Hi everyone! My name is Zakhar, and I am studying in Paris this year, through a program called CIEE. This would have been my Sophomore year at Pitt, and though I love Pittsburgh so much, I decided to spend it elsewhere. Paris was a perfect choice for me, due to the fact that it is at the intersection of my two majors – Urban Planning and French.

Settling into Paris was quite the experience. Though I have studied French language and culture, being one of my majors, I still faced quite a few shocks. I had plenty of stereotypes filling my head from media that I had consumed, such as the city being dirty, crime-ridden, with extremely mean people. However, that was not the case! Yes, parts of the city can be slightly unpleasant, and certain people can come off as too straightforward, but I would say that my month here has gone so much better than I expected!

My classes are quite unconventional. First, the center that we do classes in is tiny compared to the expansive campus of Pitt: the handful of classrooms that we have could all fit on the first floor of Cathy. The number of students is small too, with all having between 5 and 20 students. They are taught in English, though some French ones might be offered in the spring. The most different thing, though, is that instead of taking 4 to 6 classes during an entire semester, like is typical at Pitt, there are two classes taught for a 6-week block, and there are three blocks in a semester. This is not the norm at French universities, just how my program works.

Another new experience for me has been living with my host family. I was very scared about it, since I tend to be quite shy as is, and living with a brand-new family would only add to that. However, despite my reservations, it has been a wonderful experience so far. I have connected with my host family, especially the two cats that live with them. Though there are some differences in lifestyle, such as a later dinner, less green space than I’m used to, and everything being smaller, I have loved my experience with them so far.

In all, I am in awe of Paris, and I hope that it stays that way. Thank you for reading, and stay tuned for more adventures!