I haven’t been exposed to before. I hope that by expanding my knowledge of literature now, I will become a better librarian in the future. I’m so excited/nervous to fly out after all of this time planning and waiting. I’m happy to take all of you along for the ride!
