×
Search
Close
MENU
Travel
Culture
Lifestyle
Events
Directory
Menu
Travel
Culture
Lifestyle
Events
Directory
Video
Newsletters
Learn French daily
Menu
Video
Newsletters
Learn French daily
31 Things Every Study Abroad Student in France Experiences
by
Jenny Hughes
-
September 5, 2017
1. Total disorientation when you first arrive
2. Not being able to buy anything because you forgot to tell your bank you were going to France
3. Coping with the fact that you’re missing some essential French vocabulary
4.
Meeting your host family
5. Figuring out how to greet/say goodbye to people without hugging
6. Trying to get your French university’s administration to help you with literally anything
7. Seeing your French university for the first time…
8. There’s no quad or student union
9.
No school spirit
10. No frat/social house parties
11. But wine is cheap
12. And so is cheese, so you at least you’ve got that
13. You stand out when you’re dressed like an American, so you adapt
14. And your French peers think you’re fun and adopt you as “our American”
15. Your professor lectures for the entire 2 hours of class
16. No one checks that you did you homework, or takes attendance
17. And you realize that school will be easy
18. So you go to monuments and museums
19. You drink lots of wine
20. You shop
21. You go out to bars and clubs
22. And you miss the last metro
at least
twice because it closes at
approximately
1 a.m.
23. You realize why it’s so easy for Europeans to travel to other countries: cheap airfare and train tickets (let the weekend country-hopping begin!)
24. You feel super cultured
25. You live your best social life
26. Though you definitely have some lonely moments, because your friends don’t live in a dorm with you
27. But you still present your best life ever on social media
28. And you spend all your money
29. During finals, you have several five-hour exams
30. Then it’s time to go home, and you realize you didn’t do everything you wanted to
31.
So you look for graduate programs in France and cry, because you can’t wait to come back
Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on email
Share on pinterest
The author
Jenny Hughes
See all articles
+ posts
French pastry
Chef Dominique Ansel Reveals the Recipe for Kouign-Amann, AKA the DKA
Culture
In 2023, Offer Your Child a Once-In-A-Lifetime Stay in France
Soup's On!
How to Make a Delicious Soupe Au Choux
Food & Wine
A Maine Acadian Recipe from the Maine Community Cookbook, Vol. 2: Poulet et Saucisse en Cocette
Soup's On!
9 Cozy French Recipes for the Winter Soup Season
WineTok
Learn About French Wine On TikTok!
Food & Wine
What If You Learned to Cook Like the Greatest French Chefs?
Vert Chaud
Vert Chaud, A.K.A. Chartreuse Hot Chocolate, The Cold Weather Blues Fighter
Apéro
Everything You Need to Know About French Apéritifs
Apéro
Low-ABV Cocktail Recipes Using French Apéritifs
Subscribe to Frenchly !
Every week, the best of France in your inbox
Your email
[email protected]
Subscribe
ads
Businesses
somMailier: A 100% French wine club that delivers directly to your door!
Alimentation
Coutot-Roehrig International Probate Researchers Will Trace Family Claims All Over the Globe
Avocats / Notaires
Le Petit Jardin (LPJ): a unique French Immersion Program for young children
Ecoles
CIGNA GLOBAL: Expat Health Insurance
Voyage
Paris American Club
Voyage
Fab French Insurance: Insurance Broker for the English-Speaking community in France
Voyage
Limmobleu: Apartment Hunter in Paris
Immobilier
Best French Forever
Shopping
Alliance Française Silicon Valley : immerse yourself in French culture
Ecoles
Le Lycée Français de San Francisco
Ecoles
Chic Villas: luxury villas and chateaux rentals in France and Spain
Voyage
News
Culture
Politics
Business & Technology
Style
Food & Wine
Fashion & Beauty
French Living
Love & Dating
Travel
Directory
Classifieds
Events
News
Culture
Politics
Business & Technology
Style
Food & Wine
Fashion & Beauty
French Living
Love & Dating
Travel
Directory
Classifieds
Events
News
Culture
Politics
Business & Technology
Style
Food & Wine
Fashion & Beauty
French Living
Love & Dating
Travel
Directory
Classifieds
Events
News
Culture
Politics
Business & Technology
Style
Food & Wine
Fashion & Beauty
French Living
Love & Dating
Travel
Directory
Classifieds
Events