Life at Sciences Po Menton contrasts in many ways with life at Pitt and the environment I’m used to back home, making for an incredibly immersive, dynamic experience. Unlike Pitt’s sprawling urban campus in a bustling American city, Sciences Po Menton is nestled in a picturesque, Mediterranean town on the French Riviera, with a more…
Tag: France
Abigail is Off to France!
Hi everyone! My name is Abigail Kelly and I just completed my sophomore year. I’m an English Writing major with minors in business and statistics, and I’m also pursuing the sustainability certificate. I am a part of the National English Honors Society Sigma Tau Deta and I work at Saxbys, which is an experiential learning…
Post Trip Reflection
I am now back home in New Jersey. I was definitely sad to leave France, but this past week spent relaxing at home was refreshing after 5 months of being abroad. My semester in Marseille has been nothing short of incredible. I have immersed myself in different cultures, tried delicious new foods, and met so…
Letter to My Past Self
Cher Ryan, I don’t even know where to begin. There’s so much I would love to tell you before you leave for Marseille. Just know that the next 5 months are going to be filled with highs, lows, and everything in between, along with a healthy dose of surprises. You’re going to make countless mistakes…
Sunny Days in Marseille
The end of March is approaching, and I only have a little over a month until the end of my program. There were times throughout the last couple of months I felt ready to go home, but now I wish I could stay here for the whole summer! The weather is getting so much nicer…
My (hypothetical) Future in France
Throughout my study abroad experience, I have been extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel around France and see different cities and regions within the country. One of my favorite activities to do in the cities I visit has been to picture what my life would be like if I lived there full-time….
Facing Challenges and Faux Pas Abroad
When I first began my study abroad program in France, the biggest challenge I faced was learning how to cope with my mistakes. Living in another culture and communicating in another language are experiences that naturally come with a lot of missteps and blunders. At first, I was also extremely embarrassed when one of these…
C’est Marseille bébé
I’m now 3 months into my study abroad program in Marseille and a lot has happened since my last post a month ago. The most notable development is the weather. Finally, it’s starting to feel like what I imagined the south of France would feel like. The past couple of days have been 70 degrees…
Early Takeaways
Time has absolutely flown here in Marseille, and I can’t believe I’m already at the two-month mark. I know time is only going to speed up as the weather gets warmer which is crazy to think about. I’ve experienced so much since being here and I’ve come up with three main takeaways. My first takeaway…
Expectations Abroad
I’ve been in France for a little over a month so I’ve had plenty of time to settle in. Honestly everything has gone smoothly thus far, and I haven’t had any major issues. Coming into this program I certainly had many expectations. Regarding personal expectations, I expected to have plenty of time to travel. Whenever…